It is much to be wish'd, in justice to Dr. Johnson's character, that the many jocular and ironical speeches which have been recorded of him had been mark'd as such, for the information of those who were unacquainted with him, when not so apparently unlikely as the above is to be taken in a literal sense. If he could conceive a hatred for any person, it was only for the vicious.
I shall never forget the exalted character he drew of his Friend Mr. Langton, nor with what energy, what fond delight he expatiated in his praise, giving him every perfection that could adorn humanity. Particularly, I remember, he dwelt on his mental acquirements, as a Scholar, a Philosopher, and a Divine, to which he added the finishing polish of the fine Gentleman[1]. A literary Lady, Miss H. More, who was present seem'd much struck with admiration, not only perhaps of the excellence of Mr. Langton's character, but of Dr. Johnson's, which appear'd, I thought, with redoubled lustre, reflected from his luminous display of the virtues of his Friend.
This brings to my remembrance the unparallell'd eulogium which the late Lord Bath[2] made on [3] (a lady he was
- ↑ 'We talked of Mr. Langton. Johnson, with a warm vehemence of affectionate regard, exclaimed, "The earth does not bear a worthier man than Bennet Langton."' Life, iii. 161. See also ante, i. 182 n.
- ↑ William Pulteney; 'as a paltry fellow as could be,' Johnson called him. Life, v. 339. 'The legacies he has left are trifling,' wrote Chesterfield; 'for, in truth, he cared for nobody; the words give and bequeath were too shocking to him to repeat, and so he left all in one word to his brother.' Chesterfield's Letters, iv. 210. Smollett said of his later years that 'he incurred the contempt or detestation of mankind, and remained a solitary monument of blasted ambition.' History of England, iii. 79.
'Through Clouds of Passion P…'s views are clear,
He foams a Patriot to subside a Peer:
Impatient sees his country bought and sold,
And damns the market where he takes no gold.'Warton's Pope's Works, iv. 347.The eulogium of such a man was worthless.
Mrs. Montagu, in her turn, puffed him. 'His Lordship's talents,' she wrote, 'like colours in the prism, formed of the brightest rays, are so well arranged and so happily mingled that, though strong and vivid, they never pain the sight.' Letters of Mrs. Montagu, iv. 346.
- ↑ 'I omit the initials of this Lady's name, in compliance to her delicacy
