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LETTER CCCLIX.

To the Same.

DEAREST DEAR,

Saturday.

AM extremely obliged to you for the kindnefs of your enquiry. After I had written to you, Dr. Lawrence came, and would have given fome oil and fugar, but I took Rhenish and water, and recovered my voice. I yet cough much, and fleep ill. I have been vifited by another Doctor to-day; but I laughed at his Balfam of Peru. I fafted on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and felt neither hunger nor faintness. I have dined yesterday and to-day, and found little refreshment. I am not much amifs; but can no more fleep than if my deareft lady were angry at,

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LETTER CCCLX.

To the Same..

HONOURED MADAM,

January 8, 1756.

BEG of you to endeavour to live. I have returned your Law, which however I earneftly entreat you to give me. I am in great trouble; if you can write three words to me, be pleased to do it. I am afraid to fay much, and cannot fay nothing when my deareft is in danger.

The all-merciful GOD have mercy on you.

I am, Madam,

Your, &c.

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LETTER CCCLXI.

Dr. JOHNSON to Miss * *

MADAM,

July 19, 1755.

KNOW not how liberally your generosity would reward those who should do you any fervice, when you can fo kindly acknow

17

ledge

ledge a favour which I intended only to myfelf. That accidentally hearing that you were in town, I made hafte to enjoy an interval of pleasure which I found would be short, was the natural confequence of that felf-love which is always bufy in queft of happiness; of that happiness which we often mifs when we think it near, and fometimes find when we imagine it loft. When I had miffed you, I went away disappointed; and did not know that my vexation would be fo amply repaid by so kind a letter. A letter indeed can but imperfectly fupply the place of its writer, at least of such a writer as you; and a letter which makes me ftill more defire your prefence, is but a weak confolation under the neceffity of living longer without you: with this however I must be for a time content, as much content at least as difcontent will fuffer me; for Mr. Baretti being a fingle being in this part of the world, and entirely clear from all engagements, takes the advantage of his independence, and will come before me; for which if I could blame him, I fhould punish him; but my own heart tells me, that he only does to me, what, if I could, I fhould do to him.

I hope Mrs.

VOL. II.

when she came to her

favourite place, found her house dry, and her

woods growing, and the breeze whistling, and the birds finging, and her own heart dancing. And for you, Madam, whofe heart cannot yet dance to fuch mufick, I know not what to hope; indeed I could hope every thing that would please you, except that perhaps the abfence of higher pleasures is neceffary to keep some little place vacant in your remembrance for,

Madam,

Your, &c.

LETTER CCCLXII.

Dr. JOHNSON to J S—— Efq.

DEAR SIR,

COMMUNICATE your letters regularly. Your father's inexorability not only grieves but amazes me. He is your father. He was always accounted a wife man; nor do I remember any thing to the disadvantage of his good nature; but in his refufal to affift you, there is neither good nature, fatherhood, nor wisdom.

It is the practice of good nature to overlook faults, which have already by the confequence punished the delinquent. It is natural for a father to think more favourably than others of children; and it is always wife to give affiftance, while a little help will prevent the neceffity of greater. If you married imprudently, you married at your own hazard, at an age when you had a right of choice. It would be hard if the man might not chuse his own wife who has a right to plead before the judges of his country.

If your imprudence has ended in difficulties and inconveniences, you are yourself to fupport them; and with the help of a little better health you would fupport them, and conquer them.

Surely that want which accident and ficknefs produce is to be fupported in every region of humanity, though there were neither friends nor fathers in the world. You have certainly from your father the highest claim of charity, though none of right; and therefore I would counfel you, to omit no decent nor manly degree of importunity.

Your debts in the whole are not large; and of the whole, but a small part is troublesome. Dd 2

Small