Small debts are like fmall fhot; they are rattling on every fide, and can scarcely be escaped without a wound. Great debts are like cannon of loud noise but little danger; you must therefore be enabled to discharge petty demands, that you may have leisure with fecurity to ftruggle with the reft. Neither the great nor little debts disgrace you. I am fure you have my esteem, for the courage with which you contracted them, and the spirit with which you endure them. I wish my efteem could be of more use.

I have been invited, or have invited myself, to feveral parts of the kingdom; and will not incommode my dear Lucy, by coming to Lichfield while her prefent lodging is of any ufe to her. I hope in a few days to be at leifure, and to make vifits. Whither I fhall fly is matter of no importance; a man unconnected is at home every where, unless he be faid to be at home no where. I am

may

forry, dear Sir, that where you have parents, a man of your merits fhould not have a home. I wish I could give it you.

I am, Dear Sir,

Affectionately your's.

LETTER

CCCLXIII.

DR. JOHNSON to Mr. SASTRES.

DEAR SIR,

Afhbourne, August 21, 1784.

I

AM glad that a letter has at last reached

you; what became of the two former, which were directed to Mortimer instead of Margaret Street, I have no means of knowing, nor is it worth the while to enquire; they neither enclosed bills, nor contained se

crets.

My health was for fome time quite at a stand, if it did not rather go backwards; but for a week past it flatters me with appearances of amendment, which I dare yet hardly credit. My breath has been certainly lefs obstructed for eight days; and yesterday the water feemed to be difpofed to a fuller flow. But I get very little fleep; and my legs do not like to carry me.

You were kind in paying my forfeits at the club; it cannot be expected that many fhould Dd 3

meet

meet in the fummer, however they that continue in town should keep up appearances as well as they can. I hope to be again among

you.

I wish you had told me diftinctly the miftakes in the French words. The French is but a fecondary and fubordinate part of your defign; exactness, however, in all parts is neceffary, though complete exactnefs cannot be attained; and the French are fo well stocked with dictionaries, that a little attention may eafily keep you fafe from grofs faults; and as you work on, your vigilance will be quickened, and your obfervation regulated; you will better know your own wants, and learn better whence they may be fupplied. Let me know minutely the whole ftate of your negotiations. Dictionaries are like watches, the worft is better than none, and the beft cannot be expected to go quite true,

The weather here is very strange fummer weather; and we are here two degrees nearer the north than you. I was I think loath to think a fire neceffary in July, till I found one in the fervants hall, and thought myself entitled to as much warmth as them.

I wish

I wish

you would make it a task to yourself to write to me twice a week; a letter is a great relief to,

YOUR critick feems to me to be an exquisite

Frenchman; his remarks are nice; they would at least have escaped me, I wish you better luck with your next fpecimen; though if fuch flips as these are to condemn a dictionary, I know not when a dictionary will be made. I cannot yet think that gourmander wrong; but I have here no means of verifying my opinion,

is

My health, by the mercy of God, ftill improves; and I have hope of ftanding the English winter, and of feeing you, and reading Petrarch at Bolt-court; but let me not flatter

myself too much. I am yet weak, but stronger than I was.

I fuppofe the club is now almoft forfaken; but we fhall I hope meet again. We have loft poor Allen; a very worthy man, and to me a very kind and officious neighbour.

Of the pieces afcribed by Bembo to Virgil, the Dirce (ascribed I think to Valerius Cato), the Copa and the Moretum are, together with the Culex and Ceiris, in Scaliger's Appendix ad Virgilium. The reft I never heard the name of before.

I am highly pleased with your account of the gentleman and lady with whom you lodge; fuch characters have fufficient attractions to draw me towards them; you are lucky to light upon them in the cafual commerce of life.

Continue, dear Sir, to write to me; and let me hear any thing or nothing, as the chance of the day may be.

I am, Sir,

Your, &c.