as very well, that I heard from him, and that
he had particularly desired to be remembered to him.

(173) The first hvraison was published in 1779; Johnson completed
the work in 1781.

(174) Alexander Wedderburn (1733-1805). He was appointed
Solicitor-General in 1771 and Attorney-General in 1778. He was
created a peer as Lord Loughborough on his appointment as Chief
Justice of the Common Pleas. In 1793 he reached the Woolsack, and in
1801 was created Earl of Rosslyn. Beginning political life as a
Tory, he presently became a Whig and an opponent to Lord North; then
he took office under him. A member of the Coalition Cabinet of Fox
and North on its fall he became leader of the Whigs in the House of
Lords, only to conclude his official life as Lord Chancellor in
Pitt's administration.

(175) George Johnston (1730-1787), sometimes called "Governor"
Johnston; a naval officer. He became Governor of West Florida in
1763, in 1768, having returned to England, he became member for
Cockermouth, and in 1778 he was appointed a commissioner to treat
with America, from which, by reason of a partisan letter, he was
obliged to withdraw. In 1779 ne was appointed commodore of a small
fleet. In 1781 he was again returned to Parliament. He was a violent
and self-advertising politician.

1781, Nov. 17, Saturday night.--I do not know how I shall conclude
my letter, but I begin it in no better spirits than I can have, when
I reflect, as I can never help doing, upon a loss which I sustained
this day; it is now thirty years, and which as many more, although
they will certainly annihilate the reflection of, can never repair.
I will not be so unjust to the kindness which I have received from
you and some others as to say that when I lost my father I lost the
only friend I could have, but I most undoubtedly lost the best, and
being to-day where that happened, and more at leisure to recollect
it, je la sens, cette perte, avec la meme vivacite aujourd'hui, que
je ne l'eusse faite que depuis trots jours.

I set my heart therefore particularly on receiving to-day a letter
from you, et la 'voici. It is a great consolation to me, as that it
proves to me, with manifold other arguments, that whatever may be
your occupation, you will find a moment to tell me, what if you did
not I should have not the least doubt of, and that neither business
or distance will deprive me of the place which I have always
maintained in your mind and regard.

But mes