ndowments, and particularly extolled the wonderful ease with which he
uttered what was highly excellent. He said, that "no man ever was so
free when he was going to say a good thing, from a LOOK that expressed
that it was coming; or, when he had said it, from a look that expressed
that it had come." At Mr. Thrale's, some days before when we were
talking on the same subject, he said, referring to the same idea of his
wonderful facility, "That Beauclerk's talents were those which he
had felt himself more disposed to envy, than those of any whom he had
known."

'On the evening I have spoken of above, at Mr. Vesey's, you would have
been much gratified, as it exhibited an instance of the high importance
in which Dr. Johnson's character is held, I think even beyond any I ever
before was witness to. The company consisted chiefly of ladies, among
whom were the Duchess Dowager of Portland, the Duchess of Beaufort, whom
I suppose from her rank I must name before her mother Mrs. Boscawen, and
her elder sister Mrs. Lewson, who was likewise there; Lady Lucan, Lady
Clermont, and others of note both for their station and understandings.
Among the gentlemen were Lord Althorpe, whom I have before named, Lord
Macartney, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Lord Lucan, Mr. Wraxal, whose book you
have probably seen, The Tour to the Northern Parts of Europe; a very
agreeable ingenious man; Dr. Warren, Mr. Pepys, the Master in Chancery,
whom I believe you know, and Dr. Barnard, the Provost of Eton. As soon
as Dr. Johnson was come in and had taken a chair, the company began to
collect round him, till they became not less than four, if not five,
deep; those behind standing, and listening over the heads of those
that were sitting near him. The conversation for some time was
chiefly between Dr. Johnson and the Provost of Eton, while the others
contributed occasionally their remarks.'

On his birth-day, Johnson has this note: 'I am now beginning the
seventy-second year of my life, with more strength of body, and greater
vigour of mind, than I think is common at that age.' But still he
complains of sleepless nights and idle days, and forgetfulness, or
neglect of resolutions. He thus pathetically expresses himself,--'Surely
I shall not spend my whole life with my own total disapprobation.'

Mr. Macbean, whom I have mentioned more than once, as one of Johnson's
humble friends, a deserving but unfortunate man, being now oppressed by
age and poverty, Johnson solici