ithout any symptoms of ill humor.... Mr. Wilkes
placed himself next to Dr. Johnson, and behaved to him with so much
attention and politeness, that he gained upon him insensibly. No man ate
more heartily than Johnson, or loved better what was nice and delicate.
Mr. Wilkes was very assiduous in helping him to some fine veal. "Pray
give me leave, Sir--It is better here--A little of the brown--Some fat,
Sir--A little of the stuffing--Some gravy--Let me have the pleasure of
giving you some butter--Allow me to recommend a squeeze of this orange;
or the lemon, perhaps may have more zest"--"Sir; sir, I am obliged to
you, Sir," cried Johnson, bowing, and turning his head to him with a
look for some time of "surly virtue," but, in a short while of
complacency.

Foote being mentioned, Johnson said, "He is not a good mimic." One of
the company added, "A merry-andrew, a buffoon." _Johnson._ "But he has
wit too, and is not deficient in ideas, or in fertility and variety of
imagery, and not empty of reading; he has knowledge enough to fill up
his part. One species of wit he has in an eminent degree, that of
escape. You drive him into a corner with both hands; but he is gone,
Sir, when you think you have got him--like an animal that jumps over
your head. Then he has a great range for wit; he never lets truth stand
between him and the jest, and he is sometimes mighty coarse. Garrick is
under many restraints from which Foote is free." _Wilkes._ "Garrick's
wit is more like Lord Chesterfield's." _Johnson._ "The first time I was
in company with Foote was at Fitzherbert's. Having no good opinion of
the fellow, I was resolved not to be pleased; and it is very difficult
to please a man against his will. I went on eating my dinner pretty
sullenly, affecting not to mind him. But the dog was so very comical,
that I was obliged to lay down my knife and fork, throw myself back in
my chair, and fairly laugh it out. No, Sir, he was irresistible. He upon
one occasion experienced, in an extraordinary degree, the efficacy of
his powers of entertaining. Amongst the many and various modes which he
tried of getting money, he became a partner with a small-beer brewer,
and he was to have a share of the profits for procuring customers
amongst his numerous acquaintance. Fitzherbert was one who took his
small-beer, but it was so bad that the servants resolved not to drink
it. They were at some loss how to notify their resolution, being afraid
of offending their