Life of Johnson.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 927, 23 November 1933, Page 10

Life of Johnson.

As last, on Monday the 16th of May, when I was sitting in Mr Davies’s backparlour, after having drunk tea with him and Mrs Davies, Johnson unexpectedly came into the shop; and Mr Davies having perceived him through the glass-door in the room in which we were sitting, advancing towards us—he announced his aweful approach to me, somewhat in the manner of an actor in the part of Horatio, when he addresses Hamlet on the appearance of his father’s ghost, “Look, my Lord, it comes.” I found that I had a very perfect idea of Johnson’s figure, from the portrait of him painted by Sir Joshua Re}'nolds soon after he had published his “ Dictionary,” in the of sitting in-his easy chair in deep meditation, which was the first picture his friend did for him, which Sir Joshua very kindly presented to me, and from which an engraving has been made for this work. Mr Davies mentioned my name, and respectfully introduced me to him. I was much agitated; and, recollecting his prejudice against the Scotch, of which I had heard much, I said to Davies, “ Don’t tell w'here I come from.”—“ From Scotland,” cried Davies roguishly. “Mr Johnson,” said I, “ I do indeed come from Scotland, but I cannot help it.” I am willing to flatter myself that I meant this as light pleasantry to sooth and conciliate him, and not as an humiliating abasement at the expense of my country. But however that might be, this speech was somewhat unlucky; for with that quickness of wit for which he was so remarkable, he seized the expression “ come from Scotland ”, which I used in the sense of being of that country; and, as if I had said that I had come away from it, or left it, retorted, “That, Sir, I find, is what a very great many of your countrymen cannot help.”