Life of Johnson.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20540, 15 February 1935, Page 6

Life of Johnson.

“■RICHARDSON had little conversation. except about his own works, of •which Sir Joshua Reynolds said he was always willing to talk, and glad to have them introduced. ‘Johnson when he carried Mr Langton to see him, professed that he could bring him out into conversation, and used this allusive expression, 4 Sir, I can make him rear.' But he failed; for in that interview Richardson said little else than that there lay in the room a translation of his ‘ Clarissa * into German."

A literary lady has favoured me with a characteristick anecdote of Richardson. One day at his country-house at Northend, where a large company was assembled at dinner, a gentleman who was just returned from Paris, willing to please Mr Richardson, mentioned to him a very flattering circumstance —that he had seen his "Clarissa” lying on the King's brother’s table. Richardson observing that part of the company were engaged in talking to each other, affected then not to attend to it. But by and by, when there was a general silence, and he thought that the flattery might be fully “heard, he addressed himself to the gentleman, " I think. Sir, }*ou were saying something about ” pausing in a high flutter of expectation. The grntleman, provoked at his inordinate vanity, resolved not to indulge it, and with an exquisitely sly air of indifference answered, “ A mere trifle, Sir, not worth repeating.” The mortification of Richardson was visible, and he did not speak ten words more the whole day. Dr Johnson was present, and appeared to enjoy it much.