of his death; and I was spared it.

Mr. Johnson, though in general a gross feeder, kept fast in Lent,
particularly the Holy Week, with a rigour very dangerous to his general
health; but though he had left off wine (for religious motives, as I
always believed, though he did not own it), yet he did not hold the
commutation of offences by voluntary penance, or encourage others to
practise severity upon themselves. He even once said "that he thought it
an error to endeavour at pleasing God by taking the rod of reproof out of
His hands." And when we talked of convents, and the hardships suffered
in them: "Remember always," said he, "that a convent is an idle place,
and where there is nothing to be _done_ something must be _endured_:
mustard has a bad taste per se, you may observe, but very insipid food
cannot be eaten without it."

His respect, however, for places of religious retirement was carried to
the greatest degree of earthly veneration; the Benedictine convent at
Paris paid him all possible honours in return, and the Prior and he
parted with tears of tenderness. Two of that college being sent to
England on the mission some years after, spent much of their time with
him at Bolt Court, I know, and he was ever earnest to retain their
friendship; but though beloved by all his Roman Catholic acquaintance,
particularly Dr. Nugent, for whose esteem he had a singular value, yet
was Mr. Johnson a most unshaken Church of England man; and I think, or at
least I once _did_ think, that a letter written by him to Mr. Barnard,
the King's Librarian, when he was in Italy collecting books, contained
some very particular advice to his friend to be on his guard against the
seductions of the Church of Rome.

The settled aversion Dr. Johnson felt towards an infidel he expressed to
all ranks, and at all times, without the smallest reserve; for though on
common occasions he paid great deference to birth or title, yet his
regard for truth and virtue never gave way to meaner considerations. We
talked of a dead wit one evening, and somebody praised him. "Let us
never praise talents so ill employed, sir; we foul our mouths by
commending such infidels," said he. "Allow him the lumieres at least,"
entreated one of the company. "I do allow him, sir," replied Johnson,
"just enough to light him to hell." Of a Jamaica gentleman, then lately
dead: "He will not, whither he is now gone," said Johnson, "find much
difference, I believe, either