olds, who perfectly coincided in
opinion with me; and I therefore, though personally very little known
to his Lordship, wrote to him, stating the case, and requesting his good
offices for Dr. Johnson. I mentioned that I was obliged to set out for
Scotland early in the following week, so that if his Lordship should
have any commands for me as to this pious negociation, he would be
pleased to send them before that time; otherwise Sir Joshua Reynolds
would give all attention to it.

This application was made not only without any suggestion on the part of
Johnson himself, but was utterly unknown to him, nor had he the smallest
suspicion of it. Any insinuations, therefore, which since his death have
been thrown out, as if he had stooped to ask what was superfluous, are
without any foundation. But, had he asked it, it would not have been
superfluous; for though the money he had saved proved to be more than
his friends imagined, or than I believe he himself, in his carelessness
concerning worldly matters, knew it to be, had he travelled upon the
Continent, an augmentation of his income would by no means have been
unnecessary.

On Thursday, June 24, I dined with him at Mr. Dilly's, where were the
Rev. Mr. (now Dr.) Knox, master of Tunbridge-school, Mr. Smith, Vicar
of Southill, Dr. Beattie, Mr. Pinkerton, authour of various literary
performances, and the Rev. Dr. Mayo. At my desire old Mr. Sheridan was
invited, as I was earnest to have Johnson and him brought together
again by chance, that a reconciliation might be effected. Mr. Sheridan
happened to come early, and having learned that Dr. Johnson was to be
there, went away; so I found, with sincere regret, that my friendly
intentions were hopeless. I recollect nothing that passed this day,
except Johnson's quickness, who, when Dr. Beattie observed, as something
remarkable which had happened to him, that he had chanced to see both
No. 1, and No. 1000, of the hackney-coaches, the first and the last;
'Why, Sir, (said Johnson,) there is an equal chance for one's seeing
those two numbers as any other two.'

On Friday, June 25, I dined with him at General Paoli's, where, he says
in one of his letters to Mrs. Thrale, 'I love to dine.' There was a
variety of dishes much to his taste, of all which he seemed to me to eat
so much, that I was afraid he might be hurt by it; and I whispered to
the General my fear, and begged he might not press him. 'Alas! (said the
General,) see how very