215, note) that 'Pope has mentioned his and another ambassador's seraglios in one of his Imitations of Horace.' He refers to the lines in the Imitations, i. 6. 120:--
'Go live with Chartres, in each vice outdo K----l's lewd cargo, or Ty----y's crew.'
Kinnoul and Tyrawley, says Walpole, are meant.
[612] According to Chalmers, who himself has performed this task, Dr. Percy was the first of these gentlemen, and Dr. John Calder the second. CROKER.
[613] Sir Andrew Freeport, after giving money to some importunate beggars, says:--'I ought to give to an hospital of invalids, to recover as many useful subjects as I can, but I shall bestow none of my bounties upon an almshouse of idle people; and for the same reason I should not think it a reproach to me if I had withheld my charity from those common beggars.' The Spectator, No. 232. This paper is not by Addison. In No. 549, which is by Addison, Sir Andrew is made to found 'an almshouse for a dozen superannuated husbandmen.' I have before (ii. 119) contrasted the opinions of Johnson and Fielding as to almsgiving. A more curious contrast is afforded by the following passage in Tom Jones, book i. chap. iii:--'I have told my reader that Mr. Allworthy inherited a large fortune, that he had a good heart, and no family. Hence, doubtless, it will be concluded by many that he lived like an honest man, owed no one a shilling, took nothing but what was his own, kept a good house, entertained his neighbours with a hearty welcome at his table, and was charitable to the poor, i.e. to those who had rather beg than work, by giving them the offals from it; that he died immensely rich, and built an hospital.'
[614] Boswell says (Hebrides, Aug. 26, 1773):--'His recitation was grand and affecting, and, as Sir Joshua Reynolds has observed to me, had no more tone than it should have.' Mrs. Piozzi (Anec. p. 302) writes:--'His manner of repeating deserves to be described, though at the same time it defeats all power of description; but whoever once heard him repeat an ode of Horace would be long before they could endure to hear it repeated by another.' See ante, ii. 92, note 4.
[615] 'Some of the old legendary stories put in verse by modern writers provoked him to caricature them thus one day at Streatham:--
"The tender infant, meek and mild, Fell down upon the stone; The nurse took up the squealing child, But still the child squeal'd on."
'A famous ballad also beginning--Rio verde, Rio verde, when I commended the translation of it, he said he could do it better himself, as thus:--
"Glassy water, glassy water, Down whose current clear and strong, Chiefs confused in mutual slaughter, Moor and Christian roll along."
"But, Sir," said I, "this is not ridiculous at all." "Why no," replied he, "why should I always write ridiculously?"' Piozzi's Anec. p. 65. See ante, ii. 136, note 4. Neither Boswell nor Mrs. Piozzi mentions Percy by name as the subject of Johnson's ridicule.
[616] See Boswell's Hebrides, Oct. 4, 1773.
[617] Rogers (Table-Talk, p. 88) said that 'Fox considered Burnet's style to be perfect.'
[618] Johnson (Works, vii. 96) quotes; 'Dalrymple's observation, who says "that whenever Burnet's narrations are examined, he appears to be mistaken."' Lord Bolingbroke (Works, iv. 151) wrote of party pamphlets and histories:--'Read them with suspicion, for they deserve to be suspected; pay no regard to the epithets given, nor to the judgments passed; neglect all declamation, weigh the reasoning, and advert to fact. With such precautions, even Burnet's history may be of some use.' Horace Walpole, noticing an attack on Burnet, says (Letters, vi. 487):--'It shows his enemies are not angry at his telling falsehoods, but the truth ... I will tell you what was said of his History by one whose testimony you yourself will not dispute. That confessor said, "Damn him, he has told a great deal of truth, but where the devil did he learn it?" This was St. Atterbury's testimony.'
[619] The cross-buns were for Boswell and Levet. Johnson recorded (Pr. and Med. p. 121):--'On this whole day I took nothing of nourishment but one cup of tea without milk; but the fast was very inconvenient. Towards night I grew fretful and impatient, unable to fix my mind or govern my thoughts.'
[620] It is curious to compare with this Johnson's own record:--'I found the service not burdensome nor tedious, though I could not hear the lessons. I hope in time to take pleasure in public works.' Pr. and Med. p. 121.
[621] In the original in.
[622] Afterwards Charles I. BOSWELL.
[623] See ante, ii. 47.
[624] See post, April 9, 1778, where Johnson said:-'Goldsmith had no settled notions upon any subject; so he talked always at random.'
[625] The next day Johnson recorded:--'I have had some nights of that quiet and continual sleep which I had wanted till I had almost forgotten it.' Pemb. Coll. MSS.
[626] See ante, ii. 11.
[627] We have the following account of Johnson's kitchen in 1778: 'Mr. Thale.--"And pray who is clerk of your kitchen, Sir?" Dr.