Mr.Sheridan here at once did honour to his taste and to his liberality of sentiment,by shewing that he was not prejudiced from the unlucky difference which had taken place between his worthy father and Dr.Johnson.I have already mentioned,that Johnson was very desirous of reconciliation with old Mr.Sheridan.It will,therefore,not seem at all surprizing that he was zealous in acknowledging the brilliant merit of his son.While it had as yet been displayed only in the drama,Johnson proposed him as a member of THE LITERARY CLUB,observing,that 'He who has written the two best comedies of his age,is surely a considerable man.'And he had,accordingly,the honour to be elected;for an honour it undoubtedly must be allowed to be,when it is considered of whom that society consists,and that a single black ball excludes a candidate.
On the 23rd of June,I again wrote to Dr.Johnson,enclosing a ship-master's receipt for a jar of orange-marmalade,and a large packet of Lord Hailes's Annals of Scotland.
'DR.JOHNSON TO MRS.BOSWELL.
'MADAM,--Though I am well enough pleased with the taste of sweetmeats,very little of the pleasure which I received at the arrival of your jar of marmalade arose from eating it.I received it as a token of friendship,as a proof of reconciliation,things much sweeter than sweetmeats,and upon this consideration I return you,dear Madam,my sincerest thanks.By having your kindness Ithink I have a double security for the continuance of Mr.
Boswell's,which it is not to be expected that any man can long keep,when the influence of a lady so highly and so justly valued operates against him.Mr.Boswell will tell you that I was always faithful to your interest,and always endeavoured to exalt you in his estimation.You must now do the same for me.We must all help one another,and you must now consider me,as,dear Madam,your most obliged,and most humble servant,'July 22,1777.'
'SAM.JOHNSON.'
'To JAMES BOSWELL,ESQ.
'DEAR SIR,--I am this day come to Ashbourne,and have only to tell you,that Dr.Taylor says you shall be welcome to him,and you know how welcome you will be to me.Make haste to let me know when you may be expected.
'Make my compliments to Mrs.Boswell,and tell her,I hope we shall be at variance no more.I am,dear Sir,your most humble servant,'August 30,1777.'
'SAM.JOHNSON.'
On Sunday evening,Sept.14,I arrived at Ashbourne,and drove directly up to Dr.Taylor's door.Dr.Johnson and he appeared before I had got out of the post-chaise,and welcomed me cordially.
I told them that I had travelled all the preceding night,and gone to bed at Leek in Staffordshire;and that when I rose to go to church in the afternoon,I was informed there had been an earthquake,of which,it seems,the shock had been felt in some degree at Ashbourne.JOHNSON.'Sir it will be much exaggerated in popular talk:for,in the first place,the common people do not accurately adapt their thoughts to the objects;nor,secondly,do they accurately adapt their words to their thoughts:they do not mean to lie;but,taking no pains to be exact,they give you very false accounts.A great part of their language is proverbial.If anything rocks at all,they say it rocks like a cradle;and in this way they go on.
The subject of grief for the loss of relations and friends being introduced,I observed that it was strange to consider how soon it in general wears away.Dr.Taylor mentioned a gentleman of the neighbourhood as the only instance he had ever known of a person who had endeavoured to RETAIN grief.He told Dr.Taylor,that after his Lady's death,which affected him deeply,he RESOLVED that the grief,which he cherished with a kind of sacred fondness,should be lasting;but that he found he could not keep it long.
JOHNSON.'All grief for what cannot in the course of nature be helped,soon wears away;in some sooner,indeed,in some later;but it never continues very long,unless where there is madness,such as will make a man have pride so fixed in his mind,as to imagine himself a King;or any other passion in an unreasonable way:for all unnecessary grief is unwise,and therefore will not be long retained by a sound mind.If,indeed,the cause of our grief is occasioned by our own misconduct,if grief is mingled with remorse of conscience,it should be lasting.'BOSWELL.'But,Sir,we do not approve of a man who very soon forgets the loss of a wife or a friend.'JOHNSON.'Sir,we disapprove of him,not because he soon forgets his grief,for the sooner it is forgotten the better,but because we suppose,that if he forgets his wife or his friend soon,he has not had much affection for them.'
I was somewhat disappointed in finding that the edition of The English Poets,for which he was to write Prefaces and Lives,was not an undertaking directed by him:but that he was to furnish a Preface and Life to any poet the booksellers pleased.I asked him if he would do this to any dunce's works,if they should ask him.
JOHNSON.'Yes,Sir,and SAY he was a dunce.'My friend seemed now not much to relish talking of this edition.
After breakfast,Johnson carried me to see the garden belonging to the school of Ashbourne,which is very prettily formed upon a bank,rising gradually behind the house.The Reverend Mr.Langley,the head-master,accompanied us.
Next morning.--ED.
We had with us at dinner several of Dr.Taylor's neighbours,good civil gentlemen,who seemed to understand Dr.Johnson very well,and not to consider him in the light that a certain person did,who being struck,or rather stunned by his voice and manner,when he was afterwards asked what he thought of him,answered.'He's a tremendous companion.'
Johnson told me,that 'Taylor was a very sensible acute man,and had a strong mind;that he had great activity in some respects,and yet such a sort of indolence,that if you should put a pebble upon his chimney-piece,you would find it there,in the same state,a year afterwards.'