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tracted scale. Among the names of subscribers to the “Harleian Miscellany," there occurs that of “Sarah Johnson, bookseller, in Lichfield." The humble nature of her establishment may be gathered from a passage in Miss Seward's Correspondence, where she says of Lucy Porter, "from the age of twenty she boarded in Lichfield, with Dr. Johnson's mother, who still kept that bookseller's shop, by which her husband supplied the scanty means of existence. Meantime, Lucy kept the best company of our little city, but would make no engagement on market-days, lest granny, as she called Mrs. Johnson, should catch cold by serving in the shop. There Lucy Porter took her place, standing behind the counter, nor thought it a disgrace to thank a poor person who purchased from her a penny battledore." One of Lucy's brothers subsequently bequeathed her a handsome property, with part of which she built herself a commodious house in Tamworth Street, Lichfield, where she ended her days, in January 1796, aged 70 years, and lies buried in the Church of St. Chad. (Gent. Mag., Oct. 1829.)

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702. Singular Misquotation.

There is a curious error in Dr. Johnson's Dictionary which has not hitherto been noticed. It occurs in Definition 13. of the verb "To sit," and pervades every edition that I have yet seen, even Mr. Todd's. "Asses are ye that sit in judgement. Judges, v. 10.” The verse is 'Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way." Were not Dr. Johnson's reverence for the Scriptures too well known to allow us to imagine that he would wilfully pervert them; we might suppose that he, who gave the definition of Excise and Renegado, had intended, by anticipation, to express his opinion of the censure of his critics.

PART XXXIII.

JEUX D'ESPRIT ON JOHNSON'S BIOGRAPHERS.

No. I.-LESSON IN BIOGRAPHY;

OR, HOW TO WRITE THE LIFE OF ONE'S FRIEND. An Extract from the LIFE OF DR. Pozz, in ten volumes folio, written by JAMES Bozz, Esq., who FLOURISHED with him near fifty years.

BY ALEXANDER CHALMERS, ESQ. (1)

WE dined at the chop-house. Dr. Pozz was this day very instructive. We talked of books. I mentioned the History of Tommy Trip. I said it was a great work. Pozz. "Yes, Sir, it is a great work; but, Sir, it is a great work relatively; it was a great work to you when you was little boy but now, Sir, you are a great man, and Tommy Trip is a little boy." I felt somewhat hurt at this comparison, and I believe he perceived it; for, as he was squeezing a lemon, he said, "Never be affronted at a comparison. I have been compared to many things, but I never was affronted. No, Sir, if they would call me a dog, and you a canister tied to my tail, I would not be affronted."

Cheered by this kind mention of me, though in such a situation, I asked him what he thought of a friend of

(1) Among the numerous parodies and jeux d'esprit which Mr. Boswell's work produced, this pleasantry from the pen of Mr. Alexander Chalmers, which appeared in the periodical publications of the day, is worth preserving; for it is not merely a good pleasantry, but a fair criticism of some of the lighter parts of the work. - C.

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ours, who was always making comparisons. Pozz. Sir, that fellow has a simile for every thing but himself. I knew him when he kept a shop: he then made money, Sir, and now he makes comparisons. Sir, he would say that you and I were two figs stuck together; two figs in adhesion, Sir; and then he would laugh.' Bozz. "But have not some great writers determined that comparisons are now and then odious?" Pozz. "No, Sir, not odious in themselves, not odious as comparisons; the fellows who make them are odious. The Whigs make comparisons."

We supped that evening at his house. I showed him some lines I had made upon a pair of breeches. Pozz. "Sir, the lines are good; but where could you find such a subject in your country?" Bozz. "Therefore it is a proof of invention, which is a characteristic of poetry." Pozz. "Yes, Sir, but an invention which few of your countrymen can enjoy." I reflected afterwards on the depth of this remark: it affords a proof of that acuteness which he displayed in every branch of literature. I asked him if he approved of green spectacles? Pozz. "As to green spectacles, Sir, the question seems to be this: if I wore green spectacles, it would be because they assisted vision, or because I liked them. Now, Sir, if a man tells me he does not like green spectacles, and that they hurt his eyes, I would not compel him to wear them. No, Sir, I would dissuade him." A few months after, I consulted him again on this subject, and he honoured me with a letter, in which he gives the same opinion. It will be found in its proper place, Vol. VI. p. 2789. I have thought much on this subject, and must confess that in such matters a man ought to be a free moral agent.

Next day I left town, and was absent for six weeks, three days, and seven hours, as I find by a memorandum in my journal. In this time I had only one letter from him, which is as follows:

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"TO JAMES BOZZ, ESQ.

"DEAR SIR, My bowels have been very bad.

Pray buy me some Turkey rhubarb, and bring with you a copy of your • Tour.'

"Write to me soon, and write to me often. I am, dear Sir, yours, affectionately, SAM. Pozz."

It would have been unpardonable to have omitted a letter like this, in which we see so much of his great and illuminated mind. On my return to town, we met again at the chop-house. We had much conversation to-day: his wit flashed like lightning: indeed, there is not one hour of my present life in which I do not profit by some of his valuable communications.

I said I did not know

We talked of wind. I said I knew many persons much distressed with that complaint. Pozz." Yes, Sir, when confined, when pent up." that, but I questioned if the Romans ever knew it. Pozz. "Yes, Sir, the Romans knew it." Bozz. "Livy does not mention it." Pozz. "No, Sir, Livy wrote History. Livy was not writing the Life of a Friend."

On medical subjects his knowledge was immense. He told me of a friend of ours who had just been attacked by a most dreadful complaint: he had entirely lost the use of his limbs, so that he could neither stand nor walk, unless supported; his speech was quite gone; his eyes were much swollen, and every vein distended, yet his face was rather pale, and his extremities cold; his pulse beat 160 in a minute. I said, with tenderness, that I would go and see him; and, said I, “Sir, I will take Dr. Bolus with me." Pozz. " No, Sir, don't go." I was startled, for I knew his compassionate heart, and earnestly asked why? Pozz." Sir, you don't know his disorder." Bozz. " Pray what is it?" Pozz." Sir, the man is dead drunk!" This explanation threw me into a violent fit of laughter, in which he joined me, rolling about as he used to do when he enjoyed a joke;

Pozz. "Sir, you ought
Sir, he who laughs at

but he afterwards checked me. not to laugh at what I said. what another man says, will soon learn to laugh at that other man. Sir, you should laugh only at your own jokes; you should laugh seldom.'

We talked of a friend of ours who was a very violent politician. I said I did not like his company. Pozz. "No, Sir, he is not healthy; he is sore, Sir; his mind is ulcerated; he has a political whitlow; Sir, you cannot touch him without giving him pain. Sir, I would not talk politics with that man; I would talk of cabbage and peas: Sir, I would ask him how he got his corn in, and whether his wife was with child; but I would not talk politics." Bozz. "But perhaps, Sir, he would talk of nothing else." Pozz. “ Then, Sir, it is plain what he would do." On my very earnestly inquiring what that was, Dr. Pozz answered, "Sir, he would let it alone."

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I mentioned a tradesman who had lately set up his coach. Pozz. "He is right, Sir; a man who would go on swimmingly cannot get too soon off his legs. That man keeps his coach. Now, Sir, a coach is better than a chaise, Sir it is better than a chariot." Bozz. "Why, Sir?" Pozz. “Sir, it will hold more.” I begged he would repeat this, that I might remember it, and he complied with great good humour. "Dr. Pozz,” said I, “ you ought to keep a coach.” Pozz. Yes, Sir, I ought." Bozz. "But you do not, and that has often surprised me." 66 Bozz. Surprised you! There, Sir, is another prejudice of absurdity. Sir, you ought to be surprised at nothing. A man that has lived half your days ought to be above all surprise. Sir, it is a rule with me never to be surprised. It is mere ignorance; you cannot guess why I do not keep a coach, and you are surprised. Now, Sir, if you did know, you would not be surprised." I said, tenderly, I said, tenderly, "I hope, my dear Sir, you will let me know before I leave town."

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