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ce was never shown without some intention； immediate or remote； of mending some fault or conveying some instruction。 Had I meant to make a panegyric on Mr。 Johnson's well…known excellences； I should have told his deeds only； not his wordssincerely protesting； that as I never saw him once do a wrong thing； so we had accustomed ourselves to look upon him almost as an excepted being： and I should as much have expected injustice from Socrates； or impiety from Paschal； as the slightest deviation from truth and goodness in any transaction one might be engaged in with Samuel Johnson。 His attention to veracity was without equal or example： and when I mentioned Clarissa as a perfect character； 〃On the contrary；〃 said he； 〃you may observe there is always something which she prefers to truth。 Fielding's Amelia was the most pleasing heroine of all the romances；〃 he said； 〃but that vile broken nose； never cured； ruined the sale of perhaps the only book； which being printed off betimes one morning； a new edition was called for before night。〃
Mr。 Johnson's knowledge of literary history was extensive and surprising。 He knew every adventure of every book you could name almost； and was exceedingly pleased with the opportunity which writing the 〃Poets' Lives〃 gave him to display it。 He loved to be set at work； and was sorry when he came to the end of the business he was about。 I do not feel so myself with regard to these sheets： a fever which has preyed on me while I wrote them over for the press； will perhaps lessen my power of doing well the first； and probably the last work I should ever have thought of presenting to the public。 I could doubtless wish so to conclude it； as at least to show my zeal for my friend； whose life； as I once had the honour and happiness of being useful to； I should wish to record a few particular traits of； that those who read should emulate his goodness； but feeling the necessity of making even virtue and learning such as HIS agreeable； that all should be warned against such coarseness of manners； as drove even from HIM those who loved； honoured； and esteemed him。 His wife's daughter； Mrs。 Lucy Porter； of Lichfield； whose veneration for his person and character has ever been the greatest possible； being opposed one day in conversation by a clergyman who came often to her house； and feeling somewhat offended； cried out sudden； 〃Why； Mr。 Pearson；〃 said she； 〃you are just like Dr。 Johnson； I think： I do not mean that you are a man of the greatest capacity in all the world like Dr。 Johnson； but that you contradict one every word one speaks； just like him。〃
Mr。 Johnson told me the story： he was present at the giving of the reproof。 It was； however； observable； that with all his odd severity； he could not keep even indifferent people from teasing him with unaccountable confessions of silly conduct； which one would think they would scarcely have had inclination to reveal even to their tenderest and most intimate companions； and it was from these unaccountable volunteers in sincerity that he learned to warn the world against follies little known； and seldom thought on by other moralists。
Much of his eloquence； and much of his logic； have I heard him use to prevent men from making vows on trivial occasions； and when he saw a person oddly perplexed about a slight difficulty； 〃Let the man alone；〃 he would say； 〃and torment him no more about it； there is a vow in the case； I am convinced； but is it not very strange that people should be neither afraid nor ashamed of bringing in God Almighty thus at every turn between themselves and their dinner？〃 When I asked what ground he had for such imaginations； he informed me； 〃That a young lady once told him in confidence that she could never persuade herself to be dressed against the bell rung for dinner； till she had made a vow to heaven that she would never more be absent from the family meals。〃
The strangest applications in the world were certainly made from time to time towards Mr。 Johnson； who by that means had an inexhaustible fund of ancecdote； and could； if he pleased； tell the most astonishing stories of human folly and human weakness that ever were confided to any man not a confessor by profession。
One day； when he was in a humour to record some of them； he told us the following tale：〃A person；〃 said he； 〃had for these last five weeks often called at my door； but would not leave his name or other message； but that he wished to speak with me。 At last we met； and he told me that he was oppressed by scruples of conscience。 I blamed him gently for not applying； as the rules of our Church direct； to his parish priest or other discreet clergyman； when； after some compliments on his part； he told me that he was clerk to a very eminent trader； at whose warehouses much business consisted in packing goods in order to go abroad； that he was often tempted to take paper and packthread enough for his own use； and that he had indeed done so so often； that he could recollect no time when he ever had bought any for himself。 'But probably；' said I； 'your master was wholly indifferent with regard to such trivial emoluments。 You had better ask for it at once； and so take your trifles with content。' 'Oh； sir！' replies the visitor； 'my master bid me have as much as I pleased； and was half angry when I talked to him about it。' 'Then pray； sir；' said I； 'tease me no more about such airy nothings；' and was going on to be very angry； when I recollected that the fellow might be mad； perhaps； so I asked him； 'When he left the counting…house of an evening？' 'At seven o'clock； sir。' 'And when do you go to bed； sir？' 'At twelve o'clock。' 'Then；' replied I； 'I have at least learnt thus much by my new acquaintancethat five hours of the four…and…twenty unemployed are enough for a man to go mad in； so I would advise you； sir； to study algebra； if you are not an adept already in it。 Your head would get less MUDDY； and you will leave off tormenting your neighbours about paper and packthread； while we all live together in a world that is bursting with sin and sorrow。' It is perhaps needless to add that this visitor came no more。〃
Mr。 Johnson had； indeed； a real abhorrence of a person that had ever before him treated a little thing like a great one； and he quoted this scrupulous gentleman with his packthread very often； in ridicule of a friend who； looking out on Streatham Common from our windows； one day； lamented the enormous wickedness of the times because some bird…catchers were busy there one fine Sunday morning。 〃While half the Christian world is permitted；〃 said he； 〃to dance and sing and celebrate Sunday as a day of festivity； how comes your Puritanical spirit so offended with frivolous and empty deviations from exactness？ Whoever loads life with unnecessary scruples； sir；〃 continued he； 〃provokes the attention of others on his conduct； and incurs the censure of singularity without reaping the reward of superior virtue。〃
I must not； among the anecdotes of Dr。 Johnson's life； omit to relate a thing that happened to him one day； which he told me of himself。 As he was walking along the Strand a gentleman stepped out of some neighbouring tavern； with his napkin in his