The doctor, by his will, bequeathed to the reverend Mr. Rogers, who had married the daughter of Mrs. Prowse, 100l. towards the maintenance of the lunatic; but he, probably confidering that the interest of that fum would fall far short of what Johnfon had been used to contribute, and that the burthen of supporting her would lie on himself, renounced the legacy. Had the doctor left her, for her life, the dividends of 5001. part of his stock, she had sustained no loss at his death: as the matter now stands, I must apply the 1001. for her maintenance, and, if she lives to exhaust it, must seek out the place of her last legal settlement, and remit her to the care of a parish *. That the name of the poor man Heely occurs not in the will, and that no better a provision is therein made for the lunatic Herne, than a legacy which may fail to fupport her through life, can no otherwise be accounted for, than by the doctor's postponing that last folemn act of his life, and his making a difposition of what he had to leave, under circumstances that disabled him from recollecting either their rela * Of the craft and selfishness of the doctor's negro-servant, the following is a notable instance. At the time of his master's death, Mrs. Herne's maintenance was about 301. in arrear. I was applied to for the money, and shewed the bill to him, upon which he immediately went to the mad-house, and endeavoured to prevail on the keeper thereof to charge it on the legacy; but he refused to do it, faying, that the lunatic was placed there by Dr. John fon, and that it was a debt incurred in his life-time, and, by con sequence, was payable out of his effects. When this would not do, this artful fellow came to me, and pretended that he could bring a woman to swear that there was nothing due; and, upon my telling him, that I should, notwithstanding, pay the bill, he said, he faw there was no good intended for him, and in anger left me. tion to him, or the distresses they severally laboured The above facts are so connected with the transac- ** It will afford some fatisfaction to the compassionate reader to know, that the means of benefiting Heely, and some others of Dr. Johnson's relations, whom he had either totally neglected, or flightly noticed, have been found out and rendered practicable by Mr. Langton. That gentleman, to whom the doctor had given his mapuscript Latin poems, having got for them of the bookfellers 201, with that benignity which is but one of his excellent qualities, had determined to divide the fame among the doctor's relations. And whereas the doctor died indebted to the estate of the late Mr. Beauclerk, in the sum of 301. lady Diana Beauclerk, his relict and executrix, upon the receipt thereof, and being informed of Mr. Langton's intention, in a spirit of true benevolence requested, that the might be permitted to add that sum to the former, and, accordingly, deposited it in his hands. Part of this money has been applied in relieving the wants of Heely and his wife, and the rest will be disposed of among those relations that shall appear to fstand most in need of help; and, as a farther relief to Heely, and for the benefit of the idiot-boy, measures are taking to compel the father to maintain him, and eventually to fettle him with the parish, upon which he has ultimately a legal claim for relief and maintenance. ! INDEX. A. PAGE. ABiffinia, account of the Portuguese miffion to Adventurer, history of that publication - challenges Ballow, a lawyer 245 - account of a day spent with him in the country Amburst, (editor of the Craftsman) memoirs of him - 157 Annet, anecdote of his inveterate hatred of the holy scrip- tures - - - 566 Arches, observations on the controversy on the strength of Bailey's Dictionary, the foundation of Johnson's 244 - affronts Dr. Akenside and is challenged by him, but de- clines a meeting - - 245 Baret, John, the preface to his dictionary of four languages - Lady Diana, his relict, her benevolence to the neglected PAGE Blaney, Elizabeth, infcription to her memory, by Johnson's father Booksellers, instances of their generofity to authors - 344 Bofwell, Mr. James, accompanies Dr. Johnson to the Hebrides 472 Boyfe, Samuel, a distressed poet, account of him 158 Breakfasts of persons of quality before the introduction of tea 352 Brett, Dr. Thomas, his sentiments of prayer for the dead Brocklesby, Dr. his generous offer to Johnfon Brooke, Mr. Henry, account of his tragedy of Gustavus Vasa 76 C. Camden, (the antiquary) story of the mutilation of his monu- Canton, Mr. John, a writer in the Gentleman's Magazine 48 Catalogue of the Harleian Library, extracts from - - 134 Cave, Edward, (the printer) account of him Chesterfield, Earl of, his speech on the act for licensing the - pretends to patronize Johnson's Dictionary - his interview with Johnfon - story of his attempt on a married lady of quality - 180 - Corbet, Mr. Andrew, sends Johnson with his fon to Pembroke the immoral tendency of his letters to his son examined 181 - his letters contrasted with a letter of Sir Henry Sidney's - Johnson's character of him Chriftian, a complete one defined, by Howell Clarke, Dr. Samuel, his definition of virtue Cock-lane Ghost, account of the Columns, the proportions of Contraband trader characterized - 189 Cosper, Bishop of Lincoln, note respecting his dictionary - : 573 College, Oxford - Craftsman, character of that paper Cornelys, Mrs. the superintendant of our public diversions Creditor, merciless, a character now hardly known in England 523 Crichton, James, surnamed the Admirable, account of him and D. Dead, praying for them a conftant usage in the primitive church Dictionaries, account of the old English Diversions, the incessant round of them in London Dixie, Sir Wolftan, his treatment of Johnfon Dod (the decalogist) anecdote of him Dodd, Dr. William, account of him - further account of him and his forgery his petition to the king for pardon, written by Dr. John 520 motives for mercy in his case assigned by Johnson 527. Dodington, Bubb, Lord Melcombe, seeks the friendship of John Douglas, Dr. John, detects Lauder of accusing Milton falsely Duck, epitaph on a, written by Johnson when only three years of age 6 Ducket, his atheistical letter Duick, Mr. John, a writer in the Gentleman's Magazine 334 47 Editha, the wife of Edward the Confeffor, story of her meet ing with Ingulphus when a boy, and examining him as Egmont, Lord, author of "Faction detected" 48 Felons, the tenderness with which they are now treated 521 - chances in favour of their escaping justice multifold Fielding, Henry, character of him and his works Foote, Samuel, deterred by Johnson from his design of ridi |