140 Anecdotes by Miss Hawkins.

whom I thought rather a disgraceful visitor at our house, and who was never mentioned by ladies but with a smile, was to be one day an honour not only to us but to his country.

I remember a tailor's bringing his pattern-book to my brothers, and pointing out a purple, such as no one else wore, as the doctor's usual choice 1 . We all shouted with astonishment, at hearing that Polypheme, as, shame to say, we had nicknamed him, ever had a new coat ; but the tailor assured us he was a good customer. (Vol. i. p. 86.)

On the death of Mr. Thrale it was concluded by some that he would marry the widow ; by others that he would entirely take up his residence in her house, which, resembling the situation of many other learned men 2 , would have been nothing extraordinary or censurable. The path he would pursue was not evident, when on a sudden he came out again, and sought my father with kind eagerness. Calls were exchanged ; he would now take his tea with us ; and in one of these evening visits, which were the pleasantest periods of my knowledge of him, saying, when taking leave, that he was leaving London, Lady H. said, ' I suppose you are going to Bath ? ' ' Why should you suppose so ? ' said he. ' Because/ said my mother, ' I hear Mrs. Thrale is gone there V

• / know nothing of Mrs. Thrale,' he roared out ; ' good evening

to you.' The state of affairs was soon made known. (Vol. i. p. 96.)

It is greatly to the honour of Johnson that he never ac customed himself ' to descant 4 ' on the ingratitude of mankind, or to comment on the many causes he had to think harshly of the world. He said once to my youngest brother, ' I hate a complainer 5 ; ' this hatred might preserve him from the habit. (Vol. i. p. 97.)

To Warburton's great powers he did full justice. He did not

1 It was a brown coat that he in Bath. Letters, ii. 404, n. 3. usually wore. ' He never deviated 4 ' Descant on mine own infirmity.' from a dark colour.' Life, i. 396 ; Richard III, Act i. sc. I. 1. 27. iii. 54, n. 2, 325. 5 'Sir, I have never complained of

2 Dr. Watts, for instance. Works, the world ; nor do I think that I viii. 383. have reason to complain.' Life, iv.

3 She was married to Mr. Piozzi 116. See also ante, i. 263.

always,

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