< Page:Johnsonian Miscellanies II.djvu
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272

Recollections of Dr. Johnson

intimately acquainted with.) in speaking of her to Sir Joshua Reynolds. His lordship said, that 'he did not believe that there was a more perfect human Being created; or that there ever would be created, than Mrs. ——' I give the very words I heard from Sir Joshua's own mouth, and from whom also I heard that he repeated them to Mr. Burke; and observing that Lord Bath could not have said more, and 'I do not think that he said too much,' was Mr. Burke's reply. I have also heard Dr. Johnson speak of this Lady in terms of high admiration. 'Sir, that Lady exerts more mind in conversation than any Person I ever met with: Sir, she displays such powers of ratiocination, even radiations of intellectual excellence as are amazing[1].'

On the praises of Mrs. Thrale he used to dwell with a peculiar delight, a paternal fondness, expressive of conscious exultation in being so intimately acquainted with her[2]. One day, in speaking of her to Mr. Harris, Author of Hermes[3], and expatiating on her various perfections, the solidity of her virtues, the brilliancy of her wit, and the strength of her understanding, &c.—he quoted some lines, a stanza, I believe, but from what author I know not, with which he concluded his most eloquent eulogium, and of these I retain'd but the two last lines:—

"Virtues of such a generous kind,
Good in the last recesses of the mind.'

Dr. Johnson had a most sincere and tender regard for Mrs. Thr-le, and no wonder; she would with much apparent affection

[4]

  1. ↑ For Johnson's high praise of her see Life, iv. 275. Of her pretentious Essay on Shakespeare he said:—'It does her honour, but it would do nobody else honour.' He could not get through it. Ib. ii. 88; v. 245. Much of her reputation was no doubt due to the splendid house she kept. Horace Walpole wrote on May 27, 1775 (Letters, vi. 217): 'The husband of Mrs. Montagu of Shakespeareshire is dead, and has left her an estate of seven thousand pounds a year in own power.' See ante, i. 287, 338, 351.
  2. ↑ He wrote to her on her second marriage: 'I who have loved you, esteemed you, reverenced you, and served you, I who long thought you the first of womankind,' &c. Letters, ii. 406.
  3. ↑ Ante, ii. 70.
  4. ↑ and in compliment to the discerning Public.

    This note was written many years before Mrs. Montagu's Decease, but left uncancelled out of Respect to her memory.' Miss REYNOLDS.

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