’IsupposeyoureceivedtheIdlers，andIintendthatyoushallsoonreceiveShakspeare，thatyoumayexplainhisworkstotheladiesofItaly，andtellthemthestoryoftheeditor，amongtheotherstrangenarrativeswithwhichyourlongresidenceinthisunknownregionhassuppliedyou。
　　’Asyouhavenowbeenlongaway，Isupposeyourcuriositymaypantforsomenewsofyouroldfriends。MissWilliamsandIlivemuchaswedid。MissCotterelstillcontinuestoclingtoMrs。Porter，andCharlotteisnowbigofthefourthchild。Mr。Reynoldsgetssixthousandsayear。Levetislatelymarried，notwithoutmuchsuspicionthathehasbeenwretchedlycheatedinhismatch。Mr。
　　Chambersisgonethisday，forthefirsttime，thecircuitwiththeJudges。Mr。Richardsonisdeadofanapoplexy，andhisseconddaughterhasmarriedamerchant。
　　’Myvanity，ormykindness，makesmeflattermyself，thatyouwouldratherhearofmethanofthosewhomIhavementioned；butofmyselfIhaveverylittlewhichIcaretotell。LastwinterIwentdowntomynativetown，whereIfoundthestreetsmuchnarrowerandshorterthanIthoughtIhadleftthem，inhabitedbyanewraceofpeople，towhomIwasverylittleknown。Myplay-fellowsweregrownold，andforcedmetosuspectthatIwasnolongeryoung。Myonlyremainingfriendhaschangedhisprinciples，andwasbecomethetoolofthepredominantfaction。Mydaughter-in-law，fromwhomIexpectedmost，andwhomImetwithsincerebenevolence，haslostthebeautyandgaietyofyouth，withouthavinggainedmuchofthewisdomofage。Iwanderedaboutforfivedays，andtookthefirstconvenientopportunityofreturningtoaplace，where，ifthereisnotmuchhappiness，thereis，atleast，suchadiversityofgoodandevil，thatslightvexationsdonotfixupontheheart……
　　’Mayyou，myBaretti，beveryhappyatMilan，orsomeotherplacenearerto，Sir，yourmostaffectionatehumbleservant，’SAM。JOHNSON。’
　　TheaccessionofGeorgetheThirdtothethroneofthesekingdoms，openedanewandbrighterprospecttomenofliterarymerit，whohadbeenhonouredwithnomarkofroyalfavourintheprecedingreign。HispresentMajesty’seducationinthiscountry，aswellashistasteandbeneficence，promptedhimtobethepatronofscienceandthearts；andearlythisyearJohnson，havingbeenrepresentedtohimasaverylearnedandgoodman，withoutanycertainprovision，hisMajestywaspleasedtogranthimapensionofthreehundredpoundsayear。TheEarlofBute，whowasthenPrimeMinister，hadthehonourtoannouncethisinstanceofhisSovereign’sbounty，concerningwhich，manyandvariousstories，allequallyerroneous，havebeenpropagated：maliciouslyrepresentingitasapoliticalbribetoJohnson，todeserthisavowedprinciples，andbecomethetoolofagovernmentwhichheheldtobefoundedinusurpation。Ihavetakencaretohaveitinmypowertorefutethemfromthemostauthentickinformation。LordButetoldme，thatMr。Wedderburne，nowLordLoughborough，wasthepersonwhofirstmentionedthissubjecttohim。LordLoughboroughtoldme，thatthepensionwasgrantedtoJohnsonsolelyastherewardofhisliterarymerit，withoutanystipulationwhatever，oreventacitunderstandingthatheshouldwriteforadministration。HisLordshipadded，thathewasconfidentthepoliticaltractswhichJohnsonafterwardsdidwrite，astheywereentirelyconsonantwithhisownopinions，wouldhavebeenwrittenbyhimthoughnopensionhadbeengrantedtohim。
　　Mr。ThomasSheridanandMr。Murphy，whothenlivedagooddealbothwithhimandMr。Wedderburne，toldme，thattheypreviouslytalkedwithJohnsonuponthismatter，andthatitwasperfectlyunderstoodbyallpartiesthatthepensionwasmerelyhonorary。SirJoshuaReynoldstoldme，thatJohnsoncalledonhimafterhismajesty’sintentionhadbeennotifiedtohim，andsaidhewishedtoconsulthisfriendsastotheproprietyofhisacceptingthismarkoftheroyalfavour，afterthedefinitionswhichhehadgiveninhisDictionaryofpensionandpensioners。HesaidhewouldnothaveSirJoshua’sanswertillnextday，whenhewouldcallagain，anddesiredhemightthinkofit。SirJoshuaansweredthathewascleartogivehisopinionthen，thattherecouldbenoobjectiontohisreceivingfromtheKingarewardforliterarymerit；andthatcertainlythedefinitionsinhisDictionarywerenotapplicabletohim。Johnson，itshouldseem，wassatisfied，forhedidnotcallagaintillhehadacceptedthepension，andhadwaitedonLordButetothankhim。HethentoldSirJoshuathatLordButesaidtohimexpressly，’Itisnotgivenyouforanythingyouaretodo，butforwhatyouhavedone。’HisLordship，hesaid，behavedinthehandsomestmanner，herepeatedthewordstwice，thathemightbesureJohnsonheardthem，andthussethismindperfectlyatease。
　　Thisnobleman，whohasbeensovirulentlyabused，actedwithgreathonourinthisinstanceanddisplayedamindtrulyliberal。A
　　ministerofamorenarrowandselfishdispositionwouldhaveavailedhimselfofsuchanopportunitytofixanimpliedobligationonamanofJohnson’spowerfultalentstogivehimhissupport。
　　Mr。MurphyandthelateMr。SheridanseverallycontendedforthedistinctionofhavingbeenthefirstwhomentionedtoMr。
　　WedderburnethatJohnsonoughttohaveapension。WhenIspokeofthistoLordLoughborough，wishingtoknowifherecollectedtheprimemoverinthebusiness，hesaid，’Allhisfriendsassisted：’
　　andwhenItoldhimthatMr。Sheridanstrenuouslyassertedhisclaimtoit，hisLordshipsaid，’Herangthebell。’Anditisbutjusttoadd，thatMr。Sheridantoldme，thatwhenhecommunicatedtoDr。Johnsonthatapensionwastobegrantedhim，herepliedinafervourofgratitude，’TheEnglishlanguagedoesnotaffordmetermsadequatetomyfeelingsonthisoccasion。ImusthaverecoursetotheFrench。IampenetrewithhisMajesty’sgoodness。’
　　WhenIrepeatedthistoDr。Johnson，hedidnotcontradictit。
　　ThisyearhisfriendSirJoshuaReynoldspaidavisitofsomeweekstohisnativecountry，Devonshire，inwhichhewasaccompaniedbyJohnson，whowasmuchpleasedwiththisjaunt，anddeclaredhehadderivedfromitagreataccessionofnewideas。HewasentertainedattheseatsofseveralnoblemenandgentlemenintheWestofEngland；butthegreatestpartofthetimewaspassedatPlymouth，wherethemagnificenceofthenavy，theship-buildingandallitscircumstances，affordedhimagrandsubjectofcontemplation。TheCommissioneroftheDock-yardpaidhimthecomplimentoforderingtheyachttoconveyhimandhisfriendtotheEddystone，towhichtheyaccordinglysailed。Buttheweatherwassotempestuousthattheycouldnotland。
　　ReynoldsandhewereatthistimetheguestsofDr。Mudge，thecelebratedsurgeon，andnowphysicianofthatplace，notmoredistinguishedforquicknessofpartsandvarietyofknowledge，thanlovedandesteemedforhisamiablemanners；andhereJohnsonformedanacquaintancewithDr。Mudge’sfather，thatveryeminentdivine，theReverendZachariahMudge，PrebendaryofExeter，whowasidolisedinthewest，bothforhisexcellenceasapreacherandtheuniformperfectproprietyofhisprivateconduct。HepreachedasermonpurposelythatJohnsonmighthearhim；andweshallseeafterwardsthatJohnsonhonouredhismemorybydrawinghischaracter。WhileJohnsonwasatPlymouth，hesawagreatmanyofitsinhabitants，andwasnotsparingofhisveryentertainingconversation。Itwasherethathemadethatfrankandtrulyoriginalconfession，that’ignorance，pureignorance，’wasthecauseofawrongdefinitioninhisDictionaryofthewordpastern，tothenosmallsurpriseoftheLadywhoputthequestiontohim；
　　whohavingthemostprofoundreverenceforhischaracter，soasalmosttosupposehimendowedwithinfallibility，expectedtohearanexplanationofwhat，tobesure，seemedstrangetoacommonreader，drawnfromsomedeep-learnedsourcewithwhichshewasunacquainted。
　　SirJoshuaReynolds，towhomIwasobligedformyinformationconcerningthisexcursion，mentionsaverycharacteristicalanecdoteofJohnsonwhileatPlymouth。HavingobservedthatinconsequenceoftheDock-yardanewtownhadarisenabouttwomilesoffasarivaltotheold；andknowingfromhissagacity，andjustobservationofhumannature，thatitiscertainifamanhatesatall，hewillhatehisnextneighbour；heconcludedthatthisnewandrisingtowncouldnotbutexcitetheenvyandjealousyoftheold，inwhichconjecturehewasverysoonconfirmed；hethereforesethimselfresolutelyonthesideoftheoldtown，theestablishedtown，inwhichhislotwascast，consideringitasakindofdutytostandbyit。Heaccordinglyenteredwarmlyintoitsinterests，anduponeveryoccasiontalkedofthedockers，astheinhabitantsofthenewtownwerecalled，asupstartsandaliens。Plymouthisveryplentifullysuppliedwithwaterbyariverbroughtintoitfromagreatdistance，whichissoabundantthatitrunstowasteinthetown。TheDock，orNew-town，beingtotallydestituteofwater，petitionedPlymouththatasmallportionoftheconduitmightbepermittedtogotothem，andthiswasnowunderconsideration。Johnson，affectingtoentertainthepassionsoftheplace，wasviolentinopposition；and，half-laughingathimselfforhispretendedzealwherehehadnoconcern，exclaimed，’No，no!I
　　amagainstthedockers；IamaPlymouthman。Rogues!letthemdieofthirst。Theyshallnothaveadrop!’
　　1763：AETAT。54。]——Thisistomeamemorableyear；forinitIhadthehappinesstoobtaintheacquaintanceofthatextraordinarymanwhosememoirsIamnowwriting；anacquaintancewhichIshalleveresteemasoneofthemostfortunatecircumstancesinmylife。
　　Thoughthenbuttwo-and-twenty，Ihadforseveralyearsreadhisworkswithdelightandinstruction，andhadthehighestreverencefortheirauthour，whichhadgrownupinmyfancyintoakindofmysteriousveneration，byfiguringtomyselfastateofsolemnelevatedabstraction，inwhichIsupposedhimtoliveintheimmensemetropolisofLondon。Mr。Gentleman，anativeofIreland，whopassedsomeyearsinScotlandasaplayer，andasaninstructorintheEnglishlanguage，amanwhosetalentsandworthweredepressedbymisfortunes，hadgivenmearepresentationofthefigureandmannerofDICTIONARYJOHNSON!ashewasthengenerallycalled；andduringmyfirstvisittoLondon，whichwasforthreemonthsin1760，Mr。Derrickthepoet，whowasGentleman’sfriendandcountryman，flatteredmewithhopesthathewouldintroducemetoJohnson，anhonourofwhichIwasveryambitious。Butheneverfoundanopportunity；whichmademedoubtthathehadpromisedtodowhatwasnotinhispower；tillJohnsonsomeyearsafterwardstoldme，’Derrick，Sir，mightverywellhaveintroducedyou。IhadakindnessforDerrick，andamsorryheisdead。’
　　Inthesummerof1761Mr。ThomasSheridanwasatEdinburgh，anddeliveredlecturesupontheEnglishLanguageandPublickSpeakingtolargeandrespectableaudiences。Iwasofteninhiscompany，andheardhimfrequentlyexpatiateuponJohnson’sextraordinaryknowledge，talents，andvirtues，repeathispointedsayings，describehisparticularities，andboastofhisbeinghisguestsometimestilltwoorthreeinthemorning。AthishouseIhopedtohavemanyopportunitiesofseeingthesage，asMr。SheridanobliginglyassuredmeIshouldnotbedisappointed。
　　WhenIreturnedtoLondonintheendof1762，tomysurpriseandregretIfoundanirreconcilabledifferencehadtakenplacebetweenJohnsonandSheridan。ApensionoftwohundredpoundsayearhadbeengiventoSheridan。Johnson，who，ashasbeenalreadymentioned，thoughtslightinglyofSheridan’sart，uponhearingthathewasalsopensioned，exclaimed，’What!havetheygivenHIMapension？Thenitistimeformetogiveupmine。’