' When Sir Joshua mentioned this to Dr. Johnson, he was much
displeased with the actor's conceit. 'HE'LL BE OF US, (said Johnson) how
does he know we will PERMIT him? The first Duke in England has no right
to hold such language.' However, when Garrick was regularly proposed
some time afterwards, Johnson, though he had taken a momentary
offence at his arrogance, warmly and kindly supported him, and he was
accordingly elected, was a most agreeable member, and continued to
attend our meetings to the time of his death.
It was Johnson's custom to observe certain days with a pious
abstraction; viz. New-year's-day, the day of his wife's death, Good
Friday, Easter-day, and his own birth-day. He this year says:--'I have
now spent fifty-five years in resolving; having, from the earliest time
almost that I can remember, been forming schemes of a better life. I
have done nothing. The need of doing, therefore, is pressing, since the
time of doing is short. O GOD, grant me to resolve aright, and to keep
my resolutions, for JESUS CHRIST'S sake.
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