I also learnt from Dr. Lawrence, but was then
grown more stubborn.'
A curious incident happened to-day, while Mr. Thrale and I sat with
him. Francis announced that a large packet was brought to him from the
post-office, said to have come from Lisbon, and it was charged SEVEN
POUNDS TEN SHILLINGS. He would not receive it, supposing it to be some
trick, nor did he even look at it. But upon enquiry afterwards he found
that it was a real packet for him, from that very friend in the East
Indies of whom he had been speaking; and the ship which carried it
having come to Portugal, this packet, with others, had been put into the
post-office at Lisbon.
I mentioned a new gaming-club, of which Mr. Beauclerk had given me
an account, where the members played to a desperate extent. JOHNSON.
'Depend upon it, Sir, this is mere talk. WHO is ruined by gaming? You
will not find six instances in an age. There is a strange rout made
about deep play: whereas you have many more people ruined by adventurous
trade, and yet we do not hear such an outcry against it.
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