' He
told us, he read Fielding's Amelia through without stopping. He
said, 'if a man begins to read in the middle of a book, and feels an
inclination to go on, let him not quit it, to go to the beginning. He
may perhaps not feel again the inclination.'
Soon after this day, he went to Bath with Mr. and Mrs. Thrale. I had
never seen that beautiful city, and wished to take the opportunity of
visiting it, while Johnson was there.
On the 26th of April, I went to Bath; and on my arrival at the Pelican
inn, found lying for me an obliging invitation from Mr. and Mrs. Thrale,
by whom I was agreeably entertained almost constantly during my stay.
They were gone to the rooms; but there was a kind note from Dr. Johnson,
that he should sit at home all the evening. I went to him directly, and
before Mr. and Mrs. Thrale returned, we had by ourselves some hours of
tea-drinking and talk.
I shall group together such of his sayings as I preserved during the few
days that I was at Bath.
It having been mentioned, I know not with what truth, that a certain
female political writer, whose doctrines he disliked, had of late become
very fond of dress, sat hours together at her toilet, and even put on
rouge:--Johnson.
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