'
On Monday, April 29, he and I made an excursion to Bristol, where I was
entertained with seeing him enquire upon the spot, into the authenticity
of 'Rowley's Poetry,' as I had seen him enquire upon the spot into the
authenticity of 'Ossian's Poetry.' George Catcot, the pewterer, who was
as zealous for Rowley, as Dr. Hugh Blair was for Ossian, (I trust my
Reverend friend will excuse the comparison,) attended us at our inn, and
with a triumphant air of lively simplicity called out, 'I'll make Dr.
Johnson a convert.' Dr. Johnson, at his desire, read aloud some of
Chatterton's fabricated verses, while Catcot stood at the back of his
chair, moving himself like a pendulum, and beating time with his feet,
and now and then looking into Dr. Johnson's face, wondering that he was
not yet convinced. We called on Mr. Barret, the surgeon, and saw some
of the ORIGINALS as they were called, which were executed very
artificially; but from a careful inspection of them, and a consideration
of the circumstances with which they were attended, we were quite
satisfied of the imposture, which, indeed, has been clearly demonstrated
from internal evidence, by several able criticks.
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