Mr. Thomas
Tyers was bred to the law; but having a handsome fortune, vivacity of
temper, and eccentricity of mind, he could not confine himself to the
regularity of practice. He therefore ran about the world with a pleasant
carelessness, amusing everybody by his desultory conversation. He
abounded in anecdote, but was not sufficiently attentive to accuracy. I
therefore cannot venture to avail myself much of a biographical sketch
of Johnson which he published, being one among the various persons
ambitious of appending their names to that of my illustrious friend.
That sketch is, however, an entertaining little collection of fragments.
Those which he published of Pope and Addison are of higher merit; but
his fame must chiefly rest upon his Political Conferences, in which he
introduces several eminent persons delivering their sentiments in the
way of dialogue, and discovers a considerable share of learning, various
knowledge, and discernment of character. This much may I be allowed to
say of a man who was exceedingly obliging to me, and who lived with
Dr.
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