'Well, Sir,
Senectus.' JOHNSON. 'Nay, Sir, to insist always that there should be
one word to express a thing in English, because there is one in another
language, is to change the language.'
I proposed to Lord Marchmont that he should revise Johnson's Life
of Pope: 'So (said his Lordship,) you would put me in a dangerous
situation. You know he knocked down Osborne the bookseller.'
Elated with the success of my spontaneous exertion to procure material
and respectable aid to Johnson for his very favourite work, The Lives
of the Poets, I hastened down to Mr. Thrale's at Streatham, where he now
was, that I might insure his being at home next day; and after dinner,
when I thought he would receive the good news in the best humour, I
announced it eagerly: 'I have been at work for you to-day, Sir. I have
been with Lord Marchmont. He bade me tell you he has a great respect for
you, and will call on you to-morrow at one o'clock, and communicate all
he knows about Pope.'--Here I paused, in full expectation that he would
be pleased with this intelligence, would praise my active merit, and
would be alert to embrace such an offer from a nobleman.
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