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'On the evening I have spoken of above, at Mr. Vesey's, you would have
been much gratified, as it exhibited an instance of the high importance
in which Dr. Johnson's character is held, I think even beyond any I ever
before was witness to. The company consisted chiefly of ladies, among
whom were the Duchess Dowager of Portland, the Duchess of Beaufort, whom
I suppose from her rank I must name before her mother Mrs. Boscawen, and
her elder sister Mrs. Lewson, who was likewise there; Lady Lucan, Lady
Clermont, and others of note both for their station and understandings.
Among the gentlemen were Lord Althorpe, whom I have before named, Lord
Macartney, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Lord Lucan, Mr. Wraxal, whose book you
have probably seen, The Tour to the Northern Parts of Europe; a very
agreeable ingenious man; Dr. Warren, Mr. Pepys, the Master in Chancery,
whom I believe you know, and Dr. Barnard, the Provost of Eton. As soon
as Dr. Johnson was come in and had taken a chair, the company began to
collect round him, till they became not less than four, if not five,
deep; those behind standing, and listening over the heads of those
that were sitting near him.
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