There is
nothing served about there, neither tea, nor coffee, nor lemonade, nor
any thing whatever; and depend upon it, Sir, a man does not love to
go to a place from whence he comes out exactly as he went in.' I
endeavoured, for argument's sake, to maintain that men of learning and
talents might have very good intellectual society, without the aid of
any little gratifications of the senses. Berrenger joined with Johnson,
and said, that without these any meeting would be dull and insipid. He
would therefore have all the slight refreshments; nay, it would not be
amiss to have some cold meat, and a bottle of wine upon a side-board.
'Sir, (said Johnson to me, with an air of triumph,) Mr. Berrenger
knows the world. Every body loves to have good things furnished to them
without any trouble. I told Mrs. Thrale once, that as she did not choose
to have card tables, she should have a profusion of the best sweetmeats,
and she would be sure to have company enough come to her.'
On Sunday, April 15, being Easter-day, after solemn worship in St.
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