Lord Graham and I went together to
Miss Monckton's, where I certainly was in extraordinary spirits, and
above all fear or awe. In the midst of a great number of persons of the
first rank, amongst whom I recollect with confusion, a noble lady of
the most stately decorum, I placed myself next to Johnson, and thinking
myself now fully his match, talked to him in a loud and boisterous
manner, desirous to let the company know how I could contend with Ajax.
I particularly remember pressing him upon the value of the pleasures
of the imagination, and as an illustration of my argument, asking him,
'What, Sir, supposing I were to fancy that the ----- (naming the most
charming Duchess in his Majesty's dominions) were in love with me,
should I not be very happy?' My friend with much address evaded my
interrogatories, and kept me as quiet as possible; but it may easily be
conceived how he must have felt. However, when a few days afterwards I
waited upon him and made an apology, he behaved with the most friendly
gentleness.
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