'
Though his usual phrase for conversation was TALK, yet he made a
distinction; for when he once told me that he dined the day before at a
friend's house, with 'a very pretty company;' and I asked him if there
was good conversation, he answered, 'No, Sir; we had TALK enough, but no
CONVERSATION; there was nothing DISCUSSED.'
Such was his sensibility, and so much was he affected by pathetick
poetry, that, when he was reading Dr. Beattie's Hermit in my presence,
it brought tears into his eyes.
Mr. Hoole told him, he was born in Moorfields, and had received part of
his early instruction in Grub-street. 'Sir, (said Johnson, smiling,) you
have been REGULARLY educated.' Having asked who was his instructor, and
Mr. Hoole having answered, 'My uncle, Sir, who was a taylor;' Johnson,
recollecting himself, said, 'Sir, I knew him; we called him the
metaphysical taylor. He was of a club in Old-street, with me and George
Psalmanazar, and some others: but pray, Sir, was he a good taylor?' Mr.
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