Having no near relations, it had been for some time Johnson's intention
to make a liberal provision for his faithful servant, Mr. Francis
Barber, whom he looked upon as particularly under his protection, and
whom he had all along treated truly as an humble friend. Having asked
Dr. Brocklesby what would be a proper annuity to a favourite servant,
and being answered that it must depend on the circumstances of the
master; and, that in the case of a nobleman, fifty pounds a year was
considered as an adequate reward for many years' faithful service;
'Then, (said Johnson,) shall I be nobilissimus, for I mean to leave
Frank seventy pounds a year, and I desire you to tell him so.' It is
strange, however, to think, that Johnson was not free from that general
weakness of being averse to execute a will, so that he delayed it from
time to time; and had it not been for Sir John Hawkins's repeatedly
urging it, I think it is probable that his kind resolution would not
have been fulfilled.
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