That Mr. Ch-lm-ley unexpectedly rode up to Mr. Thrale’s carriage, in which Mr. Thrale and she, and Dr. Johnson were travelling; that he paid them all his proper compliments, but observing that Dr. Johnson, who was reading, did not see him, ’tapt him gently on the shoulder. “’Tis Mr. Ch-lm-ley;” says my husband.  “Well, Sir—­and what if it is Mr. Ch-lm-ley;” says the other, sternly, just lifting his eyes a moment from his book, and returning to it again, with renewed avidity.’

This surely conveys a notion of Johnson, as if he had been grossly rude to Mr. Cholmondeley[1069], a gentleman whom he always loved and esteemed.  If, therefore, there was an absolute necessity for mentioning the story at all, it might have been thought that her tenderness for Dr. Johnson’s character would have disposed her to state any thing that could soften it.  Why then is there a total silence as to what Mr. Cholmondeley told her?—­that Johnson, who had known him from his earliest years, having been made sensible of what had doubtless a strange appearance, took occasion, when he afterwards met him, to make a very courteous and kind apology.  There is another little circumstance which I cannot but remark.  Her book was published in 1785, she had then in her possession a letter from Dr. Johnson, dated in 1777[1070], which begins thus:—­’Cholmondeley’s story shocks me, if it be true, which I can hardly think, for I am utterly unconscious of it:  I am very sorry, and very much ashamed[1071].’  Why then publish the anecdote?  Or if she did, why not add the circumstances, with which she was well acquainted!

In his social intercourse she thus describes him[1072]:—­

’Ever musing till he was called out to converse, and conversing till the fatigue of his friends, or the promptitude of his own temper to take offence, consigned him back again to silent meditation.’

Yet, in the same book[1073], she tells us,—­

’He was, however, seldom inclined to be silent, when any moral or literary question was started; and it was on such occasions that, like the Sage in "Rasselas[1074],” he spoke, and attention watched his lips; he reasoned, and conviction closed his periods.’

His conversation, indeed, was so far from ever fatiguing his friends, that they regretted when it was interrupted, or ceased, and could exclaim in Milton’s language,—­

‘With thee conversing, I forget all time[1075].’

I certainly, then, do not claim too much in behalf of my illustrious friend in saying, that however smart and entertaining Mrs. Thrale’s Anecdotes are, they must not be held as good evidence against him; for wherever an instance of harshness and severity is told, I beg leave to doubt its perfect authenticity; for though there may have been some foundation for it, yet, like that of his reproof to the ’very celebrated lady,’ it may be so exhibited in the narration as to be very unlike the real fact.