sink wretched mortals into despair, as they could no longer hope for the ’rest that remaineth for the people of GOD’ [Hebrews, iv.9], or for that happiness which is revealed to us as something beyond our present conceptions; but would feel themselves doomed to a continuation of the uneasy state under which they now groan.  I say nothing of the petulant intemperance with which he dares to insult the venerable establishments of his country.

As a specimen of his writings, I shall quote the following passage, which appears to me equally absurd and impious, and which might have been retorted upon him by the men who were prosecuted for burning his house.  ’I cannot, (says he,) as a necessarian, [meaning necessitarian] hate any man; because I consider him as being, in all respects, just what GOD has made him to be; and also as doing with respect to me, nothing but what he was expressly designed and appointed to do; GOD being the only cause, and men nothing more than the instruments in his hands to execute all his pleasure.’—­ Illustrations of Philosophical Necessity, p. 111.

The Reverend Dr. Parr, in a late tract, appears to suppose that ’Dr. Johnson not only endured, but almost solicited, an interview with Dr. Priestley.  In justice to Dr. Johnson, I declare my firm belief that he never did.  My illustrious friend was particularly resolute in not giving countenance to men whose writings he considered as pernicious to society.  I was present at Oxford when Dr. Price, even before he had rendered himself so generally obnoxious by his zeal for the French Revolution, came into a company where Johnson was, who instantly left the room.  Much more would he have reprobated Dr. Priestley.  Whoever wishes to see a perfect delineation of this Literary Jack of all Trades, may find it in an ingenious tract, entitled, ’A SMALL WHOLE-LENGTH OF DR. PRIESTLEY,’ printed for Rivingtons, in St. Paul’s Church-Yard.  BOSWELL.  See Appendix B.

[740] Burke said, ‘I have learnt to think better of mankind.’ Ante, iii.236.

[741] He wrote to his servant Frank from Heale on Sept. l6:—­’As Thursday [the 18th] is my birthday I would have a little dinner got, and would have you invite Mrs. Desmoulins, Mrs. Davis that was about Mrs. Williams, and Mr. Allen, and Mrs. Gardiner.’  Croker’s Boswell, p.739.  See ante, iii.157, note 3.

[742] Dr. Burney had just lost Mr. Bewley, ‘the Broom Gentleman’ (ante, p. 134), and Mr. Crisp.  Dr. Burney’s Memoirs, ii.323, 352.  For Mr. Crisp, see Macaulay’s Review of Mme. D’Arblay’s Diary.  Essays, ed. 1874, iv.104.

[743] He wrote of her to Mrs. Montagu:—­’Her curiosity was universal, her knowledge was very extensive, and she sustained forty years of misery with steady fortitude.  Thirty years and more she had been my companion, and her death has left me very desolate.’  Croker’s Boswell, p. 739.  This letter brought to a close his quarrel with Mrs. Montagu (ante, p. 64).