In confirmation of my sentiments, I am also happy to quote that sensible and elegant writer Mr. Melmoth [see ante, iii. 422], in Letter VIII. of his collection, published under the name of Fitzosborne.  ’We may safely assert, that the belief of a particular Providence is founded upon such probable reasons as may well justify our assent.  It would scarce, therefore, be wise to renounce an opinion which affords so firm a support to the soul, in those seasons wherein she stands in most need of assistance, merely because it is not possible, in questions of this kind, to solve every difficulty which attends them.’  BOSWELL.

[840] I was sorry to observe Lord Monboddo avoid any communication with Dr. Johnson.  I flattered myself that I had made them very good friends (see Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, third edit. p. 67, post, v. 80), but unhappily his Lordship had resumed and cherished a violent prejudice against my illustrious friend, to whom I must do the justice to say, there was on his part not the least anger, but a good-humoured sportiveness.  Nay, though he knew of his Lordship’s indisposition towards him, he was even kindly; as appeared from his inquiring of me after him, by an abbreviation of his name, ‘Well, how does Monny?’ BOSWELL.  Boswell (Hebrides, post, v. 74) says:—­’I knew Lord Monboddo and Dr. Johnson did not love each other; yet I was unwilling not to visit his lordship, and was also curious to see them together.’  Accordingly, he brought about a meeting.  Four years later, in 1777 (ante, iii. 102), Monboddo received from Johnson a copy of his Journey to the Hebrides.  They met again in London in 1780 (Piozzi Letters, ii.  III), and perhaps then quarrelled afresh.  Dr. Seattle wrote on Feb. 28, 1785:-’Lord Monboddo’s hatred of Johnson was singular; he would not allow him to know anything but Latin grammar, “and that,” says he, “I know as well as he does.”  I never heard Johnson say anything severe of him, though when he mentioned his name, he generally “grinned horribly a ghastly smile,"’ [’Grinned horrible,’ &c. Paradise Lost, ii. 846.] Forbes’s Beattie, p. 333.  The use of the abbreviation Monny on Johnson’s part scarcely seems a proof of kindliness.  See ante, i. 453, where he said:—­’Why, Sir, Sherry is dull, naturally dull,’ &c.; and iii. 84, note 2, where he said:—­’I should have thought Mund Burke would have had more sense;’ see also Rogers’s Boswelliana, p. 216, where he said:—­’Derry [Derrick] may do very well while he can outrun his character; but the moment that his character gets up with him he is gone.’

[841] On May 13 he wrote:—­’ Now I am broken loose, my friends seem willing enough to see me. ...  But I do not now drive the world about; the world drives or draws me.  I am very weak.’ Piozzi Letters, ii. 369.

[842] See ante, iii, 443.

[843] See ante, p. 197.