[844] Boswell himself, likely enough.

[845] Verses on the death of Mr. Levett.  BOSWELL. Ante, p. 138

[846] If it was Boswell to whom this advice was given, it is not unlikely that he needed it.  The meagreness of his record of Johnson’s talk at this season may have been due, as seems to have happened before, to too much drinking. Ante, p.88, note 1.

[847] Ante, ii. 100.

[848] George Steevens.  See ante, iii. 281.

[849] Forty-six years earlier Johnson wrote of this lady:-’I have composed a Greek epigram to Eliza, and think she ought to be celebrated in as many different languages as Lewis le Grand.’ Ante, i. 122.  Miss Burney described her in 1780 as ’really a noble-looking woman; I never saw age so graceful in the female sex yet; her whole face seems to beam with goodness, piety, and philanthropy.’  Mme. D’Arblay’s Diary, i. 373.

[850] ’Mrs. Thrale says that though Mrs. Lennox’s books are generally approved, nobody likes her.’ Ib. p. 91.  See ante, i. 255, and iv. 10.

[851] ’Sept. 1778.  MRS. THRALE.  “Mrs. Montagu is the first woman for literary knowledge in England, and if in England, I hope I may say in the world.”  DR. JOHNSON.  “I believe you may, Madam.  She diffuses more knowledge in her conversation than any woman I know, or, indeed, almost any man.”  MRS. THRALE.  “I declare I know no man equal to her, take away yourself and Burke, for that art."’ Mme. D’Arblay’s Diary, i. 118.  It is curious that Mrs. Thrale and Boswell should both thus instance Burke.  Miss Burney writes of her in much more moderate terms:—­’Allowing a little for parade and ostentation, which her power in wealth and rank in literature offer some excuse for, her conversation is very agreeable; she is always reasonable and sensible, and sometimes instructive and entertaining.’ Ib. p. 325.  See ante, ii. 88, note 3.  These five ladies all lived to a great age.  Mrs. Montagu was 80 when she died; Mrs. Lennox, 83; Miss Burney (Mme. D’Arblay), 87; Miss More and Mrs. (Miss) Carter, 88.  Their hostess, Mrs. Garrick, was 97 or 98.

[852] Miss Burney, describing how she first saw Burke, says:—­’I had been told that Burke was not expected; yet I could conclude this gentleman to be no other.  There was an evident, a striking superiority in his demeanour, his eye, his motions, that announced him no common man.’  Mme. D’Arblay’s Diary, ii. 145.  See ante, ii. 450, where Johnson said of Burke:—­’His stream of mind is perpetual;’ and Boswell’s Hebrides post,, v. 32, and Prior’s Life of Burke, fifth edition, p. 58.