[901] What risks were run even by inoculation is shewn in two of Dr. Warton’s letters.  He wrote to his brother:—­’This moment the dear children have all been inoculated, never persons behaved better, no whimpering at all, I hope in God for success, but cannot avoid being in much anxiety.’  A few days later he wrote:—­’You may imagine I never passed such a day as this in my life! grieved to death myself for the loss of so sweet a child, but forced to stifle my feelings as much as possible for the sake of my poor wife.  She does not, however, hit on, or dwell on, that most cutting circumstance of all, poor Nanny’s dying, as it were by our own means, tho’ well intended indeed.’  Wooll’s Warton, i. 289.  Dr. Franklin (Memoirs, i. 155), on the other hand, bitterly regretted that he had not had a child inoculated, whom he lost by small-pox.

[902] See post, before Nov. 17, and under Dec. 9, 1784.

[903] ‘I am the vilest of sinners and the worst of men.’  Taylor’s Works (ed. 1864), iii. 31.  ’The best men deserve not eternal life, and I who am the worst may have it given me.’ Ib. p. 431—­’He that hath lived worst, even I.’ Ib. vii. 241.  ’Behold me the meanest of thy creatures.’ Ib. p. 296.

[904] ’You may fairly look upon yourself to be the greatest sinner that you know in the world.  First, because you know more of the folly of your own heart than you do of other people’s; and can charge yourself with various sins that you only know of yourself, and cannot be sure that other people are guilty of them.’  Law’s Serious Call, chap. 23.

[905] 1 Timothy, i. 15.

[906] See post, v. 68, note 4.

[907] ’Be careful thou dost not speak a lie in thy prayers, which though not observed is frequently practised by careless persons, especially in the forms of confession, affirming things which they have not thought, professing sorrow which is not, making a vow they mean not.’  Taylor’s Works, ed. 1865, vii. 622.

[908] Reynolds wrote:—­’As in Johnson’s writings not a line can be found which a saint would wish to blot, so in his life he would never suffer the least immorality or indecency of conversation, [or anything] contrary to virtue or piety to proceed without a severe check, which no elevation of rank exempted them from.’  Taylor’s Reynolds, ii. 458.  See ante, iii. 41.

[909] No doubt Mr. Langton.

[910] Dr. Sheridan tells how Swift overheard a Captain Hamilton say to a gentleman at whose house he had arrived ’that he was very sorry he had chosen that time for his visit.  “Why so?” “Because I hear Dean Swift is with you.  He is a great scholar, a wit; a plain country squire will have but a bad time of it in his company, and I don’t like to be laughed at.”  Swift then stepped up and said, “Pray, Captain Hamilton, do you know how to say yes or no properly?” “Yes, I think I have understanding enough for that.”  “Then give me your hand—­depend upon it, you and I will agree very well."’ ‘The Captain told me,’ continues Sheridan, ’that he never passed two months so pleasantly in his life.’  Swift’s Works, ed. 1803, ii. 104.