[1042] Windham says (Diary, p. 34) that when Dr. Brocklesby made this offer ’Johnson pressed his hands and said, “God bless you through Jesus Christ, but I will take no money but from my sovereign.”  This, if I mistake not, was told the King through West.’  Dr. Brocklesby wrote to Burke, on July 2, 1788, to make him ’an instant present of L1000, which,’ he continues, ’for years past, by will, I had destined as a testimony of my regard on my decease.’  Burke, accepting the present, said:—­’I shall never be ashamed to have it known, that I am obliged to one who never can be capable of converting his kindness into a burthen.’  Burke’s Corres. iii.78.  See ante, p. 263, for the just praise bestowed by Johnson on physicians in his Life of Garth.

[1043] See ante, ii. 194.

[1044] Letters to Mrs. Thrale, vol. ii. p 375.  BOSWELL.

[1045] Rogers (Table-Talk, p. 45) describes him as ’a very handsome, gentlemanly, and amiable person.  Mme. D’Arblay tells how one evening at Dr. Burney’s home, when Signor Piozzi was playing on the piano, ’Mrs. Thrale stealing on tip-toe behind him, ludicrously began imitating him.  Dr. Burney whispered to her, “Because, Madam, you have no ear yourself for music, will you destroy the attention of all who in that one point are otherwise gifted?"’ Mrs. Thrale took this rebuke very well.  This was her first meeting with Piozzi.  It was in Mr. Thrale’s life-time. Memoirs of Dr. Burney, ii. 110.

[1046] Dr. Johnson’s letter to Sir John Hawkins, Life, p. 570.  BOSWELL.  The last time Miss Burney saw Johnson, not three weeks before his death, he told her that the day before he had seen Miss Thrale.  ’I then said:—­“Do you ever, Sir, hear from mother?” “No,” cried he, “nor write to her.  I drive her quite from my mind.  If I meet with one of her letters, I burn it instantly.  I have burnt all I can find.  I never speak of her, and I desire never to hear of her more.  I drive her, as I said, wholly from my mind."’ Mme. D’Arblay’s Diary, ii. 328.

[1047] See ante, i. 493.

[1048] Anec. p. 293.  BOSWELL.

[1049] ’The saying of the old philosopher who observes, “that he who wants least is most like the gods who want nothing,” was a favourite sentence with Dr. Johnson, who on his own part required less attendance, sick or well, than ever I saw any human creature.  Conversation was all he required to make him happy.’  Piozzi’s Anec. p.275.  Miss Burney’s account of the life at Streatham is generally very cheerful.  I suspect that the irksome confinement described by Mrs. Piozzi was not felt by her till she became attached to Mr. Piozzi.  This caused a great change in her behaviour and much unhappiness. (Ante, p. 138, note 4.) He at times treated her harshly. (Ante, p. 160, note.) Two passages in her letters to Miss Burney shew a want of feeling in her for a man who for nearly