[1071] Mrs. Piozzi (Anec.p. 258) lays the scene of this anecdote ’in some distant province, either Shropshire or Derbyshire, I believe.’  Johnson drove through these counties with the Thrales in 1774 (ante, ii. 285).  If the passage in the letter refers to the same anecdote—­and Mrs. Piozzi does not, so far as I know, deny it—­more than three years passed before Johnson was told of his rudeness.  Baretti, in a MS. note on Piozzi Letters, ii. 12, says that the story was ’Mr. Cholmondeley’s running away from his creditors.’  In this he is certainly wrong; yet if Mr. Cholmondeley had run away, and others gave the same explanation of the passage, his soreness is easily accounted for.

[1072] Anec. p. 23.  BOSWELL.

[1073] Ib. p. 302.  BOSWELL.

[1074] Rasselas, chap, xvii

[1075] Paradise Lost, iv. 639.

[1076] Anec. p. 63.  BOSWELL.

[1077] ’Johnson one day, on seeing an old terrier lie asleep by the fire-side at Streatham, said, “Presto, you are, if possible, a more lazy dog that I am."’ Johnson’s Works, ed. 1787, xi. 203.

[1078] Upon mentioning this to my friend Mr. Wilkes, he, with his usual readiness, pleasantly matched it with the following sentimental anecdote.  He was invited by a young man of fashion at Paris, to sup with him and a lady, who had been for some time his mistress, but with whom he was going to part.  He said to Mr. Wilkes that he really felt very much for her, she was in such distress; and that he meant to make her a present of two hundred louis-d’ors.  Mr. Wilkes observed the behaviour of Mademoiselle, who sighed indeed very piteously, and assumed every pathetick air of grief; but eat no less than three French pigeons, which are as large as English partridges, besides other things.  Mr. Wilkes whispered the gentleman, ’We often say in England, Excessive sorrow is exceeding dry, but I never heard Excessive sorrow is exceeding hungry.  Perhaps one hundred will do.’  The gentleman took the hint.  BOSWELL.

[1079] See post, p. 367, for the passage omitted.

[1080] Sir Joshua Reynolds, on account of the excellence both of the sentiment and expression of this letter, took a copy of it which he shewed to some of his friends; one of whom, who admired it, being allowed to peruse it leisurely at home, a copy was made, and found its way into the newspapers and magazines.  It was transcribed with some inaccuracies.  I print it from the original draft in Johnson’s own hand-writing.  BOSWELL.  Hawkins writes (Life, p. 574):—­’Johnson, upon being told that it was in print, exclaimed in my hearing, “I am betrayed,” but soon after forgot, as he was ever ready to do all real or supposed injuries, the error that made the publication possible.’