When fainting Nature call’d for aid,
        And hov’ring Death prepar’d the blow,
      His vigorous remedy display’d
        The power of art without the show.

      In Misery’s darkest caverns known,
        His ready help was ever nigh,
      Where hopeless Anguish pour’d his groan,
        And lonely want retir’d to die[437].

      No summons mock’d by chill delay,
        No petty gains disdain’d by pride;
      The modest wants of every day
        The toil of every day supply’d.

      His virtues walk’d their narrow round,
        Nor made a pause, nor left a void;
      And sure the Eternal Master found
        His single talent well employ’d.

      The busy day, the peaceful night[438],
        Unfelt, uncounted, glided by;
      His frame was firm, his powers were bright,
        Though now his eightieth year was nigh[439].

      Then, with no throbs of fiery pain,
        No cold gradations of decay,
      Death broke at once the vital chain,
        And freed his soul the nearest way.’

In one of Johnson’s registers of this year, there occurs the following curious passage:—­

’Jan. 20[440].  The Ministry is dissolved.  I prayed with Francis and gave thanks[441].’

It has been the subject of discussion, whether there are two distinct particulars mentioned here? or that we are to understand the giving of thanks to be in consequence of the dissolution of the Ministry?  In support of the last of these conjectures may be urged his mean opinion of that Ministry, which has frequently appeared in the course of this work[442]; and it is strongly confirmed by what he said on the subject to Mr. Seward:—­’I am glad the Ministry is removed.  Such a bunch of imbecility never disgraced a country[443].  If they sent a messenger into the City to take up a printer, the messenger was taken up instead of the printer, and committed by the sitting Alderman[444].  If they sent one army to the relief of another, the first army was defeated and taken before the second arrived[445].  I will not say that what they did was always wrong; but it was always done at a wrong time[446].’

’TO MRS. STRAHAN.

’DEAR MADAM,

’Mrs. Williams shewed me your kind letter.  This little habitation is now but a melancholy place, clouded with the gloom of disease and death.  Of the four inmates, one has been suddenly snatched away; two are oppressed by very afflictive and dangerous illness; and I tried yesterday to gain some relief by a third bleeding, from a disorder which has for some time distressed me, and I think myself to-day much better.

’I am glad, dear Madam, to hear that you are so far recovered as to go to Bath.  Let me once more entreat you to stay till your health is not only obtained, but confirmed.  Your fortune is such as that no moderate expence deserves your care; and you have a husband, who, I believe, does not regard it.  Stay, therefore, till you are quite well.  I am, for my part, very much deserted; but complaint is useless.  I hope GOD will bless you, and I desire you to form the same wish for me.