On Thursday, June 24, I dined with him at Mr. Dilly’s, where were the Rev. Mr. (now Dr.) Knox, master of Tunbridge-school, Mr. Smith, Vicar of Southill, Dr. Beattie, Mr. Pinkerton, authour of various literary performances, and the Rev. Dr. Mayo.  At my desire old Mr. Sheridan was invited, as I was earnest to have Johnson and him brought together again by chance, that a reconciliation might be effected.  Mr. Sheridan happened to come early, and having learned that Dr. Johnson was to be there, went away; so I found, with sincere regret, that my friendly intentions were hopeless.  I recollect nothing that passed this day, except Johnson’s quickness, who, when Dr. Beattie observed, as something remarkable which had happened to him, that he had chanced to see both No. 1, and No. 1000, of the hackney-coaches, the first and the last; ’Why, Sir, (said Johnson,) there is an equal chance for one’s seeing those two numbers as any other two.’

On Friday, June 25, I dined with him at General Paoli’s, where, he says in one of his letters to Mrs. Thrale, ‘I love to dine.’  There was a variety of dishes much to his taste, of all which he seemed to me to eat so much, that I was afraid he might be hurt by it; and I whispered to the General my fear, and begged he might not press him.  ’Alas! (said the General,) see how very ill he looks; he can live but a very short time.  Would you refuse any slight gratifications to a man under sentence of death?  There is a humane custom in Italy, by which persons in that melancholy situation are indulged with having whatever they like best to eat and drink, even with expensive delicacies.’

On Sunday, June 27, I found him rather better.  I mentioned to him a young man who was going to Jamaica with his wife and children, in expectation of being provided for by two of her brothers settled in that island, one a clergyman, and the other a physician.  Johnson.  ’It is a wild scheme, Sir, unless he has a positive and deliberate invitation.  There was a poor girl, who used to come about me, who had a cousin in Barbadoes, that, in a letter to her, expressed a wish she should come out to that Island, and expatiated on the comforts and happiness of her situation.  The poor girl went out:  her cousin was much surprised, and asked her how she could think of coming.  “Because, (said she,) you invited me.”  “Not I,” answered the cousin.  The letter was then produced.  “I see it is true, (said she,) that I did invite you:  but I did not think you would come.”  They lodged her in an out-house, where she passed her time miserably; and as soon as she had an opportunity she returned to England.  Always tell this, when you hear of people going abroad to relations, upon a notion of being well received.  In the case which you mention, it is probable the clergyman spends all he gets, and the physician does not know how much he is to get.’