’Can’stthounotministertoaminddiseas’d；
Pluckfromthememoryarootedsorrow；
Razeoutthewrittentroublesofthebrain；
And，withsomesweetobliviousantidote，Cleansethestuff’dbosomofthatperilousstuff，Whichweighsupontheheart？’
TowhichDr。Brocklesbyreadilyanswered，fromthesamegreatpoet：——
’——thereinthepatientMustministertohimself。’
Johnsonexpressedhimselfmuchsatisfiedwiththeapplication。
Onanotherdayafterthis，whentalkingonthesubjectofprayer，Dr。BrocklesbyrepeatedfromJuvenal，——
’Orandumest，utsitmenssanaincorporesano，’
andsoontotheendofthetenthsatire；butinrunningitquicklyover，hehappened，intheline，’Quispatiumvitaeextremumintermuneraponat，’
topronouncesupremumforextremum；atwhichJohnson’scriticalearinstantlytookoffence，anddiscoursingvehementlyontheunmetricaleffectofsuchalapse，heshewedhimselfasfullaseverofthespiritofthegrammarian。
Havingnonearrelations，ithadbeenforsometimeJohnson’sintentiontomakealiberalprovisionforhisfaithfulservant，Mr。
FrancisBarber，whomhelookeduponasparticularlyunderhisprotection，andwhomhehadallalongtreatedtrulyasanhumblefriend。HavingaskedDr。Brocklesbywhatwouldbeaproperannuitytoafavouriteservant，andbeingansweredthatitmustdependonthecircumstancesofthemaster；and，thatinthecaseofanobleman，fiftypoundsayearwasconsideredasanadequaterewardformanyyears’faithfulservice；’Then，saidJohnson，shallIbenobilissimus，forImeantoleaveFrankseventypoundsayear，andIdesireyoutotellhimso。’Itisstrange，however，tothink，thatJohnsonwasnotfreefromthatgeneralweaknessofbeingaversetoexecuteawill，sothathedelayeditfromtimetotime；
andhaditnotbeenforSirJohnHawkins’srepeatedlyurgingit，I
thinkitisprobablethathiskindresolutionwouldnothavebeenfulfilled。Aftermakingone，which，asSirJohnHawkinsinformsus，extendednofurtherthanthepromisedannuity，Johnson’sfinaldispositionofhispropertywasestablishedbyaWillandCodicil。
Theconsiderationofnumerouspapersofwhichhewaspossessed，seemstohavestruckJohnson’smind，withasuddenanxiety，andastheywereingreatconfusion，itismuchtobelamentedthathehadnotentrustedsomefaithfulanddiscreetpersonwiththecareandselectionofthem；insteadofwhich，heinaprecipitatemanner，burntlargemassesofthem，withlittleregard，asIapprehend，todiscrimination。NotthatIsupposewehavethusbeendeprivedofanycompositionswhichhehadeverintendedforthepublickeye；
but，fromwhatescapedtheflames，Ijudgethatmanycuriouscircumstancesrelatingbothtohimselfandotherliterarycharactershaveperished。
Twoveryvaluablearticles，Iamsure，wehavelost，whichweretwoquartovolumes，containingafull，fair，andmostparticularaccountofhisownlife，fromhisearliestrecollection。Iownedtohim，thathavingaccidentallyseenthem，Ihadreadagreatdealinthem；andapologizingforthelibertyIhadtaken，askedhimifIcouldhelpit。Heplacidlyanswered，’Why，Sir，Idonotthinkyoucouldhavehelpedit。’IsaidthatIhad，foronceinmylife，felthalfaninclinationtocommittheft。Ithadcomeintomymindtocarryoffthosetwovolumes，andneverseehimmore。Uponmyinquiringhowthiswouldhaveaffectedhim，’Sir，saidhe，I
believeIshouldhavegonemad。’
Duringhislastillness，Johnsonexperiencedthesteadyandkindattachmentofhisnumerousfriends。Mr。Hoolehasdrawnupanarrativeofwhatpassedinthevisitswhichhepaidhimduringthattime，fromthe10thofNovembertothe13thofDecember，thedayofhisdeath，inclusive，andhasfavouredmewithaperusalofit，withpermissiontomakeextracts，whichIhavedone。NobodywasmoreattentivetohimthanMr。Langton，towhomhetenderlysaid，Teteneammoriensdeficientemanu。AndIthinkithighlytothehonourofMr。Windham，thathisimportantoccupationsasanactivestatesmandidnotpreventhimfrompayingassiduousrespecttothedyingSagewhomherevered，Mr。Langtoninformsme，that，’onedayhefoundMr。BurkeandfourorfivemorefriendssittingwithJohnson。Mr。Burkesaidtohim，“Iamafraid，Sir，suchanumberofusmaybeoppressivetoyou。““No，Sir，saidJohnson，
itisnotso；andImustbeinawretchedstate，indeed，whenyourcompanywouldnotbeadelighttome。“Mr。Burke，inatremulousvoice，expressiveofbeingverytenderlyaffected，replied，“MydearSir，youhavealwaysbeentoogoodtome。“Immediatelyafterwardshewentaway。Thiswasthelastcircumstanceintheacquaintanceofthesetwoeminentmen。’
Thefollowingparticularsofhisconversationwithinafewdaysofhisdeath，IgiveontheauthorityofMr。JohnNichols：——
’Hesaid，thattheParliamentaryDebatesweretheonlypartofhiswritingswhichthengavehimanycompunction：butthatatthetimehewrotethem，hehadnoconceptionhewasimposingupontheworld，thoughtheywerefrequentlywrittenfromveryslendermaterials，andoftenfromnoneatall，——themerecoinageofhisownimagination。Heneverwroteanypartofhisworkswithequalvelocity。ThreecolumnsoftheMagazine，inanhour，wasnouncommoneffort，whichwasfasterthanmostpersonscouldhavetranscribedthatquantity。
’OfhisfriendCave，healwaysspokewithgreataffection。“Yetsaidhe，Cave，whoneverlookedoutofhiswindow，butwithaviewtotheGentleman’sMagazine，wasapenuriouspay-master；hewouldcontractforlinesbythehundred，andexpectthelonghundred；buthewasagoodman，andalwaysdelightedtohavehisfriendsathistable。“
’Hesaidatanothertime，threeorfourdaysonlybeforehisdeath，speakingofthelittlefearhehadofundergoingachirurgicaloperation，“Iwouldgiveoneoftheselegsforayearmoreoflife，Imeanofcomfortablelife，notsuchasthatwhichInowsuffer；“——
andlamentedmuchhisinabilitytoreadduringhishoursofrestlessness；“Iusedformerly，headded，whensleeplessinbed，toreadlikeaTurk。“
’Whilstconfinedbyhislastillness，itwashisregularpracticetohavethechurch-servicereadtohim，bysomeattentiveandfriendlyDivine。TheRev。Mr。Hooleperformedthiskindofficeinmypresenceforthelasttime，when，byhisowndesire，nomorethantheLitanywasread；inwhichhisresponseswereinthedeepandsonorousvoicewhichMr。Boswellhasoccasionallynoticed，andwiththemostprofounddevotionthatcanbeimagined。Hishearingnotbeingquiteperfect，hemorethanonceinterruptedMr。Hoole，with“Louder，mydearSir，louder，Ientreatyou，oryouprayinvain!“——and，whentheservicewasended，he，withgreatearnestness，turnedroundtoanexcellentladywhowaspresent，saying，“Ithankyou，Madam，veryheartily，foryourkindnessinjoiningmeinthissolemnexercise。Livewell，Iconjureyou；andyouwillnotfeelthecompunctionatthelast，whichInowfeel。“
Sotrulyhumblewerethethoughtswhichthisgreatandgoodmanentertainedofhisownapproachestoreligiousperfection。’
AmidstthemelancholycloudswhichhungoverthedyingJohnson，hischaracteristicalmannersheweditselfondifferentoccasions。
WhenDr。Warren，intheusualstyle，hopedthathewasbetter；hisanswerwas，’No，Sir；youcannotconceivewithwhataccelerationI
advancetowardsdeath。’
Amanwhomhehadneverseenbeforewasemployedonenighttositupwithhim。Beingaskednextmorninghowhelikedhisattendant，hisanswerwas，’Notatall，Sir：thefellow’sanideot；heisasaukwardasaturn-spitwhenfirstputintothewheel，andassleepyasadormouse。’
Mr。Windhamhavingplacedapillowconvenientlytosupporthim，hethankedhimforhiskindness，andsaid，’Thatwilldo，——allthatapillowcando。’
HerequestedthreethingsofSirJoshuaReynolds：——Toforgivehimthirtypoundswhichhehadborrowedofhim；toreadtheBible；andnevertousehispencilonaSunday。SirJoshuareadilyacquiesced。
Johnson，withthatnativefortitude，which，amidstallhisbodilydistressandmentalsufferings，neverforsookhim，askedDr。
Brocklesby，asamaninwhomhehadconfidence，totellhimplainlywhetherhecouldrecover。’Givemesaidhe，adirectanswer。’
TheDoctorhavingfirstaskedhimifhecouldhearthewholetruth，whichwaysoeveritmightlead，andbeingansweredthathecould，declaredthat，inhisopinion，hecouldnotrecoverwithoutamiracle。’Then，saidJohnson，Iwilltakenomorephysick，notevenmyopiates；forIhaveprayedthatImayrenderupmysoultoGODunclouded。’Inthisresolutionhepersevered，and，atthesametime，usedonlytheweakestkindsofsustenance。BeingpressedbyMr。Windhamtotakesomewhatmoregenerousnourishment，lesttoolowadietshouldhavetheveryeffectwhichhedreaded，bydebilitatinghismind，hesaid，’Iwilltakeanythingbutinebriatingsustenance。’
TheReverendMr。Strahan，whowasthesonofhisfriend，andhadbeenalwaysoneofhisgreatfavourites，had，duringhislastillness，thesatisfactionofcontributingtosootheandcomforthim。Thatgentleman’shouse，atIslington，ofwhichheisVicar，affordedJohnson，occasionallyandeasily，anagreeablechangeofplaceandfreshair；andheattendedalsouponhimintowninthedischargeofthesacredofficesofhisprofession。
Mr。Strahanhasgivenmetheagreeableassurance，that，afterbeinginmuchagitation，Johnsonbecamequitecomposed，andcontinuedsotillhisdeath。
Dr。Brocklesby，whowillnotbesuspectedoffanaticism，obligedmewiththefollowingaccount：——
’Forsometimebeforehisdeath，allhisfearswerecalmedandabsorbedbytheprevalenceofhisfaith，andhistrustinthemeritsandpropitiationofJESUSCHRIST。’
JohnsonhavingthusinhismindthetrueChristianscheme，atoncerationalandconsolatory，unitingjusticeandmercyintheDivinity，withtheimprovementofhumannature，previoustohisreceivingtheHolySacramentinhisapartment，composedandferventlyutteredthisprayer：——
’AlmightyandmostmercifulFather，Iamnowastohumaneyes，itseems，abouttocommemorate，forthelasttime，thedeathofthySonJESUSCHRIST，ourSaviourandRedeemer。Grant，OLORD，thatmywholehopeandconfidencemaybeinhismerits，andthymercy；
enforceandacceptmyimperfectrepentance；makethiscommemorationavailabletotheconfirmationofmyfaith，theestablishmentofmyhope，andtheenlargementofmycharity；andmakethedeathofthySonJESUSCHRISTeffectualtomyredemption。Havemercyuponme，andpardonthemultitudeofmyoffences。Blessmyfriends；havemercyuponallmen。Supportme，bythyHolySpirit，inthedaysofweakness，andatthehourofdeath；andreceiveme，atmydeath，toeverlastinghappiness，forthesakeofJESUSCHRIST。Amen。’
Having，ashasbeenalreadymentioned，madehiswillonthe8thand9thofDecember，andsettledallhisworldlyaffairs，helanguishedtillMonday，the13thofthatmonth，whenheexpired，aboutseveno’clockintheevening，withsolittleapparentpainthathisattendantshardlyperceivedwhenhisdissolutiontookplace。
Ofhislastmoments，mybrother，ThomasDavid，hasfurnishedmewiththefollowingparticulars：——
’TheDoctor，fromthetimethathewascertainhisdeathwasnear，appearedtobeperfectlyresigned，wasseldomorneverfretfuloroutoftemper，andoftensaidtohisfaithfulservant，whogavemethisaccount，“Attend，Francis，tothesalvationofyoursoul，whichistheobjectofgreatestimportance：“healsoexplainedtohimpassagesintheScripture，andseemedtohavepleasureintalkinguponreligioussubjects。
’OnMonday，the13thofDecember，thedayonwhichhedied，aMissMorris，daughtertoaparticularfriendofhis，called，andsaidtoFrancis，thatshebeggedtobepermittedtoseetheDoctor，thatshemightearnestlyrequesthimtogiveherhisblessing。Franciswentintohisroom，followedbytheyounglady，anddeliveredthemessage。TheDoctorturnedhimselfinthebed，andsaid，“GOD