202 EULOGY OF THOMSON. Odi. ip, 



tune in London is highly probable ; but that flie fliould 

 have deferted him afterwards agrees not with the na- 

 ture of fpontaneous patronage ; for nothing is inore na- 

 tural to patrons than the defire of feeing due attention 

 paid to their recommendations, and following out the 

 objects of their proteftion to the attainment of honour 

 that (hall refleft upon themfelves. 



The trifling ftory about his lofing his bundle on his 

 way from Wapping to Mallet's houfe in London, and 

 the want of his fhoes, is in the peculiar llile of malevo- 

 lence which characlerizes tlie works of Johnfon as a 

 biographer. 



The only occafion I had the mifchancc to meet John- 

 fon was at old Strahan's, the tranflator of the fix firft 

 books of the ^neid, in Suffblk-ftreet, where I found 

 him and Mallet preparing thefe books for publication ; 

 and there I remember to have heard them repeating 

 this ftory with glee, after having cut down Dryden, 

 Gavin Douglas, Trapp, and the other predeceflbrs of 

 poor Strahan, in the tranilation of the JEnc'id. 



Wc arc much indebted to Aaron Hill for his kind- 

 nefs to ihomfon, and his handfome lines in compli- 

 ment to Scotland, now in every mouth ; No more 

 poetry and prophecy, but matter of fa£l: ! — How difter- 

 cnt an Aaron Hill and a Jofeph Pennant from a Samuel 

 Johnfon ! 



Why, fays Johnfon, are the dedications to Winter 

 and the other Seafons, contrary to cuftom, left out in 

 Thomfon's collected works ? 1 will tell you, fhade of 

 Johnfon, Bccaufe little men dif appear ivhen great men 

 take their proper Jlation, 



Lord Chatham, Lord Temple, Lord Lytlleton, Sir 

 Andrew Mitchell, Dr Armftrong, INIr Gray of Rich- 

 mond Hill, and Mr Murdoch, 1 have often had the 

 pleafure to hear on the fubje6l of Thomfon. All of 

 them agreed in the teftimony of his being a gentleman, 

 as well as a poet, far above the degree of moft of our 

 modern noets. 



