202 on Dr Fobnson. Fune 13% 
fhe had often seen at her guardian’s house, and whe - 
had always been fond of her) was amongst the greats 
est mortifications of her situation ; and once fhe came 
home in tears, and told her friend ‘She had met Dr 
Johnson in the street, and had ventured to afk him 
how he did; but that he would not deign to speak to 
her, but pafsed scornfully on.’ She added, ‘ you 
and he are to meet soon in a literary party. Plead 
for me.’ } 
You remember our all dining together at Mr Dil- 
-ly’s ; andthe conversation after dinner, which began 
with Mrs Knowles saying : . 
_. “ Jam to intreat thy indulgence, doctor, towards 
‘a gentle female, to whom thou used to be kind ‘ and 
who is unhappy in the lofs of that kindnefs. Jenny 
Harry weeps at the consciousnefs that thou wilt 
not speak to her.” 
‘ Madam, I hate the odious wench, and dislive you 
will not talk to me about her.’ 
‘© Yet what is her crime, doctor ?” 
‘ Apostacy, madam !—apostacy from the com- 
munity in which fhe was educated.’ 
“« Surely, doctor, the quitting one community for 
another, cannot in itself be a crime, if it be done 
from a motive of conscience. Hadst thou been edu- 
cated in the Romifh church, I must suppose thou 
wouldst have abjured its errors, and that there 
would have been merit in the abjuration.” 
‘« Madam, if I had been educated in the Romith 
church, I believe I fhould have questioned my right 
to quit the religion of my forefathers. Well, there- 
fore, may I hate the arrogance of a young wench,. 
