36 JOHNSOX. 



Mr. Beauclerk. Johnson, however, was so captivated 

 with the society of this gentleman, all the more agreeable 

 to him from the accident of high birth, that he certainly 

 was as much attached to him as to any of his friends, 

 and felt as acutely upon his death. He occasionally 

 went to visit Mr. Langton's family in Lincolnshire, and 

 once was offered by them a considerable living, which he 

 declined. But though he esteemed Mr. Langton's cha- 

 racter, and was wont to say, "Sit anima mea cum Lang- 

 tono" it was plain that he enjoyed Beauclerk's society 

 more and an amusing scene is recorded by Mr. Boswell, 

 of his laughing with his hearty and boisterous mirth at 

 Langton, for refusing to join them on a wild party down 

 the river, on the plea that he was engaged to chink tea 

 with some young ladies. 



But a much more important addition was made to his 

 acquaintance three years after the grant of his pension. 

 He in 1765 became intimate with Mr. Thrale, the great 

 brewer, and the member for Southwark. He was a man 

 of excellent sense, respectable character, great wealth, pro- 

 portionable hospitality, and of a very good education ; 

 so that nothing could be more erroneous than the pre- 

 vailing notion that his wife formed the only attraction of 

 his house. She was a lively and clever person, who 

 loved to surround herself with brilliant society, and she 

 obtained great influence with Johnson, who was probably 

 half in love with her unknown to himself; but he always 

 allowed that Mr. Thrale had incomparably more both of 

 learning and of sense, and he never ceased to feel for him 

 the greatest respect and affection. The impression was 

 equally groundless that Mrs. Thrale ruled in the house ; 

 the master of it was absolute whenever he wished to 



