46 JOHNSON. 



friend's near Salisbury, a course of lectures on the new 

 discoveries in pneumatic chemistry. It was supposed that 

 passing the next winter, 1784-5, in a better climate 

 would have a salutary effect, and he was himself much 

 set upon the plan of going to Italy with this view. The 

 Chancellor (Lord Thurlow) being apprised of this design, 

 and informed that some pecuniary assistance would be 

 required, shewed every readiness to obtain it from the 

 Government. In this application he was unsuccessful : 

 but for the somewhat discreditable refusal of his colleagues 

 his Lordship made good amends, by offering to advance 

 "five or six hundred pounds on the mortgage of the 

 Doctor's pension," a proposal, as he told Sir J. Reynolds, 

 which he made from a wish that Johnson's delicacy might 

 not be offended by the gift. Dr. Brocklesby, his physician, 

 had likewise offered to settle a hundred a year upon him 

 for the remainder of his life. 



That life was now drawing to a close. The difficulty 

 of breathing increased and the dropsical complaint ex- 

 tended itself. He suffered exceedingly, but with exem- 

 plary patience. He was attended by the affectionate 

 care of his friends, among whom Mr. Windham was the 

 last that ministered to his earthly comforts. He died 

 on the 13th of December, 1784, having suffered far less 

 from apprehension of the event than his former habit of 

 regarding it with extreme horror, might have led us to 

 expect. 



The ample materials furnished by his biographers, and 

 the marked and very plainly distinguishable features of 

 Johnson's character both as an author and as a man, render 

 the estimate of his merits and his defects, the descrip- 

 tion of his peculiarities, an easier task than often falls to 



