192] A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



to the Market-house, and was considered a man of intellect, as ap- 

 pears from the following extract of a letter, dated Trentham, St. 

 Peter's Day, 1716, and written by the Rev. George Plaxton, chap- 

 lain to Lord Gower: "Johnson, the Lichfield librarian, is now here; 

 he propagates learning all over this diocese, and advanceth know- 

 ledge to its just height ; all the clergy here are his pupils, and seek 

 all they have from him; Allen cannot make out a warrant without 

 his precedent, nor our quondam John Evans draw a recognizance 

 sine directions Michaelis" This quotation indeed seems to be 

 written in a strain of irony, but Michael Johnson was undoubtedly 

 held in some estimation by his fellow-citizens, for in 1718 he was 

 chosen Under-bailiff, and in 1725 was appointed Senior-bailiff of 

 Lichfield. He died in December 1731, aged 76. His wife, the 

 mother of our great lexicographer, was sister of Dr. Ford, a physi- 

 cian, and died in 1759, of a gradual decay, at the advanced age of 

 89. Nathaniel, their youngest son, died at the age of 27. 



Samuel, the eldest son, was afflicted with the king's evil from 

 his earliest infancy. When two year's old, he was touched by Queen 

 Anne,* but with little effect, for the disorder continued with him, 

 and is supposed to have deprived him of his left eye, and impaired 

 his hearing. His mother, who was a woman of understanding, in- 

 stilled moral and religious sentiments into his infant mind ; and the 

 son, whose filial gratitude was strong, often acknowledged how 

 much he owed to maternal instruction. His father, a man of inte- 

 grity and very industrious, was a steady high-churchman and a. 

 warm adherent to the house of Stuart, and was so solicitous to in- 

 spire his son with congenial opinions, that when Dr. Sachaverel, in 

 his memorable tour through England, came to Lichfield, he carried 

 the boy, not quite three years old, to the Cathedral, and placed 

 him on his shoulders that he might see the preacher. 



When eight years old, Samuel Johnson was placed under the 

 tuition of Mr. Hawkins, at the free grammar-school in Lichfield, 

 where he was more remarkable for his capacity, especially a reten- 

 tive memory, than for diligence. When Mr. Hunter was appointed 

 master of this school, however, young Johnson underwent severe 

 discipline from him for his inattention, but he acknowledged that 

 he required correction, and was so well convinced that severity is 

 necessary in public education, that he was ever of the opinion of 



* The piece of gold given by the Queen on this occasion, was preserved by 

 the Doctor, and after his death it fell into the hands of his biographer, Sir 

 John Hawkins. 



