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On Sunday, March 30, I found him at home in the evening, and had the pleasure to meet with Dr. Brocklesby, whose reading, and knowledge of life, and good spirits, supply him with a never-failing source of conversation. I shall here insert a few of Johnson's sayings, without the formality of dates, as they have no reference to any particular time or place.
The terms are lax, and the expences light. Mr. Barry was adopted by Dr. Brocklesby, who joined with me in forming the plan. We meet thrice a week, and he who misses forfeits two-pence. 'If you are willing to become a member, draw a line under your name. Return the list. We meet for the first time on Monday at eight. I am, &c. 'Dec. 4, 1783. It did not suit Sir Joshua to be one of this Club.
After all these efforts, Johnson was fated to disappointment; and the authors of his disappointment have incurred the sentence denounced on them by the humanity of Thurlow. In this, Dr. Brocklesby, the physician, has no share; for by him a noble offer of £100 a year was made to Johnson during his life.
In his diary I find a short but honourable mention of this visit: 'August 28, I came to Heale without fatigue. 30. I am entertained quite to my mind. 'To DR. BROCKLESBY. Heale, near Salisbury, Aug. 29, 1783. DEAR SIR, Without appearing to want a just sense of your kind attention, I cannot omit to give an account of the day which seemed to appear in some sort perilous.
About eight or ten days before his death, when Dr. Brocklesby paid him his morning visit, he seemed very low and desponding, and said, 'I have been as a dying man all night. He then emphatically broke out in the words of Shakspeare,
Brocklesby, acquainting him of the death of Mrs. Williams, which affected him a good deal.
To which Brocklesby promptly returned the answer, which is made by the doctor in that play, Therein the patient Must minister unto himself. He now committed to the flames a large mass of papers, among which were two 4to. volumes, containing a particular account of his life, from his earliest recollections.
An ingenious member of the Eumelian Club, informs me, that upon one occasion when he said to him that he saw health returning to his cheek, Johnson seized him by the hand and exclaimed, 'Sir, you are one of the kindest friends I ever had. Dr. Heberden, Dr. Brocklesby, Dr. Warren, and Dr. Butter, physicians, generously attended him, without accepting any fees, as did Mr.
'Barry answered: "If I had no more to do in the composition of my lectures than to produce such poor flimsy stuff as your discourses, I should soon have done my work, and be prepared to read." The Hon. For Dr. Brocklesby see ante, pp. 176, 230, 338, 400. Of Mr. John Nichols, Murphy says that 'his attachment to Dr. Johnson was unwearied. Life of Johnson, p. 66.
While he was here he had a letter from Dr. Brocklesby, acquainting him of the death of Mrs. Williams, which affected him a good deal . Though for several years her temper had not been complacent, she had valuable qualities, and her departure left a blank in his house . Upon this occasion he, according to his habitual course of piety, composed a prayer .
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