best became entangled in an unpleasant altercation 1 . He was scarce settled in town before this dogmatical behaviour, and his impatience of contradiction, became a part of his character, and deterred many persons of learning, who wished to enjoy the delight of his conversation, from seeking his acquaintance. There were not wanting those among his friends who would sometimes hint to him, that the conditions of free conversation imply an equality among those engaged in it, which are violated whenever superiority is assumed 2 : their reproofs he took kindly, and would in excuse for what they called the pride of learning, say, that it was of the defensive kind 3 . The repetition of these had, however, a great effect on him ; they abated his prejudices, >and produced a change in his temper and manners that rendered him at length a desirable companion in the most polite circles.
In the lesser duties of morality he was remiss : he slept when he should have studied, and watched when he should have been at rest : his habits were slovenly, and the neglect of his person and garb so great as to render his appearance disgusting 4 . He was an ill husband of his time, and so regardless of the hours of refection, that at two he might be found at breakfast, and at dinner at eight 5 . In his studies, and I may add, in his
1 'Sir, I perceive you are a vile Oxford Colleges was 12.30; in some Whig.' Life, ii. 170. See also ib. as early as n. Bentham's Works, v. 255. x. 61. At Sir Joshua Reynolds's
2 ' Sir, (said Goldsmith,) you are ' dinner was served precisely at five, for making a monarchy of what whether all the company had arrived should be a republick.' Ib. ii. 257. or not.' Leslie and Taylor's Reynolds,
3 They borrowed this from John- i. 384.
son. ' " Sir, (said Johnson) that is Horace Walpole wrote on Feb. 6,
not Lord Chesterfield ; he is the 1777 {Letters, vi. 410) : ' Everything
proudest man this day existing." is changed ; as always must happen
" No, (said Dr. Adams) there is one when one grows old, and is prejudiced
person, at least, as proud ; I think, to one's old ways. I do not like
by your own account, you are the dining at nearly six, nor beginning
prouder man of the two."" But the evening at ten at night.'
mine (replied Johnson instantly) was When a few years ago the Prince
defensive pride." ' Ib. i. 265. of Wales asked General Gordon,
4 Life, 1.396. For the improvement soon after his return from the Soudan, which took place, see ib. iii. 325 ; to dine with him, the general replied, ante, i. 241, and Letters, i. 322; that he was sorry he could not accept ii. 39. the invitation, as at the hour named
5 In 1760 the dinner-hour in most he was always in bed.
devotional
�� �
