Dr. Heberden was gone, Mr. Sastres and I returned into the chamber. Dr. Johnson complained that sleep this day had powerful dominion over him, that he waked with great difficulty, and that probably he should go off in one of these paroxysms. Afterwards he said that he hoped his sleep was the effect of opium taken some days before, which might not be worked off. We dined together the Doctor, Mr. Sastres, Mrs. Davies z , and myself. He ate a pretty good dinner with seeming appetite, but appearing rather impatient ; and being asked unnecessary and frivolous questions, he said he often thought of Macbeth ' Question enrages him 2 . J He retired immediately after dinner, and we soon went, at his desire (Mr. Sastres and myself), and sat with him till tea. He said little, but dozed at times. At six he ordered tea for us, and we went out to drink it with Mrs. Davies ; but the Doctor drank none. The Rev. Dr. Taylor, of Ash- bourne, came soon after ; and Dr. Johnson desired our attend ance at prayers, which were read by Dr. Taylor 3 . Mr. Ryland came and sat some time with him : he thought him much better. Mr. Sastres and I continued with him the remainder of the evening, when he exhorted Mr. Sastres in nearly these words :
- There is no one who has shown me more attention than you
have done, and it is now right you should claim some attention from me. You are a young man, and are to struggle through life : you are in a profession that I dare say you will exercise with great fidelity and innocence ; but let me exhort you always to think of my situation, which must one day be yours : always remember that life is short, and that eternity never ends ! I say nothing of your religion ; for if you conscientiously keep to it, I have little doubt but you may be saved : if you read the con troversy, I think we have the right on our side ; but if you do
the press for C r, meaning the For his dislike of questioning, see
King and Lord Chancellor.' Croker ; Life, ii. 472 ; iii. 268.
Life, iv. 336, 348. 3 This shows that Johnson's quarrel
1 Most probably ' Mrs. Davis that with Dr. Taylor was made up. was about Mrs. Williams.' Letters, Ante, i. 96 n ; Letters, ii. 426, n. 3. ii. 332. Perhaps however the wife He did not however bequeath any of Tom Davies the bookseller. Life^ memorial to him as he did to most i. 484. of those whom he saw in his last
2 Macbeth, Act iii. sc. 4. 1. 118. days.
not
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