visited Stourbridge, during his residence at Birmingham, before he removed to London x . (Pages 20, 66.)
Johnson's countenance was not so harsh and rugged as has been misrepresented, and no otherwise disfigured by the King's Evil than its having a scar under one of his jaws, where some humour had been opened, but afterwards healed. And this being only a simple scar, attended with no discoloration, excited no disgust 2 . (Page 15.)
His countenance, when in a good humour, was not disagree able. His face clear, his complexion good, and his features not ill-formed, many ladies have thought they might not be unattractive when he was young 3 . Much misrepresentation has prevailed on this subject among such as did not personally know him. (Page 49.)
That he had some whimsical peculiarities of the nature described [by Boswell, Life, i. 484], is certainly true ; but there is no reason to believe they proceeded from any superstitious motives, wherein religion was concerned ; they are rather to be ascribed to his ' mental distempers.' (Page 487.)
If Johnson appeared a little unwieldy, it was owing to the defect of his sight, and not from corpulency. (Page 468.)
Johnson was so extremely short-sighted 4 , that he had no
1 That this is not likely is shown see so well as I do." I wondered at by a passage in one of his Letters Dr. Percy's venturing thus. Dr. (1.177) where speaking of a proposed Johnson said nothing at the time; visit to Mr. Lyttelton at Hagley, but inflammable particles were col- near Stourbridge, he says : ' I lecting for a cloud to burst. In a should have had the opportunity . . . little while Dr. Percy said something of recalling the images of sixteen more in disparagement of Pennant, and reviewing my conversations with JOHNSON (pointedly). " This is the poor Ford.' See Life, i. 49. He resentment of a narrow mind, be seems to have met Lyttelton at Mr. cause he did not find every thing in Fitzherbert's. Ante, i. 257. Northumberland." PERCY (feeling
2 Life, i. 94. the stroke). " Sir, you may be as
3 Ante, i. 344. rude as you please." JOHNSON.
4 ' PERCY. " But, my good friend, " Hold, Sir ! Don't talk of rudeness ; you are short-sighted, and do not remember, Sir, you told me (puffing
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