slight proof of his complaisance or his good-nature. I remember a lady told him he sat like Patience on a monument smiling at grief 1 , which made him laugh heartily at the ridiculous coinci dence of the idea with his irksome situation ; for irksome it doubtless was to him, restraining himself as he did, even from his common and most habitual motion of seesawing, the more difficult for him to effect because the most habitual.
It was not only at the entrance of a Door that he exhibited his gigantick straddles but often in the middle of a Room, as if trying to make the floor to shake ; and often in the street, even with company, who would walk on at a little distance till he had finished his ludicrous beat, for fear of being surrounded with a mob ; and then he would hasten to join them, with an air of great satisfaction, seeming totally unconscious of having com- mited \stc] any impropriety.
I remember to have heard Sir Joshua Reynolds relate, that being with Dr. Johnson at Dorchester on their way to Devonshire, they went to see Corfe Castle. I believe that neither of them was sufficiently known to Mr. Banks to introduce themselves as visitors to him ; however that might be, he shewed them great civility, politely attending them through the apartments, &c., in the finest of which Dr. Johnson began to exhibit his Anticks, stretching out his legs alternately as far as he could possibly stretch ; at the same time pressing his foot on the floor as heavily as he could possibly press, as if endeavouring to smooth the carpet, or rather perhaps to rumple it, and every now and then collect ing all his force, apparently to effect a concussion of the floor. Mr. Banks, regarding him for some time with silent astonishment, at last said, ' Dr. Johnson, I believe the floor is very firm ;' which immediately made him desist, probably without making any reply 2 . It would have been difficult indeed to frame an apology for such ridiculous manoeuvres.
It was amazing, so dim-sighted as Dr. Johnson was, how very observant he was of appearances in Dress, in behaviour, and even of the servants, how they waited at table, &c. ; the more
a hop-merchant of Southwark, for Twelfth Night, Act ii. Sc. 4,
,76. 13^. Gentleman's Magazine r , 1. 117.
1825, i. 607. 2 Life, i. 145.
T 2 particularly
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