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Appendix B.

On the other side.

'Dear honoured Mother^[1],

'Neither your condition nor your character make it fit for me to say much. You have been the best mother, and I believe the best woman in the world. I thank you for your indulgence to me, and beg forgiveness of all that I have done ill, and all that I have omitted to do well. God grant you his Holy Spirit, and receive you to everlasting happiness, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. Lord Jesus receive your spirit. Amen.

'I am, dear, dear mother,

'Your dutiful son,

'Sam. Johnson.'

'Jan. 20, 1759.'

'To Miss Porter in Lichfield.

'You will conceive my sorrow for the loss of my mother, of the best mother. If she were to live again surely I should behave better to her. But she is happy, and what is past is nothing to her; and for me, since I cannot repair my faults to her, I hope repentance will efface them. I return you and all those that have been good to her my sincerest thanks, and pray God to repay you all with infinite advantage. Write to me, and comfort me, dear child. I shall be glad likewise, if Kitty will write to me. I shall send a bill of twenty pounds in a few days, which I thought to have brought to my mother; but God suffered it not. I have not power or composure to say much more. God bless you, and bless us all.

'I am, dear Miss,

'Your affectionate humble servant,

'Sam. Johnson.'

'Jan. 23, 1759^[2].'

'To Miss Porter.

(The beginning is torn and lost.)

•⁠•⁠•⁠•⁠•⁠•⁠•⁠•⁠•⁠•⁠•⁠•⁠•

'You will forgive me if I am not yet so composed as to give any directions about any thing. But you are wiser and better than, and I shall be pleased with all that you shall do. It is not of any use for me now to come down; nor can I bear the place. If you want any

↑ This letter was written on the second leaf of the preceding, addressed to Miss Porter. Malone.
↑ Mrs. Johnson probably died on the 20th or 2ist January, and was buried on the day this letter was written. Malone. On the day on which his mother was buried Johnson composed a prayer, as being 'now about to return to the common comforts and business of the world.' Pr. and Med. p. 38. After his wife's death he had allowed forty days to pass before his 'return to life.' See ante, p. 271, note 2.

directions,

[1] This letter was written on the second leaf of the preceding, addressed to Miss Porter. Malone.

[2] Mrs. Johnson probably died on the 20th or 2ist January, and was buried on the day this letter was written. Malone. On the day on which his mother was buried Johnson composed a prayer, as being 'now about to return to the common comforts and business of the world.' Pr. and Med. p. 38. After his wife's death he had allowed forty days to pass before his 'return to life.' See ante, p. 271, note 2.

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