Dr. Heberden, Dr. Warren, Dr. Brocklesby, Dr. Butter, and Mr. Cruikshank, the eminent surgeon x . Eternity presented to his mind an aweful prospect, and, with as much virtue as perhaps ever is the lot of man, he shuddered at the thought of his dis solution. His friends awakened the comfortable reflection of a well-spent life 2 ; and, as his end drew near, they had the satis faction of seeing him composed, and even chearful 3 , insomuch that he was able, in the course of his restless nights, to make translations of Greek epigrams from the Anthologia 4 ; and to compose a Latin epitaph for his father, his mother, and his brother Nathaniel 5 . He meditated, at the same time, a Latin inscription to the memory of Garrick, but his vigour was exhausted 6 .
His love of Literature was a passion that stuck to his last sand 7 . Seven days before his death he wrote the following letter to his friend Mr. Nichols.
'SIR,
1 The late learned Mr. Swinton 8 of Oxford having one day remarked that one man, meaning, I suppose, no man but himself, could assign all the parts of the Ancient Universal History to their proper authors, at the request of Sir Robert Chambers, or
1 Life, iv. 399. cords (p. 584) : ' He gave to Mr.
- Hawkins (p. 584) records on No- Langton and another person to fair
vember 29 : ' Mr. Langton, who had copy some translations of the Greek spent the evening with him, reported epigrams which he had made in the that his hopes were increased, and preceding nights and transcribed the that he was much cheered upon be- next morning.' See also Life, iv. ing reminded of the general tendency 384, and Works, i. 175- Hawkins of his writings and of his example.' says (p. 579) Johnson alledged as See Life, iv. 414, n. 2. a reason for these renderings * that
3 ' November 30, I saw him in the Henry Stephens, Buchanan, Grotius,
evening and found him chearful.' and others had paid a like tribute to
Hawkins, p. 584. literature.'
- On April 19 he had borrowed 5 Life, iv. 393.
from Mrs. Thrale's library the Greek 6 Hawkins, p. 579- Anthology. ' When I lay sleepless,' 7 ' Time that on all things lays his he wrote, ' I used to driv the night lenient hand
along by turning Greek epigrams into Yet tames not this ; it sticks to
Latin. I know not if I have not our last sand.'
turned a hundred.' Letters, ii. 391. p P e ' s Moral Essays, i. 224.
On December I, Hawkins re- 8 Life, i. 273.
myself,
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