the captivity of Sin T . Impart to me good resolutions, and give me strength and perseverance to perform them. Take not from me thy Holy Spirit, but grant that I may redeem the time lost, and that by temperance and diligence, by sincere repentance and faithful Obedience I may finally obtain ever lasting happiness, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
60.
March 3. I have never, I thank God, since new year's day deviated from the practice of rising. In this practice I persisted till I went to Mr. Thrale's some time before Midsummer : the irregularity of that family broke my habit of rising. I was there till after Michaelmas 2 .
61.
March 7, 1766.
ENTR1NG N. M. [NOVUM MUSEUM 3 .]
Almighty and most merciful Father, who hast graciously supplied me with new conveniences for study, grant that I may use thy gifts to thy glory. Forgive me the time mispent, relieve my perplexities, strengthen my resolution, and enable me to do my duty with vigour and constancy ; and when the fears and hopes, the pains and pleasures of this life shall have
1 Quoted in the Life, iv. 397. pp. 40, 48. It was therefore in the
2 Hawkins's Johnson, p. 458 n. spring of 1 766 that he made the first This entry was, I believe, made at part of the entry. His visit to Mr. two different times. On March 9, Thrale's was paid in the following 1766, Johnson wrote to Langton: summer. Post, p. 43.
' Burke is a great man by nature, and 3 In the letter to Langton, quoted
is expected soon to attain civil great- in the last note, he says : * I wish
ness. I am grown greater too, for you were in my new study; I am
I have maintained the newspapers now writing the first letter in it.
these many weeks ; and what is I think it looks very pretty about me.'
greater still, I have risen every Hawkins describes it as 'an upper
morning since New-year's day, at room, which had the advantages of
about eight ; when I was up, I have a good light and free air.' Hawkins's
indeed done but little ; yet it is no Johnson, p. 452. Johnson had moved
slight advancement to obtain for so into 'a good house in Johnson's Court,
many hours more, the consciousness Fleet Street,' in the latter part of
of being.' Life, ii. 16. See also post, 1765. Life, ii. 5 ; iii. 406.
an
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