accident happened which went very near to disarrange 1 his mind. He had mislaid, and was very anxious to find a paper that con tained private instructions to his executors ; and myself, Mr. Strahan, Mr. Langton, Mr. Hoole, Frank, and I believe some others that were about him, went into his bed-chamber to seek it. In our search, I laid my hands on a parchment- covered book, into which I imagined it might have been slipped. Upon opening the book, I found it to be meditations and / / reflections, in Johnson's own hand-writing ; and having been told a day or two before by Frank, that a person formerly intimately connected with his master, a joint proprietor of a newspaper, well known among the booksellers, and of whom Mrs. Williams once told me she had often cautioned him to beware ; I say, having been told that this person had lately been very importunate to get access to him, indeed to such a degree as that, when he was told that the doctor was not to be seen, he would push his way up stairs ; and having stronger reasons than I need here mention, to suspect that this man might find and make an ill use of the book, I put it, and a less of the same kind, into my pocket ; at the same time telling those around me, and particularly Mr. Langton and Mr. Strahan, that I had got both, with my reasons for thus securing them. After the ceremony was over, Johnson took me aside, and told me that I had a book of his in my pocket ; I answered that I had two, and that to prevent their falling into the hands of a person who had attempted to force his way into the house, I had done as I conceived a friendly act, but not without telling his friends of it, and also my reasons. He then asked me what ground I had for my suspicion of the man I mentioned : I told him his great importunity to get admittance ; and farther, that immediately after a visit which he made me, in the year 1775, I missed a paper of a public nature, and of great importance ; and that a day or two after, and before it could be put to its intended use, I saw it in the news-papers 2 .
1 For disarrange, see ante, ii. particulars : my reason for it is, that 20. the transaction which so disturbed
2 'As I take no pleasure in the him may possibly be better known disgrace of others, I regret the neces- than the motives that actuated me sity I am under of mentioning these at the time.' Note by Hawkins.
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