1 82 Anecdotes by Hannah More.
and table are in the most splendid taste ; but what baubles are these when speaking of a Montagu ! her form (for she has no body] is delicate even to fragility ; her countenance the most animated in the world ; the sprightly vivacity of fifteen, with the judgment and experience of a Nestor z . . . . Dr. Johnson asked me how I liked the new tragedy of Braganza 2 . I was afraid to speak before them all, as I knew a diversity of opinion prevailed among the company ; however, as I thought it a less evil to dissent from the opinion of a fellow creature, than to tell a falsity, I ventured to give my sentiments ; and was satisfied with Johnson's answering, * You are right, madam.'
[From Miss SARAH MORE to one of her sisters.]
London, 1775.
Tuesday evening we drank tea at Sir Joshua's with Dr. John son. Hannah is certainly a great favourite. She was placed next him, and they had the entire conversation to themselves. They were both in remarkably high spirits ; it was certainly her lucky night ! I never heard her say so many good things. The old genius was extremely jocular, and the young one very pleasant. You would have imagined we had been at some comedy had you heard ; pur peals of laughter. They, indeed, tried which could -' pepper the highest V and it is not clear to me that the lexicographer was really the highest seasoner. Memoirs, 1.52.
[Miss H. MORE to one of her sisters.]
London, 1776.
Just returned from spending one of the most agreeable days of my life, with the female Maecenas of Hill Street ; she engaged me five or six days ago to dine with her, and had assembled
1 For ' her trying for this same air myself so young again.' Ib. vi. 190 ; and manner,' see Life, iii. 244, n. 2. ante, ii. 46.
2 By Robert Jephson. Horace 3 ' Till his relish grown callous, Walpole wrote the Prologue. Wai- almost to disease,
pole's Letters, i. Preface, p. 77. On Who peppered the highest was Feb. 18 of this year he wrote : surest to please.' ' Braganza was acted last night with Goldsmith's Retaliation. prodigious success ... I went to the It seems improbable that this 'pep- rehearsal with all the eagerness of pering' could have followed John- eighteen, and was delighted to find son's rebuke.
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