(who predeceased his father in 1835, having married firstly, in 1822, Lady Caroline Spencer-Churchill, only daughter of George, fifth Duke of Marlborough, who died in 1824; and secondly, Lady Emma Brudenell, daughter of Robert, sixth Earl of Cardigan, who died in 1847), became, in 1846, the first wife of Rudolph William Basil, Viscount Feilding, afterwards eighth Earl of Denbigh, but died without issue in 1853, when the Pennant estates passed, under her grandfather's will, to Philip Pennant Pearson, who assumed the surname of Pennant in 1860. Mr. Philip Pennant Pennant, M.A., J.P., D.L., who lives at Nantlys, Bodfari, near St. Asaph, was High Sheriff of Flintshire in 1862; he is Chairman of Quarter Sessions, and High Constable of Flint Castle. In 1862 he married Mary Frances, daughter of the Rev. Edward Bankes, of Soughton Hall, Flintshire, Canon of Gloucester, by whom he has issue.
5. James Falconer Pearson, born 1836, died 1853.
6. Thomas Hall Pearson, born 1841, died 1853.
7. Edward Lynch Pearson, born 1845, Rector of Castle Camps, Cambridgeshire, since 1879. He is an M.A. of St. John's College, Cambridge, and married Sarah Matilda St. Quintin.
1. Catherine Hester Pearson, born 1827.
2. Frances Elizabeth Pearson, born 1829.
3. Anne Pearson, born 1839, died 1860.
4. Adelaide Sophia Pearson, born 1843. In 1883 she became the second wife of John Scott Bankes (1826-94), J.P., D.L., of Soughton Hall, half-brother of her brother Philip's wife.
5. Henrietta Georgina Pearson, born 1847, died 1848.
Mr. Pennant possesses another interesting Johnsonian relic, of which he gives me the following description:
"The book which contains two prayers written by Dr. Johnson is entitled 'Forms of Prayer proper to be used Before, At, and After the Receiving of the Holy Sacrament. Published by W. Ginger, near the King's School, Westminster, 1768.' With it is bound up 'The Service of the Holy Communion.' In the beginning there is written, in, I think, Dr. Johnson's handwriting: 'This Book given to Mrs. Lucy Porter by Dr. Johnson 1782.' There is also a note, in, I think, my grandmother's writing, to the effect that these two prayers are contained in his 'Prayers and Meditations,' published by the Rev. G. Strahan, 1785, p. 206."
The two prayers alluded to are, of course, in the Doctor's own handwriting.
The Rev. J. B. Pearson inherited from Lucy Porter what his obituary notice in The Gentleman's Magazine describes as
"Sir Joshua Reynolds's best portrait of Dr. Johnson, at perhaps not above 45 years old, in an attitude of deep thought, hands lifted breast high, and the fingers half-spread in a particular manner, and uncloathed neck.
This portrait, which has been often reproduced, Mr. Pennant tells me,
"now hangs in Stafford House. The story, as I have always heard it, runs thus. At my grandfather's death, his widow was left with seven children from seventeen years old downwards. Lord Stafford, when hunting in her neighbourhood, would always call, and at length, after many refusals, persuaded her that, for the sake of the education of her children, she ought to sell this picture, which at length she did. It is interesting to know that, after the divorce of the portraits of Dr. and Mrs. Johnson, the two hung again side by side, for some months, at the National Portrait Exhibition in 1867, Miss Lucy Porter also being one of the party."
"Lord Stafford" must have been the second Marquess of Stafford, created first Duke of Sutherland in 1833, the great-grandfather of the present owner of Stafford House.
The obituary notice also states that Mr. Pearson inherited from Lucy Porter a portrait of "Joseph Porter senior, by Hogarth, esteemed to be the best portrait produced by that excellent Artist," quoting from Nichols's 'Leicestershire.' This portrait is not in the possession of any of Mr. Pearson's descendants. Mr. Pennant has made inquiries, and feels quite satisfied that it must have been purchased from his grandmother by Lord Stafford when he acquired Reynolds's portrait of Dr. Johnson. Mr. Pennant hopes to settle this point definitely later on. There is an engraving of the portrait in an interleaved copy of Harwood's 'Liehfield' at the Bodleian Library. Mr. F. G. Shirreff, assistant librarian there, kindly tells me that it
"represents a rather stout man seated at a table folding a letter; he is wearing a wig, plain coat, and embroidered waistcoat. The inscription (engraved) is 'Joseph Porter, Esqʳ, of Mortlake, From a Drawing taken from the Original Picture in 1807. Published …… 1809.' And above 'Hogarth pinxᵗ. T. Cook sculpᵗ.'"
Since my last article was printed I have discovered rather striking proof of my contention that it was not William Falconer, M.D., of Bath, who called on Dr. Johnson in 1782. The Rev. Richard Warner, in his 'Literary Recollections,' 1830 (vol. ii. p. 70) recalls a discussion that took place at a dinner-party many years before, at William
