CHAP. XL] GOLDSMITH IN PRACTICE AND BURKE IK OFFICE.
to withdraw Ms claim. But he could not conceal Ms uneasi- 1705.
ness.. " He would often stop at my gate," says Ms good- ioV
natured friend Hawkins, who lived at Twickenham, " in Ms
" way to and from Hampton, with messages from Johnson
" relating to Ms Shakspeare, then in the press, and ask
" such questions as these: ' "Were you at the club on
" ' Monday night ? What did you talk of? Was Johnson
" ' there ? I suppose he said something of Davy ?—that
Davy was a clever fellow in Ms way, full of convivial
" ' pleasantry, but no poet, no writer, ha!' " * Hawkins
might hear all tMs, however, with better grace than any
one else; for that worthy magistrate took little interest in
the club. In a letter to Langton, written shortly after, John-
son specially mentions him as remiss in attendance, while he
'' the happiest man upon earth with a small addition to his present income. .. He is
" obliged to undergo more labour and fatigue than he can possibly support another
' winter ; he has not only the severe duty of Egham upon, him, but, besides that,
' he is obliged to ride five or six miles through much water, and often to swim his
' horse, for the sake of about thirty pounds a-year—this, to a gouty man, and
' turned of sixty, is a terrible consideration. I entered lately into a very serious
' conversation with him about his affairs, and he confessed to me that he found a
' curate was necessary for him ; I made him an offer of money for that purpose,
' till something might happen, but he absolutely refused me. I am persuaded
' that any small .preferment, with what he has, would make him look down with
' pity on the Archbishop of Canterbury. ' My good friend Mr. (Jarriek,' said he,
' taking me by the hand, and giving his head the usual jerk of affection, ' could I
' ' have fifty pounds for a curate, and fifty to keep up my little garden, I feel no
' 'ambition or happiness beyond it.'—'And thirty,' said I, 'Beighton, to keep
'' Hannah your housekeeper.'—' Pooh ! pooh !' jerking his head again, 'you turn
' ' everything into a joke ; let me show you the finest arbor vitce in the country :'
' so away he trotted and forgot his wants in a moment. This is the plain, simple,
' and affecting truth. .. I assure you, upon my word and honour, that this step is
' taken without his knowledge or concurrence. . . My friend is a great dabbler in
' curiosities, and he has collected some few in his little library and garden; but I
' defy him to show me a greater rarity than himself, for he is a generous, modest,
'ingenious, and disinterested clergyman." Two years later, this application having
ailed, he wrote to the wife of the chancellor, Lord Gamden, with better effect.
' The good man" he writes to her, acknowledging her answer, "happened to dine
' with me at Hampton when I had the honour of receiving your Ladyship's letter.
' He could not refrain from tears of joy." Gar. Cor. i. 190-1, 263.
* Life of Johnson, 427.