instances, particularly, that when an officer of high rank had been
acquitted by a Court Martial, George the Second had with his own hand,
struck his name off the list. In short, he displayed such a power of
eloquence, that Hogarth looked at him with astonishment, and actually
imagined that this ideot had been at the moment inspired. Neither
Hogarth nor Johnson were made known to each other at this interview.

1740: AETAT. 31.]--In 1740 he wrote for the Gentleman's Magazine the
'Preface,' 'Life of Sir Francis Drake,' and the first parts of those of
'Admiral Blake,' and of 'Philip Baretier,' both which he finished the
following year. He also wrote an 'Essay on Epitaphs,' and an 'Epitaph
on Philips, a Musician,' which was afterwards published with some other
pieces of his, in Mrs. Williams's Miscellanies. This Epitaph is so
exquisitely beautiful, that I remember even Lord Kames, strangely
prejudiced as he was against Dr. Johnson, was compelled to allow it very
high praise. It has been ascribed to Mr. Garrick, from its appearing at
first with the signature G; but I have heard Mr. Garrick declare, that
it was written by Dr. Johnson, and give the following account of the
manner in which it was composed. Johnson and he were sitting together;
when, amongst other things, Garrick repeated an Epitaph upon this
Philips by a Dr. Wilkes, in these words:

'Exalted soul! whose harmony could please
The love-sick virgin, and the gouty ease;
Could jarring discord, like Amphion, move
To beauteous order and harmonious love;
Rest here in peace, till angels bid thee rise,
And meet thy blessed Saviour in the skies.'

Johnson shook his head at these common-place funereal lines, and said to