Sir Joshua Reynolds, who was truly his dulce decus, and with whom he
maintained an uninterrupted intimacy to the last hour of his life. When
Johnson lived in Castle-street, Cavendish-square, he used frequently to
visit two ladies, who lived opposite to him, Miss Cotterells, daughters
of Admiral Cotterell. Reynolds used also to visit there, and thus they
met. Mr. Reynolds, as I have observed above, had, from the first reading
of his Life of Savage, conceived a very high admiration of Johnson's
powers of writing. His conversation no less delighted him; and he
cultivated his acquaintance with the laudable zeal of one who was
ambitious of general improvement. Sir Joshua, indeed, was lucky enough
at their very first meeting to make a remark, which was so much above
the common-place style of conversation, that Johnson at once perceived
that Reynolds had the habit of thinking for himself. The ladies were
regretting the death of a friend, to whom they owed great obligations;
upon which Reynolds observed, 'You have, however, the comfort of being
relieved from a burthen of gratitude.' They were shocked a little at
this alleviating suggestion, as too selfish; but Johnson defended it in
his clear and forcible manner, and was much pleased with the MIND,
the fair view of human nature, which it exhibited, like some of the
reflections of Rochefaucault. The consequence was, that he went home
with Reynolds, and supped with him.

Sir Joshua told me a pleasant characteristical anecdote of Johnson
about the time of their first acquaintance. When they were one evening
together at the Miss Cotterells', the then Duchess of Argyle and another
lady of high rank came in. Johnson thinking that the Miss Cotterells
were too much engrossed by them, and that he and his friend were
neglected, as low company of whom they were somewhat ashamed, grew
angry; and resolving to shock their supposed pride, by making their
great visitors imagine that his friend and he were low indeed, he