his carpenter kinsman, Perinet de Voulton, to superintend the
erection. Nouvelles Recherches, pp. 19, 20.



V. JUNIUS AND LORD LYTTELTON'S GHOST



'Sir,' said Dr. Johnson, 'it is the most extraordinary thing that
has happened in my day.'

The most extraordinary thing that had happened in Dr. Johnson's day
was the 'warning' to the noble peer generally spoken of as 'the
wicked Lord Lyttelton.' The Doctor went on thus: 'I heard it with
my own ears from his uncle, Lord Westcote. I am so glad to have
every evidence of the spiritual world that I am willing to believe
it.' Dr. Adams replied, 'You have evidence enough--good evidence,
which needs no support.' Dr. Johnson growled out, 'I like to have
more!'

Thus the Doctor was willing to believe what it suited him to
believe, even though he had the tale at third or fourth hand; for
Lord Westcote was not with the wicked Lord Lyttelton at the time of
his death, on November 27, 1779. Dr. Johnson's observations were
made on June 12, 1784.

To Lord Westcote's narrative we shall return.

As a study in Russian scandal, and the growth and development of