was a narrow man. I will, however," added he, "storm and bluster MYSELF a
little this time," so went to London in all the wrath he could muster up.
At his return I asked how the affair ended. "Why," said he, "I was a
fierce fellow, and pretended to be very angry; and Thomas was a
good-natured fellow, and pretended to be very sorry; so THERE the matter
ended. I believe the dog loves me dearly. Mr. Thrale," turning to my
husband, "what shall you and I do that is good for Tom Davies? We will do
something for him, to be sure."

Of Pope as a writer he had the highest opinion, and once when a lady at our
house talked of his preface to Shakespeare as superior to Pope's, "I fear
not, madam," said he, "the little fellow has done wonders." His superior
reverence of Dryden, notwithstanding, still appeared in his talk as in his
writings; and when some one mentioned the ridicule thrown on him in the
'Rehearsal,' as having hurt his general character as an author, "On the
contrary," says Mr. Johnson, "the greatness of Dryden's reputation is now
the only principle of vitality which keeps the Duke of Buckingham's play
from putrefaction."

It was not very easy, however, for people not quite intimate with Dr.
Johnson to get exactly his opinion of a writer's merit, as he would now and
then divert himself by confounding those who thought themselves obliged to
say to-morrow what he had said yesterday; and even Garrick, who ought to
have been better acquainted with his tricks, professed himself mortified
that one time when he was extolling Dryden in a rapture that I suppose
disgusted his friend, Mr. Johnson suddenly challenged him to produce twenty
lines in a series that would not disgrace the poet and his admirer.
Garrick produced a passage that he had once heard the Doctor commend, in
which he NOW found, if I remember rightly, sixteen faults, and made Garrick
look silly at his own table. When I told Mr. Johnson the story, "Why, what