not seem to be very accurately known, a lady hopes that the following information may not be unacceptable.
'She remembers Dr. Johnson on a visit to Dr. Taylor, at Ashbourn, some time between the end of the year 37. and the middle of the year 40; she rather thinks it to have been after he and his wife were removed to London[1]. During his stay at Ashbourn, he made frequent visits to Mr. Meynell[2], at Bradley, where his company was much desired by the ladies of the family, who were, perhaps, in point of elegance and accomplishments, inferiour to few of those with whom he was afterwards acquainted. Mr. Meynell's eldest daughter was afterwards married to Mr. Fitzherbert[3] father to Mr. Alleyne Fitzherbert, lately minister to the court of Russia. Of her, Dr. Johnson said, in Dr. Lawrence's study, that she had the best understanding he ever met with in any human being[4]. At Mr. Meynell's he also commenced that friendship with Mrs. Hill Boothby[5] sister to the present Sir Brook Boothby, which continued till her death. The young woman whom he used to call Molly Aston[6], was sister to Sir Thomas Aston, and daughter to a Baronet;
- ↑ Hawkins (Life, p. 61) says that in August, 1738 (? 1739), Johnson went to Appleby, in Leicestershire, to apply for the mastership of Appleby School. This was after he and his wife had removed to London. It is likely that he visited Ashbourne.
- ↑ 'Old Meynell' is mentioned, Post, 1780, in Mr. Langton's 'Collection,' as the author of 'the observation, "For anything I see, foreigners are fools;"' and 'Mr. Meynell,' Post, April 1, 1779, as saying that 'The chief advantage of London is, that a man is always so near his burrow?'
- ↑ See Post, under March 16, 1759, note, and April 21, 1773. Mr. Alleyne Fitzherbert was created Lord St. Helens.
- ↑ See Post, 1780, end of Mr. Langton's 'Collection.'
- ↑ Johnson, writing to Dr. Taylor on July 31, 1756, said,—'I find myself very unwilling to take up a pen, only to tell my friends that I am well, and indeed I never did exchange letters regularly but with dear Miss Boothby.' Notes and Queries, 6th S. v. 304. At the end of the Piozzi Letters are given some of his letters to her. They were republished together with her letters to him in An Account of the Life of Dr. Samuel Johnson, 1805.
- ↑ The words of Sir John Hawkins, p. 316. Boswell. 'When Mr. Thrale once asked Johnson which had been the happiest period of his past life, he replied, "it was that year in which he spent one whole evening with Molly Aston. That, indeed," said he, "was not happiness, it was rapture; but the thoughts of it sweetened the whole year." I must add that the evening alluded to was not passed tête-à-
she
