circuit of the County[1] next day, which was a ceremony then performed with great pomp; he was asked by my mother, 'Whom he would invite to the Riding?' and answered, 'All the town now.' He feasted the citizens with uncommon magnificence, and was the last but one that maintained the splendour of the Riding[2].
I was, by my father's persuasion, put to one Marclew, commonly called Bellison[3], the servant, or wife of a servant of my father, to be nursed in George Lane[4], where I used to call when I was a bigger boy, and eat fruit in the garden, which was full of trees[5]. Here it was discovered that my eyes were bad; and an
- ↑ The City of Lichfield is a county in itself. Its circuit extends about sixteen miles.
- ↑ The Sheriff's 'Ride,' or perambulation of the City boundary, still takes place on September 8. The Sheriff, I am informed, on that day has about 250 guests to breakfast in the Guildhall. 'Various calls are made en route for refreshments, – chiefly at Freeford, where hospitality is dispensed by the owner, General Dyott.' For the family of Dyott see Letters, i. 342, n. 3.
- ↑ The name of Marklew, alias Bellison, is yet common in Lichfield, and is usually so distinguished. Note by R. Wright.
The last of this name in Lichfield, as it is believed, a very old innkeeper, died twenty years ago.
- ↑ Letters, i. 154.
- ↑ Perhaps Johnson had this garden in his mind when he wrote in his Life of Swift: – 'Almost every boy eats as much fruit as he can get without any great inconvenience.' Works, viii. 194.
pages are illegible. To his kindness I owe the following entries: – Baptisms. 'Anno 1579. 'The — daie of August Edith Johnson daughter of —.' '1657. '— the Sonne of William Johnson and Catherine his wife baptized Aprill —.' '1658. '— the Sonne of William Johnson was Baptiz: Februarie the 14th.' '1661. 'Andrew. The Sonne of William Johnson was baptiz: January 24th.' '1701 – Feb: 20 – 'Samuel ye Sonn of William Johnson & his wife.' Burials. '1701. 'October 29. Avice Johnson. Wid. Buryed. Affid. made. Nov: ye 3d.' Johnson's father served his apprenticeship at Leek in Staffordshire. Life, i. 37. A writer in Notes and Queries, 5th Ser., v. 335, says that in the Register of Burials in that town are found the names of two Samuel Johnsons – one who died in 1654 and the other in 1712. It is not unlikely that they were of Dr. Johnson's family. 'I can hardly tell who was my grandfather,' said Johnson. Life, ii. 261. He relates how some boatmen in the Hebrides, speaking of him, 'asked if the Englishman could recount a long genealogy. What answer was given them, the conversation being in Erse, I was not much inclined to examine.' Works, ix. 70.
