��Anecdotes.
��Mr. Johnson indeed always measured other people's notions of every thing by his own, and nothing could persuade him to believe, that the books which he disliked were agreeable to thousands, or that air and exercise which he despised were bene ficial to the health of other mortals *. When poor Smart, so well known for his wit and misfortunes, was first obliged to be put in private lodgings 2 , a common friend of both lamented in tender terms the necessity which had torn so pleasing a com panion from their acquaintance ' A madman must be confined, Sir 3 , (replies Dr. Johnson ;) but, says the other, I am now appre hensive for his general health, he will lose the benefit of exercise.
- Exercise ! ' (returns the Doctor) I never heard that he used any :
he might, for aught I know, walk to the alehouse ; but I believe he was always carried home again.'
It was however unlucky for those who delighted to echo Johnson's sentiments, that he would not endure from them to-day what perhaps he had yesterday, by his own manner of treating the subject, made them fond of repeating ; and I fancy
��1 Ante, p. 288.
a ' On the first attack of lunacy it is usual to confine the unhappy objects in private custody under the direction of their nearest friends and relations ; but when the disorder is grown permanent, and the circum stances of the party will bear such additional expense, it is thought pro per to apply to the royal authority to warrant a lasting confinement.' Blackstone's Commentaries, ed. 1775, i. 305. ' By the vagrant acts a me thod is chalked out for imprisoning, chaining and sending them to their proper homes.' Ib. iv. 25.
3 Johnson said of his confine ment : ' I did not think he ought to be shut up. His infirmities were not noxious to society. He insisted on people praying with him ; and I'd as lief pray with Kit Smart as any one else. Another charge was,
��that he did not love clean linen ; and I have no passion for it.' Life, i. 397.
One of Kit Smart's infirmities was like that of Mrs. Quickly's man. ' His worst fault is that he is given to prayer ; he is something peevish that way; but nobody but has his fault ; but let that pass.' Merry Wives of Windsor, Act i. sc. 4.
Smart died in the King's Bench Prison in 1770. Miss Burney says that not long before his death he wrote to her father to ask his as sistance for a fellow-sufferer, adding 'that he had himself assisted him according to his willing poverty.' In another letter to Dr. Burney, who had raised a fund for his relief, he wrote : ' I bless God for your good nature, which please take as a re ceipt.' Early Diary of F. Burney, i. 127.
Mr.
�� �
