��manner of conferring pecuniary favours ; that they always gave too much money or too little; for that they had an idea of delicacy accompanying their gifts, so that they generally rendered them either useless or ridiculous.'
He did indeed say very contemptuous things of our sex ; but was exceedingly angry when I told Miss Reynolds that he said, ' It was well managed of some one to leave his affairs in the hands of his wife, because, in matters of business (said he), no woman stops at integrity V This was, I think, the only sen tence I ever observed him solicitous to explain away after he had uttered it 2 . He was not at all displeased at the recollection of a sarcasm thrown on a whole profession at once; when a gentleman leaving the company, somebody who sate next Dr. Johnson, asked him, who he was ? . c I cannot exactly tell you Sir (replied he), and I would be loth to speak ill of any person who I do not know deserves it, but I am afraid he is an attorney V He did not however encourage general satire 4 , and for the most part professed himself to feel directly contrary to Dr. Swift ; ' who (says he) hates the world, though he loves John and Robert, and certain individuals.'
Johnson said always, ' that the world was well constructed, but that the particular people disgraced the elegance and beauty of the general fabric.' In the same manner I was relating once
1 His anger at this being told to 3 ' Much enquiry having been made
Miss Reynolds was probably due to concerning a gentleman, who had
his high opinion of her virtue. See quitted a company where Johnson
ante, p. 207. was, and no information being ob-
a ' JOHNSON (who, from drinking tained ; at last Johnson observed,
only water, supposed every body who that " he did not care to speak ill of
drank wine to be elevated,) " I won't any man behind his back, but he
argue any more with you, Sir. You believed the gentleman was an at-
are too far gone." SIR JOSHUA. "I torney"' Life, ii. 126. When we
should have thought so indeed, Sir, see how this sarcasm has been spoilt
had I made such a speech as you in the telling by Mrs. Piozzi, we may
have now done." " JOHNSON (draw- quote Mr. Fitzherbert's saying, 'It is
ing himself in, and, I really thought, not every man that can carry a bon-
blushing,) " Nay, don't be angry. mot.' Ib. ii. 350. I did not mean to offend you." ' 4 See ante, p. 223 for his ' aversion
Life, iii. 329. to general satire.'
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