Tuesday 12 September: 'Lytton drove off an hour ago; I have been sitting here, unable to read or collect myself -- such is the wreckage dealt by 4 days of conversation [...] I told Lytton I should try to write down his talk -- which sprang from a conversation about Boswell [...] Lytton had of course read Mrs Thrale [...] One night he gave us a complete account of the prison system, based on reports which he has been reading -- thoroughly, with mastery, & a kind of political ability which impresses me.'
Century: 1850-1899 / 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Lytton Strachey Print: Book
'A pleasing instance of the generous attention of one of his [Dr Johnson's] friends has been discovered by the publication of Mrs. Thrale's collection of "Letters". In a letter to one of the Miss Thrales, he writes,--
"A friend, whose name I will tell when your mamma has tried to guess it, sent to my physician to enquire whether this long train of illness had brought me into difficulties for want of money, with an invitation to send to him for what occasion required. I shall write this night to thank him, having no need to borrow".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
'Mr. Walpole thought Johnson a more amiable character after reading his "Letters to Mrs. Thrale": but never was one of the true admirers of that great man'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Horace Walpole Print: Book
'When Doctor Parker had read the foregoing Poem [given - a long poem by Mrs Thrale on his dog Pompey] he wrote these verses upon it Impromptu. [the verses are given]'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Dr Parker Manuscript: Unknown
'When I shewed him [Johnson] his Character next day - for he would see it; he said it was a very fine Piece of Writing; and that I had improved upon [italics] Young [end italics] who he saw was my [italics] Model[end italics] he said; for my Flattery was still stronger than [italics] his [end italics], & yet somehow or other less [italics] hyperbolical [end italics].'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Johnson Manuscript: Unknown
'having shewed her [Sophia Streatfield] the other day three Translations of a few Verses written by Voltaire She immediately guessed one of them to be mine, and pitched upon the right. The Verses are very like some in Parnell, but rather better in my Opinion'
[the translation of 'A Madame de Chatelet' follows]
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Sophia Streatfield Print: Book
