p. 94) describes Blair 'as so
austere and void of urbanity as to make him quite disagreeable to young
people.'
[150] In 1775 Mrs. Montagu gave Mrs. Williams a small annuity. Croker's
_Boswell_, pp. 458, 739. Miss Burney wrote of her:--'Allowing a little
for parade and ostentation, which her power in wealth and rank in
literature offer some excuse for, her conversation is very agreeable.'
Mme. D'Arblay's _Diary_, i. 325. See _post_, April 7, 1778, note.
[151]
'Let humble Allen, with an awkward shame,
Do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame.'
Pope, _Sat. Ep_. i. 135.
[152] Johnson refers to Jenyns's _View of the Internal Evidence of the
Christian Religion_, published this spring. See _post_, April 15, 1778.
Jenyns had changed his view, for in his _Origin of Evil_ he said, in a
passage quoted with applause by Johnson (_Works_, vi. 69), that 'it is
observable that he who best knows our formation has trusted no one
thing of importance to our reason or virtue; he trusts to our vanity or
compassion for our bounty to others.'
[153] Mr. Langton is certainly meant. It is strange how often his mode
of living was discussed by Johnson and Boswell.
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