[501] The reference is to Rawlinson’s MS. collections for a continuation of Wood’s Athenae (Macray’s Annals of the Bodleian, p. 181).

[502] Jortin’s sermons are described by Johnson as ‘very elegant.’ Ante, in. 248.  He and Thirlby are mentioned by him in the Life of Pope.  Works, viii. 254.

[503] Markland was born 1693, died 1776.  His notes on some of Euripides’ Plays were published at the expense of Dr. Heberden.  Markland had previously destroyed a great many other notes; writing in 1764 he said:—­’Probably it will be a long time (if ever) before this sort of learning will revive in England; in which it is easy to foresee that there must be a disturbance in a few years, and all public disorders are enemies to this sort of literature.’ Gent.  Mag. 1778, P. 3l0.  ’I remember,’ writes Mrs. Piozzi (Anec. p. 252), ’when lamentation was made of the neglect shown to Jeremiah Markland, a great philologist, as some one ventured to call him:  “He is a scholar undoubtedly, Sir,” replied Dr. Johnson, “but remember that he would run from the world, and that it is not the world’s business to run after him.  I hate a fellow whom pride, or cowardice, or laziness drives into a corner, and [who] does nothing when he is there but sit and growl; let him come out as I do, and bark"’ A brief account of him is given in the Ann.  Reg. xix. 45.

[504] Nichols published in 1784 a brief account of Thirlby, nearly half of it being written by Johnson.  Thirlby was born in 1692 and died in 1753.  ’His versatility led him to try the round of what are called the learned professions.’  His life was marred by drink and insolence.’  His mind seems to have been tumultuous and desultory, and he was glad to catch any employment that might produce attention without anxiety; such employment, as Dr. Battie has observed, is necessary for madmen.’ Gent.  Mag. 1784, pp. 260, 893.

[505] He was attacked, says Northcote (Life of Reynolds, ii. 131), ’by a slight paralytic affection, after an almost uninterrupted course of good health for many years.’  Miss Burney wrote on Dec. 28 to one of her sisters:—­’How can you wish any wishes [matrimonial wishes] about Sir Joshua and me?  A man who has had two shakes of the palsy!’ Mme. D’Arblay’s Diary, ii. 218.

[506] Dr. Patten in Sept. 1781 (Croker’s Boswell, p. 699) informed Johnson of Wilson’s intended dedication.  Johnson, in his reply, said:—­’What will the world do but look on and laugh when one scholar dedicates to another?’

[507] On the same day he wrote to Dr. Taylor:-’This, my dear Sir, is the last day of a very sickly and melancholy year.  Join your prayers with mine, that the next may be more happy to us both.  I hope the happiness which I have not found in this world will by infinite mercy be granted in another.’ Notes and Queries, 6th S. v. 462.