’Shall I recommend to you a play of Eschylus, (the Prometheus,) published and translated by poor old Morell, who is a good scholar[938], and an acquaintance of mine?  It will be but half a guinea, and your name shall be put in the list I am making for him.  You will be in very good company.

’Now for the Epitaphs!

[These, together with the verses on George the Second, and Colley Cibber, as his Poet Laureat, of which imperfect copies are gone about, will appear in my Life of Dr. Johnson[939].]

’I have no more paper, or I should have said more to you.  My love[940] and respects to Mr. Johnson.

’Yours ever,

‘D.  GARRICK.’

‘I can’t write.  I have the gout in my hand.’

‘To James Boswell, Esq., Edinburgh.’

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24.

We passed the forenoon calmly and placidly.  I prevailed on Dr. Johnson to read aloud Ogden’s sixth sermon on Prayer, which he did with a distinct expression, and pleasing solemnity.  He praised my favourite preacher, his elegant language, and remarkable acuteness; and said, he fought infidels with their own weapons.

As a specimen of Ogden’s manner, I insert the following passage from the sermon which Dr. Johnson now read.  The preacher, after arguing against that vain philosophy which maintains, in conformity with the hard principle of eternal necessity, or unchangeable predetermination, that the only effect of prayer for others, although we are exhorted to pray for them, is to produce good dispositions in ourselves towards them; thus expresses himself:—­

’A plain man may be apt to ask, But if this then, though enjoined in the holy scriptures, is to be my real aim and intention, when I am taught to pray for other persons, why is it that I do not plainly so express it?  Why is not the form of the petition brought nearer to the meaning?  Give them, say I to our heavenly father, what is good.  But this, I am to understand, will be as it will be, and is not for me to alter.  What is it then that I am doing?  I am desiring to become charitable myself; and why may I not plainly say so?  Is there shame in it, or impiety?  The wish is laudable:  why should I form designs to hide it?

’Or is it, perhaps, better to be brought about by indirect means, and in this artful manner?  Alas! who is it that I would impose on?  From whom can it be, in this commerce, that I desire to hide any thing?  When, as my Saviour commands me, I have entered into my closet, and shut my door, there are but two parties privy to my devotions, GOD and my own heart; which of the two am I deceiving?’