[1229] Johnson described in 1762 his disappointment on his return to Lichfield. Ante, i. 370.

[1230] ’It was impossible not to laugh at the patience Doctor Johnson shewed, when a Welsh parson of mean abilities, though a good heart, struck with reverence at the sight of Dr. Johnson, whom he had heard of as the greatest man living, could not find any words to answer his inquiries concerning a motto round somebody’s arms which adorned a tomb-stone in Ruabon church-yard.  If I remember right, the words were,

     Heb Dw, Heb Dym,
     Dw o’ diggon.

And though of no very difficult construction, the gentleman seemed wholly confounded, and unable to explain them; till Mr. Johnson, having picked out the meaning by little and little, said to the man, “Heb is a preposition, I believe, Sir, is it not?” My countryman recovering some spirits upon the sudden question, cried out, “So I humbly presume, Sir,” very comically.’  Piozzi’s Anec. p. 238.  The Welsh words, which are the Myddelton motto, mean, ’Without God, without all.  God is all-sufficient.’ Piozzi MS.  Croker’s Boswell, p. 423.

[1231] In 1809 the whole income for Llangwinodyl, including surplice fees, amounted to forty-six pounds two shillings and twopence, and for Tydweilliog, forty-three pounds nineteen shillings and tenpence; so that it does not appear that Mr. Thrale carried into effect his good intention.  DUPPA.

[1232] Mr. Thrale was near-sighted, and could not see the goats browsing on Snowdon, and he promised his daughter, who was a child of ten years old, a penny for every goat she would shew him, and Dr. Johnson kept the account; so that it appears her father was in debt to her one hundred and forty-nine pence.  Queeny was the epithet, which had its origin in the nursery, by which Miss Thrale was always distinguished by Johnson.  DUPPA.  Her name was Esther.  The allusion was to Queen Esther.  Johnson often pleasantly mentions her in his letters to her mother.  Thus on July 27, 1780, he writes:—­’As if I might not correspond with my Queeney, and we might not tell one another our minds about politicks or morals, or anything else.  Queeney and I are both steady and may be trusted; we are none of the giddy gabblers, we think before we speak.’ Piozzi Letters, ii. 169.  Four days later he wrote:—­’Tell my pretty dear Queeney, that when we meet again, we will have, at least for some time, two lessons in a day.  I love her and think on her when I am alone; hope we shall be very happy together and mind our books.’ Ib. p. 173.

[1233] See ante, iv. 421, for the inscription on an urn erected by Mr. Myddelton ’on the banks of a rivulet where Johnson delighted to stand and repeat verses.’  On Sept. 18, 1777, Johnson wrote to Mrs. Thrale:  —­’Mr. ——­’s erection of an urn looks like an intention to bury me alive; I would as willingly see my friend, however benevolent and hospitable, quietly inurned.  Let him think for the present of some more acceptable memorial.’ Piozzi Letters, i. 371.