Foote being mentioned, Johnson said, ‘He is not a good mimick.’  One of the company added, ‘A merry Andrew, a buffoon.’  Johnson.  ’But he has wit too, and is not deficient in ideas, or in fertility and variety of imagery, and not empty of reading; he has knowledge enough to fill up his part.  One species of wit he has in an eminent degree, that of escape.  You drive him into a corner with both hands; but he’s gone, Sir, when you think you have got him—­like an animal that jumps over your head.  Then he has a great range for wit; he never lets truth stand between him and a jest, and he is sometimes mighty coarse.  Garrick is under many restraints from which Foote is free.’  Wilkes.  ’Garrick’s wit is more like Lord Chesterfield’s.’  Johnson.  ’The first time I was in company with Foote was at Fitzherbert’s.  Having no good opinion of the fellow, I was resolved not to be pleased; and it is very difficult to please a man against his will.  I went on eating my dinner pretty sullenly, affecting not to mind him.  But the dog was so very comical, that I was obliged to lay down my knife and fork, throw myself back upon my chair, and fairly laugh it out.  No, Sir, he was irresistible.  He upon one occasion experienced, in an extraordinary degree, the efficacy of his powers of entertaining.  Amongst the many and various modes which he tried of getting money, he became a partner with a small-beer brewer, and he was to have a share of the profits for procuring customers amongst his numerous acquaintance.  Fitzherbert was one who took his small-beer; but it was so bad that the servants resolved not to drink it.  They were at some loss how to notify their resolution, being afraid of offending their master, who they knew liked Foote much as a companion.  At last they fixed upon a little black boy, who was rather a favourite, to be their deputy, and deliver their remonstrance; and having invested him with the whole authority of the kitchen, he was to inform Mr. Fitzherbert, in all their names, upon a certain day, that they would drink Foote’s small-beer no longer.  On that day Foote happened to dine at Fitzherbert’s, and this boy served at table; he was so delighted with Foote’s stories, and merriment, and grimace, that when he went down stairs, he told them, “This is the finest man I have ever seen.  I will not deliver your message.  I will drink his small-beer."’

Somebody observed that Garrick could not have done this.  Wilkes.  ’Garrick would have made the small-beer still smaller.  He is now leaving the stage; but he will play Scrub all his life.’  I knew that Johnson would let nobody attack Garrick but himself, as Garrick once said to me, and I had heard him praise his liberality; so to bring out his commendation of his celebrated pupil, I said, loudly, ’I have heard Garrick is liberal.’  Johnson.  ’Yes, Sir, I know that Garrick has given away more money than any man in England that I am acquainted with, and that not from ostentatious views.  Garrick