Dr. Johnson then, recollecting himself, and thinking, as he owned afterwards, that the dispute grew too serious, with a skill all his own, suddenly and unexpectedly turned it to burlesque; and taking Sir Philip by the hand at the moment we arose after supper, and were separating for the night,

“Sir Philip,” said he, “you are too liberal a man for the party to which you belong; I shall have much pride in the honour of converting you; for I really believe, if you were not spoiled by bad company, the spirit of faction would not bav possessed you.  Go, then, sir, to the House, but make not your motion!  Give up your bill, and surprise the world by turning to the side of truth and reason.  Rise, sir, when they least expect you, and address your fellow-patriots to this Purpose:—­Gentlemen, I have, for many a weary day, been

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deceived and seduced by you.  I have now opened my eyes; I see that you are all scoundrels—­the subversion of all government is your aim.  Gentlemen, I will no longer herd among rascals in whose infamy my name and character must be included.  I therefore renounce you all, gentlemen, as you deserve to be renounced.’ "

Then, shaking his hand heartily, he added,

“Go, sir, go to bed; meditate upon this recantation, and rise in the morning a more honest man than you laid down.

Mr. Murphy, the dramatist.

on Thursday, while my dear father was here, who should be announced but Mr. Murphy;(93) the man of all other strangers to me whom I most longed to see.

He is tall and well made, has a very gentlemanlike appearance, and a quietness of manner upon his first address that, to me, is very pleasing.  His face looks sensible, and his deportment is perfectly easy and polite.

When he had been welcomed by Mrs. Thrale, and had gone through the reception-salutations of Dr. Johnson and my father, Mrs. Thrale, advancing to me, said,

But here is a lady I must introduce to you, Mr. Murphy here is another F. B.”

“Indeed!” cried he, taking my hand; “is this a sister of Miss Brown’s?”

“No, no; this is Miss Burney.”

“What!” cried he, staring; “is this—­is this—­this is not the lady that—­that—­”

“Yes, but it is,” answered she, laughing.

“’No, you don’t say so?  You don’t mean the lady that—­”

“Yes yes I do; no less a lady, I assure you.”

He then said he was very glad of the honour of seeing me.  I sneaked away.  When we came upstairs, Mrs. Thrale charged me to make myself agreeable to Mr. Murphy.

“He may be of use to you, in what I am most eager for, your writing a play:  he knows stage business so well; and if you but take a fancy to one another, he may be more able to

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serve you than all of us put together.  My ambition is, that Johnson should write your prologue, and Murphy your epilogue, then I shall be quite happy.”