Alfred Henry Lewis

“ Johnson, Reynolds, Burke, Beauclerk, Langton, Goldsmith, Garrick, Major Mills, Cumberland, Whitefoord, Fitzherbert and the portly Adam Drummond—famed for his laughter, infectious and far-resounding—are about the board. Johnson is all vivacity, poor Goldsmith all gloom and unable to eat a morsel. ”

“ If one is to exclude George Colman, the manager, who has pledged his reputation that the play will fail, there are but three who do not wish success to Goldsmith—Walpole, the cynic; the viper, Kenrick; and the sordid Ralph Griffiths, who comes to hiss the genius of his whilom literary drudge. ”

“ I fear Beau stole a bad bargain."
"He who covets his neighbor's wife should never make a good one," is the whispered response of Walpole. Then aloud to Goldsmith: "Doctor, if you will permit my company, I will walk with you and your friends as far as Almack's."
"Reynolds," shouts Johnson as the guests get up from the table, "Davy must go to his theatre and Burke has engagements. You and I will go larking to the Pantheon, or, if you will, the masquerade at Ranelagh. Sir, it will give you a study in color; that is just what painters require. ”

“ In his last season Eclipse won twenty-five thousand pounds, and O'Kelly now has the horse at the age of nine in the stud, where he's worth a fortune."
"I know little of horses," says Langton, "yet I had the impression that Eclipse was not good blood."
"Best in the world!" declares Selwyn. "Comes straight as an arrow from Godolphin Arabian! Eclipse was never beaten; there has never been and may never be a horse to match him. For speed or distance there has been nothing his equal."
"George," laughs March, "after all, you know more of executions than horse-races, more of Tyburn than Newmarket. ”

“ James's Park."
"Sir, cool yourself with a stroll in Pall Mall," says Johnson to Goldsmith. "Leave it to us to lift up your standards in Covent Garden. Lanky, come to the box with Burke and me; Reynolds will go to his own box. Major Mills, you will lead our forces in the pit. Beau, join yourself to your friends, the dandies, and see that they know when to applaud. You will find those birds of paradise in fullest force and feather. Garrick, there will be a place for you with Lanky, Burke and me, when you can leave Drury Lane. ”

“ I understand that Foote means to take me off, and I'm resolved the fellow shall not do it with impunity.' Sir, at that Foote was afraid, and I suffered none of his attacks."
"How many nights will Colman give to your comedy?" asks Reynolds of Goldsmith.
"It can only have twelve, even if successful," shouts Goldsmith into the well-known ear-trumpet. "That will close the season."
"Sir, it must succeed!" roars Johnson, bringing his hand crashing on the table. ”

“ Surely a man should be unfettered in naming his own comedies and his own children."
Reynolds, silent, and indomitably regaling himself at the table's head, waves pleasant greeting with his ear-trump to Goldsmith and Major Mills as they draw up to the board. Major Mills, with a prudence essentially military, reconnoitres the guests. Aside from Miss Reynolds and the painter host, his eye takes in the rough, congested features of Dr. Johnson; the round cheeks, full brow and decidedly Irish face of Edmund Burke ”

“ His brother Stephen, as fat and unwieldy as he is unlucky, lost thirteen thousand pounds at the same time."
"Fox is most unfortunate in his gaming," adds Walpole. "I once said that the five things most worth finding were the longitude, the philosopher's stone, the certificate of the Duchess of Kingston's first marriage, the missing books of Livy and all that Charlie Fox has lost."
"When Beauclerk comes," observes Goldsmith, "he, Langton, Major Mills and I are to go to Almack's to seek this same Charles Fox. ”

“ Johnson loves Goldsmith, and would give him heart. "Your play must succeed! Take my word for it. King George himself shall come to see it within ten days."
"You think well of the King, sir," observes Burke to Johnson, "since he visited you in the library at the Queen's House."
"There is no finer gentleman in England," retorts Johnson, stoutly. "No man could have made a better appearance. ”

“ I won sixteen thousand pounds against the favorite at Newmarket, and I've had ten thousand guineas of it made into rouleaux, which I mean to double or lose this very evening."
One of the servants appears at this juncture with a great coat of rough Irish cloth that reaches from chin to heel. With it come long leathern cuffs, such as porters wear when they clean knives or varnish shoes, and a white, high-crowned hat, with a wide brim to protect the wearer's eyes from the candles, this last an extravagant jumble of ribbons and flowers. ”

“ Foster him. He has a most valuable laugh, has Adam, like the neigh of a horse; but he knows no more than a horse when and where to bestow it."
{ [dhr] } Covent Garden is thronged; its history holds nothing like it. The poet's friends are there: Johnson, Burke and Langton; the Thrales and Baretti, Reynolds, the Bunburys and fair Mary Horneck, the Jessamy Bride; Garrick and March and Beauclerk and Selwyn, and Charles Fox, with his dandies; Cumberland, with the useful Adam Drummond; Northcote, Nugent and Major Mills, with Fitzherbert, Whitefoord and the phalanx of the claque. ”