Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-06-21
DR.. Johnson.

DIR. johnson.
The following letter copy from the life and cores
nondence of Hannah Moore The reader who has not
read it cannot but feel an interest in it.
MY DEAR FRIEND,
| ought to apologize for delaying long to graft
fy YOUR wishes and fulfil my promise, by commit
ting to papcr a conversation which had with
the late Rev Mr. Story, of Colchester, respecting
DR.. Johnson. l will now, however, proceed at
once to record to the best of my recollection, the
substance of our discourse.
We were riding together near Colchester, when
l asked Mr.. Story whether ne had ever heard
that DR.. Johnson expressed great dissatisfaction
with himself on the approach of DEATH and that IN
reply to friends who, in order to comfort him. spoke
of his writings in defence of virtue and religion,
he had said, " Admitting all You urge to be true,
how can I tell when l have done enough =
Mr.. S. assured me that what had just men
toned was perfectly correct; and then added the
following interesting particulars.
DIR. Johnson, said he, did feel us you describe,
and was not to be comforted by the ordinary top
les of consolation which were addressed to him.
In consequence he desired to sec a clergyman,
and particularly described tho views and character
Of the person whom he wished to consult. After
some consideration Mr.. Winstanlcy was named,
and the DR.. requested Sir John Hawkins to write
q note in his tame, requesting Mr.W's. attendance
as minister.
Mr.. w. who was in very weak state of health
was quite overpowered on receiving the note, and
felt appalled, by the very thought of encountering
the talents, and learning of Dr.. Johnson. In his
embarrassment he went TO his friend Colonel
Pownall, and told him what had happened, asking,
Coz nc aIy hot fo 10
colonel, who was a pious man, urged him lmme-
diatey to follow what appeared to be a remark
able leading Of Providence, and for the time ar
gued his friend out of his nervous apprehension:
but after he had left Colonel Pownall, Mr.. WIS.
fears returned in so great degree as to prevail
upon him to abandon the thought ola personal
interview with the DR.. He determined in conse-
quencc to write him letter: that letter | think
Mr. Story said he had seen,-at least copy of
it, and part oft he repeated to me as follows:
Sir,-I beg to acknowledge the honor of your
note, and am very sorry that the state OF my health
prevents my compliance with your request: but
my nerves are so shattered thatl feel as if should
be quite confounded by your presence, and in
stead of promoting, should only injure the cause in
which YOU desire my aid. Permit me, therefore, 10
write what should wish to say were l present
can easily conceive what would be the subjects
of Your inquiry. can conceive that the views
of yourself have changed with your condition,
and that on the near approach of death, what you
once considered mere pecadilloes have risen into
mountains of guilt, while your best actions have
dwindled into nothing. On which ever side you
look you see only positive transgressions or deiec-
tive obedience; and hence in selt-despar, are
eagerly inuuiring ssWhat shall do to BE- saved p
say to you, in the language Of the Baptist, "Be-
hold the Lamb of God ~ dc. &c.
When Sir John Hawkins came to this part OF
Mr. W.'s letter the DR.. interrupted him anxlously
asking, "Does he sag SO? Read it again Sir
john" Sir John complied: upon which the
DR.. said, I" must see that man. write again to
him." A second note was accordingly sent: but
even this repeated solicitation could not prevail
over Mr.. Winstanley's fears. He was led howev-
er bv it to write again to the doctor, renewing and
enlarging upon the subject of his first letter; and
these communications, together with the con-
versa,ion of the late Mr. Latrobe, who was par
tcular friend Of DR.. Johnson, appear to have been
blessed by God in bringing this great man to the
remuneration of self, and simple reliance On Jesus
as his Saviour, thus also communicating TO nm
that peace which he had found the world could
not give, and which, when the world was fading
from his view, was to fill the void, and dissipate the
gloom, even of the valley of the shadow OF DEATH
I cannot conclude without remarking what
honour God has hereby put upon the doctrine OF
faith in a crucifed Saviour. The man whose in-
teectual powers had awed oil around him was in
his turn made to tremblc, when the period arri-
we'd at which all knowledge is useless, and van
shes away, except the knowledge of the true
God, and of Jesus Christ, whom he has sent. Eff
fectually to attain this knowledge, this giant in
literature must become a little child. The man
looked up to as prodigy Of wisdom must be-
come fool that he might be wise.
What comment is this upon that word, " ne
Iofiiness of man shall be bowed down, and the
haughtiness Of men shall be laid low, and the
Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.
A Curious SPR1NG-In a low situation, and
in place like cavern, on the coast OF Brazil,
there is spring, the water of which bolls up with
a violent ebullition, as from cauldron, and ac-
companied by variety ofloud noises. 1t throws
up large quantities of mud, which is OF healing
quality in cutaneous diseases. But the most re-
markable phenomenon Of the spring is, that if