A few days after her arrival she was introduced to David Garrick and his
wife. The famous actor had seen a letter of hers to a mutual friend,
extolling one of his theatrical performances. He forthwith secured an
interview, which resulted in favourable impressions on both sides, of
amiability and intellectual powers. A very cordial friendship ensued.
Garrick's social circle was now thrown open to Miss More. At his house
she first met Mrs. Elizabeth Montague, the authoress of an _Essay on the
Writings and Genius of Shakespeare_, a work which brought around the
writer the best literary men of the time.
Miss More's introduction to Dr. Johnson took place at the house of Sir
Joshua Reynolds. This event, though much desired, was not without dread,
lest the great man should happen to be in one of his querulous moods.
All fear vanished on her seeing the Doctor approach with a smile on his
rugged countenance, and Sir Joshua's macaw perched on his hand. Her
surprise may be imagined when he greeted her with a verse from a Morning
Hymn of her own composition.
The following extracts are from letters written by one of Hannah's
vivacious sisters. "Since I last wrote, Hannah has been introduced by
Miss Reynolds to Baretti and to Edmund Burke (the 'Sublime and
Beautiful' Edmund Burke!). From a large party of literary persons
assembled at Sir Joshua's she received the most encouraging compliments;
and the spirit with which she returned them was acknowledged by all
present, as Miss Reynolds informed poor us. Miss R. repeats her little
poem by heart, with which also the great Johnson is much pleased." "We
have paid another visit to Miss Reynolds. She had sent to engage Dr.
Percy (Percy's collection,--now you know him), who is quite a sprightly
modern, instead of a rusty antique, as I expected. He was no sooner
gone, than the most amiable and obliging of women (Miss Reynolds)
ordered the coach to take us to Dr. Johnson's _very own house_; yes,
Abyssinia's Johnson! Dictionary Johnson! Rambler's, Idler's, and Irene's
Johnson! Can you picture to yourself the palpitation of our hearts as we
approached his mansion? The conversation turned upon a new work of his
(the Tour to the Hebrides), and his old friend Richardson ... Miss
Reynolds told the doctor of all our rapturous exclamations on the road.
He shook his scientific head at Hannah, and said, 'She was a _silly
thing_.' When our visit was ended, he called for his hat, as it rained,
to attend us down a very long entry to our coach, and not Rasselas could
have acquitted himself more _en cavalier_. We are engaged with him at
Sir Joshua's, Wednesday evening. What do you think of us?"
A second visit to London took place in the following year, and a
third--prolonged to six months--in 1776. From this period down to about
1789 Miss More usually spent some time every year amongst her London
friends, but chiefly with Mrs. Garrick, either at the Adelphi or at her
country residence at Hampton.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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