I am asked whether I meant to fatirize the man or criticise the writer, when I fay that he believes, only perhaps because he has inclination to believe it, that the English and Dutch confume more Tea than the waft empire of China? Between the writer and the man I did not at that time confider the diftinction. The writer I found not of more than mortal might, and I did not immediately recollect that the man put horfes to his chariot. But I did not write wholly without confideration. I knew but two causes of belief, evidence and inclination. What evidence the Journalist could have of the Chinefe confumption of Tea, I was not able to dif cover. The officers of the Eaft-India Company are excluded, they beft know why, from the towns and the country of China; they are treated as we treat gypfies and vagrants, and obliged to retire every night to their own hovel. What intelligence fuch travellers may bring is of no great importance. And though the milionaries boast of having once penetrated further, I think they have never calculated the Tea drank by the Chinese. There being thus no evidence for his opinion, to what could I afcribe it but to inclination?

I am yet charged more heavily for having faid, that he has no intention to find any thing right at home. I believe every reader reftrained this imputation to the fubject which produced it, and fuppofed me to infinuate only that he meant to spare no part of the Tea-table, whether effence or circumftance. But this line he has felected as an instance of virulence and acrimony, and confutes it by a lofty and fplendid panegyrick on himfelf. He afferts,

that

that he finds many things right at home, and that he loves his country almost to enthusiasm.

I had not the leaft doubt that he found in his country many things to please him; nor did I fuppofe that he defired the fame inverfion of every part of life, as of the ufe of Tea. The propofal of drinking Tea four showed indeed fuch a disposition to practical paradoxes, that there was reafon to fear left fome fucceeding letter fhould recommend the drefs of the Pics, or the cookery of the Eskimaux. However, I met with no other innovations, and therefore was willing to hope that he found fomething right at home.

But his love of his country feemed not to rife quite to enthusiasm, when, amidst his rage against Tea, he made a smooth apology for the East-Indig Company, as men who might not think themfelves obliged to be political arithmeticians. I hold, though no enthufiaftick patriot, that every man who lives and trades under the protection of a community, is obliged to confider whether he hurts or benefits those who protect him; and that the most which can be indulged to private interest is a neutral traffick, if any fuch can be, by which our country is not injured, though it may not be benefited.

But he now renews his declamation against Tea, notwithstanding the greatnefs or power of those that have intereft or inclination to support it. I know not of what power or greatness he may dream. The importers only have an intereft in defending it. I am fure they are not great, and I hope they are not powerful. Thofe whofe inclination leads them to continue this practice, are too numerous, but I be

lieve their power is fuch, as the Journalist may defy without enthufiafm. The love of our country, when it rifes to enthufiafm, is an ambiguous and uncertain virtue: when a man is enthusiastick, he ceafes to be reafonable, and when he once departs from reafon, what will he do but drink four Tea? As the Journalist, though enthusiastically zealous for his country, has, with regard to fmaller things, the placid happiness of philofophical indifference, I can give him no disturbance by advising him to restrain even the love of his country within due limits, left it fhould fometimes fwell too high, fill the whole capacity of his foul, and leave lefs room for the love of truth.

Nothing now remains but that I review my pofitions concerning the Foundling-Hofpital. What I declared laft month, I declare now once more, that I found none of the children that appeared to have heard of the catechifm. It is inquired how I wandered, and how I examined? There is doubtlefs fubtilty in the question; I know not well how to answer it. Happily I did not wander alone; I attended fome ladies with another gentleman, who all heard and affifted the inquiry with equal grief and indignation. I did not conceal my obfervations. Notice was given of this shameful defect foon after, at my request, to one of the highest names of the fociety. This I am now told is incredible; but fince it is true, and the paft is out of human power, the most important corporation cannot make it falfe. But why is it incredible? Because in the rules of the hofpital the children are ordered to learn the rudiments of religion. Orders are easily made,

but

but they do not execute themfelves. They fay their catechifm, at ftated times, under an able mafter. But this able mafter was, I think, not elected before laft February; and my vifit happened, if I miftake not, in November. The children were fhy when interrogated by a stranger. This may be true, but the fame fhynefs I do not remember to have hindered them from anfwering other questions: and I wonder why children fo much accustomed to new fpectators fhould be eminently shy.

My opponent, in the firft paragraph, calls the inference that I made from this negligence, a hafty conclufion to the decency of this expreffion I had nothing to object: but as he grew hot in his career, his enthusiasm began to fparkle; and in the vehemence of his poftfcript, he charges my affertions, and my reafons for advancing them, with folly and malice. His argumentation being fomewhat enthufiaftical, I cannot fully comprehend, but it seems to ftand thus my infinuations are foolish or malicious, fince I know not one of the Governors of the Hofpital; for he that knows not the Governors of the Hospital, must be very foolish or malicious.

He has, however, fo much kindness for me, that he advifes me to confult my fafety when I talk of corporations. I know not what the most important corporation can do, becoming manhood, by which my fafety is endangered. My reputation is fafe, for I can prove the fact; my quiet is fafe, for I meant well; and for any other fafety, I am not ufed to be very folicitous.

I am always forry when I fee any being labouring in vain; and in return for the Journalist's at

tention

tention to my safety, I will confefs fome compaffion for his tumultuous refentment; fince all his invectives fume into the air, with fo little effect upon me, that I ftill efteem him as one that has the merit of meaning well; and ftill believe him to be a man whofe failings may be justly pardoned for his virtues *.

* And of such a man, it is to be regretted that Dr. Johnson was, by whatever motive, induced to speak with acrimony; but it is probable that he took up the fubject at firft merely to give play to his fancy. This anfwer, however, to Mr. Hanway's letter, is, as Mr. Bofwell has remarked, the only inftance in the whole courfe of his life, when he condefcended to oppofe any thing that was written against him.

C.