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with a woman of real fashion； his Titty； as he called her； was the most
beautiful； graceful； and accomplished of her sex。 That his admiration was
unfeigned cannot be doubted； for she was as poor as himself。 She accepted；
with a readiness which did her little honour； the addresses of a suitor who
might have been her son。 The marriage； however； in spite of occasional
wranglings； proved happier than might have been expected。 The lover
continued to be under the illusions of the wedding…day till the lady died in
her sixty…fourth year。 On her monument he placed an inscription extolling
the charms of her person and of her manners； and when； long after her
decease； he had occasion to mention her； he exclaimed； with a tenderness
half ludicrous； half pathetic； 〃Pretty creature！〃
His marriage made it necessary for him to exert himself more
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
strenuously than he had hitherto done。 He took a house in the
neighbourhood of his native town； and advertised for pupils。 But eighteen
months passed away； and only three pupils came to his academy。 Indeed；
his appearance was so strange； and his temper so violent； that his
schoolroom must have resembled an ogre's den。 Nor was the tawdry
painted grandmother whom he called his Titty well qualified to make
provision for the comfort of young gentlemen。 David Garrick； who was
one of the pupils； used； many years later； to throw the best company of
London into convulsions of laughter by mimicking the endearments of this
extraordinary pair。
At length Johnson； in the twenty…eighth year of his age； determined to
seek his fortune in the capital as a literary adventurer。 He set out with a
few guineas； three acts of the tragedy of Irene in manuscript； and two or
three letters of introduction from his friend Walmesley。
Never； since literature became a calling in England； had it been a less
gainful calling than at the time when Johnson took up his residence in
London。 In the preceding generation a writer of eminent merit was sure to
be munificently rewarded by the government。 The least that he could
expect was a pension or a sinecure place； and； if he showed any aptitude
for politics； he might hope to be a member of parliament； a lord of the
treasury； an ambassador； a secretary of state。 It would be easy； on the other
hand； to name several writers of the nineteenth century of whom the least
successful has received forty thousand pounds from the booksellers。 But
Johnson entered on his vocation in the most dreary part of the dreary
interval which separated two ages of prosperity。 Literature had ceased to
flourish under the patronage of the great； and had not begun to flourish
under the patronage of the public。 One man of letters； indeed； Pope； had
acquired by his pen what was then considered as a handsome fortune； and
lived on a footing of equality with nobles and ministers of state。 But this
was a solitary exception。 Even an author whose reputation was established；
and whose works were popular； such an author as Thomson； whose
Seasons were in every library； such an author as Fielding； whose Pasquin
had had a greater run than any drama since The Beggar's Opera； was
sometimes glad to obtain； by pawning his best coat； the means of dining
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
on tripe at a cookshop underground； where he could wipe his hands； after
his greasy meal； on the back of a Newfoundland dog。 It is easy； therefore；
to imagine what humiliations and privations must have awaited the novice
who had still to earn a name。 One of the publishers to whom Johnson
applied for employment measured with a scornful eye that athletic though
uncouth frame； and exclaimed； 〃You had better get a porter's knot； and
carry trunks。〃 Nor was the advice bad； for a porter was likely to be as
plentifully fed； and as comfortably lodged； as a poet。
Some time appears to have elapsed before Johnson was able to form
any literary connection from which he could expect more than bread for
the day which was passing over him。 He never forgot the generosity with
which Hervey； who was now residing in London； relieved his wants
during this time of trial。 〃Harry Hervey；〃 said the old philosopher many
years later； 〃was a vicious man； but he was very kind to me。 If you call a
dog Hervey I shall love him。〃 At Hervey's table Johnson sometimes
enjoyed feasts which were made more agreeable by contrast。 But in
general he dined； and thought that he dined well； on sixpenny worth of
meat； and a pennyworth of bread； at an alehouse near Drury Lane。
The effect of the privations and sufferings which he endured at this
time was discernible to the last in his temper and his deportment。 His
manners had never been courtly。 They now became almost savage。 Being
frequently under the necessity of wearing shabby coats and dirty shirts； he
became a confirmed sloven。 Being often very hungry when he sat down to
his meals； he contracted a habit of eating with ravenous greediness。 Even
to the end of his life； and even at the tables of the great； the sight of food
affected him as it affects wild beasts and birds of prey。 His taste in cookery；
formed in subterranean ordinaries and alamode beefshops； was far from
delicate。 Whenever he was so fortunate as to have near him a hare that had
been kept too long； or a meat pie made with rancid butter； he gorged
himself with such violence that his veins swelled； and the moisture broke
out on his forehead。 The affronts which his poverty emboldened stupid
and low…minded men to offer to him would have broken a mean spirit into
sycophancy； but made him rude even to ferocity。 Unhappily the insolence
which； while it was defensive； was pardonable； and in some sense
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
respectable； accompanied him into societies where he was treated with
cou