Since I wrote last I have drunk tea with Dr. Johnson. My father took
me to Bolt-court, and we found him, most fortunately, with only one
brass-headed cane gentleman. Since that I have had the pleasure to meet
him again at Mrs. Reynolds's, when he offered to take me with him to
Grub-street, to see the ruins of the house demolished there in the late
riots, by a mob that, as he observed, could be no friend to the Muses!
He inquired if I had ever yet visited Grub-street? but was obliged to
restrain his anger when I answered “No,” because he acknowledged he had
never paid his respects to it himself. “However,” says he, “you and
I, Burney, will go together; we have a very good right to go, so we'll
visit the mansions of our progenitors, and take up our own freedom,
together.” There's for you, madam! What can be grander?