Grampian Club > Boswelliana

110 MEMOIR OF JAMES BOSWELL.
Bishop of Norwich. En route for Lichfiekl they paused at
Birmingham, to visit Dr. Johnson's schoolfellow, Mr. Hector.
Boswell improved the occasion by visiting, at Soho, Mr. Matthew
Boulton, the celebrated mechanician, and partner of James
Watt. Finding Mr. Boulton at the head of seven hundred
mechanics, he describes him as " an iron chief," and a " father
to his tribe." At Lichfield he was introduced to Mrs. Lucy
Porter, Dr. Johnson's step- daughter, " an old maid, of simple
manners," living on a fortune of £10,000 bequeathed to her
by her brother, a captain in the navy. On Friday, the 29th
March, the travellers returned to London.
Good Friday, which fell on the 5th of April, Boswell spent
with Dr. Johnson. They worshipped together morning and
evening in St. Clement's Church. On Easter Sunday Boswell
attended morning service in St. Paul's Cathedral, and in the
evening accompanied Dr. Johnson to his pew in St. Clement's.
In the preceding January the brothers Daniel and Eobert
Perreau were hanged for forgery. They were convicted on the
evidence of Margaret Caroline Eudd, who cohabited with one of
them, and who, to save her own life, proved informer. This
woman possessed uncommon powers of fascination, and it was
believed that she had duped the brothers into the crime for
which they suffered. Like other great criminals, Mrs. Eudd
had acquired a temporary celebrity, and on this account Boswell
determined to visit her. He carried out his intention, and
confessed himself charmed by Mrs. Eudd's conversation and
manners. Under the plea that he would interest Mrs. Boswell,
he made a full record of Mrs. Eudd's conversation, transmitting
the MS. to Mr. Temple, that he and his patron. Lord Lisburne,
might " enjoy " its perusal. To his many whims and vagaries
in the past Mr. Temple had submitted with more than befitting
good nature, but the celebration of Mrs, Eudd was beyond his