Richard Allestree (1619–1681)

On Friday, April 2, being Good Friday, I visited him in the morning as usual ; and finding that we insensibly fell into a train of ridicule upon the foibles of one of our friends, a very worthy man, I, by way of a check, quoted some good admonition from The Government of the Tongue, that very pious book. It happened also remarkably enough, that the subject of the sermon preached to us to-day by Dr. Burrows, the rector of St. Clement Danes, was the certainty that at the last day we must give an account of "the deeds done in the body;" and amongst various acts of culpability he mentioned evil-speaking. As we were moving slowly along in the crowd from church, Johnson jogged my elbow, and said, "Did you attend to the sermon?" "Yes, Sir," said I; "it was very applicable to us." He, however, stood upon the defensive. "Why, Sir the sense of ridicule is given us, and may be lawfully used. The author of The Government of the Tongue would have us treat all men alike."
Boswell, Life of Johnson… (more)