Found At Last: On Giants and Thumbs

“I asked him once concerning the conversation powers of a gentleman [Charles James Fox] with whom I was myself unacquainted. ‘He talked to me at club one day,’ replies our Doctor, ‘concerning Catiline’s conspiracy, so I withdrew my attention, and thought about Tom Thumb.’” – Anecdotes of Samuel Johnson, by Mrs. Thrale

For years I've been trying to track down this story about Samuel Johnson and his connections to a fairy tale, without success. That's because I was remembering the tale as Jack the Giant Killer. I was set on the right trail by, of all things, a quote in Letters Between Father and Daughter, which I just finished yesterday. It highlights Johnson's boredom with 'just talking to show how much one knows.' The Letters, while being mildly interesting and engaging, might be described as 'the last squeeze of the lemon.' But I shall ever be grateful for its supplying me with this factoid and setting my mind to rest.