When it becomes general, an authour leaves
the great, and applies to the multitude."-
Bofwell.
"It is a fhame that authours are not
now better patronized."-Johnson. "No, fir.
If learning cannot fupport a man, if he must
fit with his hands across till somebody feeds
him, it is as to him a bad thing, and it is
better as it is. With patronage, what flattery!
what falfehood! While a man is in equilibrio,
he throws truth among the multitude, and
lets them take it as they please: in patronage,
he must say what pleases his patron, and it is an
equal chance whether that be truth or falfe-
hood."-Watfon. "But is not the cafe now,
that, inftead of flattering one person, we flatter
the age?"-Jobnfon. "No, fir. The world al-
ways lets a man tell what he thinks, his own
way. I wonder however, that so many people
have written, who might have let it alone.
That people fhould endeavour to excel in con-
versation, I do not wonder; because in conver-
fation praise is inftantly reverberated."

We talked of change of manners. Dr. Johnfon obferved, that our drinking less than our ancestors was owing to the change from ale to wine. "I remember (faid he) when all the decent people in Lichfield got drunk every night, and were not the worse thought of. Ale was cheap, fo you preffed ftrongly. When a man must bring a bottle of wine, he is not in fuch

3

hafte.

hafte. Smoaking has gone out. To be fure, it is a fhocking thing, blowing fmoak out of cur mouths into other peoples mouths, eyes, and nofes, and having the fame thing done to us. Yet I cannot account why a thing which requires fo little exertion, and yet preferves the mind from total vacuity, should have gone out. Every man has fomething by which he calmst himfelf: beating with his feet, or fo*. I remember when people in England changed a fhirt only once a week: a Pandour, when he gets a fhirt, greafes it to make it laft. Formerly, good tradefmen had no fire but in the kitchen; never in the parlour, except on Sunday. My father, who was a magiftrate of Lichfield, lived thus. They never began to have a fire in the parlour, but on leaving off bufinefs, or fome great revolution of their life." Dr. Watson faid, the hall was as a kitchen, in old fquires houfes. Johnfon. "No, Sir. The hall was for great occasions, and never was ufed for domestick refection."-We talked of the Union, and what money it had brought into Scotland. Dr. Watfon obferved, that a little money formerly went as far as a great deal now. Johnson. "In fpeculation, it seems that a fmaller quantity of money, equal in value to a larger quantity, if equally divided, fhould' produce the fame effect. But it is not fo in reality.

--

• Dr. Johnson used to practice this himself

very much.

reality. Many more conveniences and elegancies are enjoyed where money is plenty, than where it is fcarce. Perhaps a great familiarity with it, which arifes from plenty, makes us more easily part with it."

After what Dr. Johnfon has faid of St. Andrew's, which he had long wifhed to fee, as our ancient university, and the feat of our Primate in the days of epifcopacy, I can fay little. Since the publication of Dr. Johnfon's book, I find that he has been cenfured for not seeing here the ancient chapel of St. Rule, a curious piece of facred architecture. But this was neither his fault nor mine. We were both of us abundantly defirous of furveying fuch fort of antiquities; but neither of us knew of this, I am afraid the cenfure muft fall on those who did not tell us of it. In every place, where there is any thing worthy of observation, there fhould be a fhort printed directory for ftrangers, fuch as we find in all the towns of Italy, and in fome of the towns in England. I was told that there is a manufcript account of St. Andrew's, by Martin, fecretary to Archbishop Sharp; and that one Douglas has published a fmall account of it. I inquired at a bookseller's, but could not get it. Dr. Johnson's veneration for the Hierarchy is well known. There is no wonder then, that he was affected with a strong indignation, while he beheld the

ruins.

Fuins of religious magnificence. I happened to ask where John Knox was buried, Dr. Johnfon burst out, "I hope in the high-way. I have been looking at his reformations."

It was a very fine day. Dr. Johnson feemed quite wrapt up in the contemplation of the scenes which were now prefented to him. He kept his hat off while he was upon any part of the ground where the Cathedral had flood. He faid well, that "Knox had fet on a mob, without knowing where it would end; and that differ ing from a man in doctrine was no reason why you should pull his house about his ears." As we walked in the cloisters, there was a folemn echo, while he talked loud of a proper retire ment from the world. Mr. Nairne faid, he had an inclination to retire. I called Dr. Johnson's attention to this, that I might hear his opinion if it was right.-Johnfon. "Yes, when he has done his duty to fociety. In general, as every man is obliged not only to "love GOD, but his neighbour as himself," he must bear his part in active life; yet there are exceptions. Those who are exceedingly fcrupulous (which I do not approve, for I am no friend to fcruples) and find their scrupulofity invincible, fo that they are quite in the dark, and know not what they fhall do-or thofe who cannot refift temptations, and find they make themselves worse by being in the world, without making it better,

may

may retire. I never read of a hermit, but in imagination I kifs his feet; never of a monaftery, but I could fall on my knees, and kifs the pavement. But I think putting young people there, who know nothing of life, nothing of retirement, is dangerous and wicked. It is a faying as old as Hefiod,

Εργα νεῶν, Βολαίτε μέσων, ἔυκαίτε γερόντων.

That is a very noble line: not that young men fhould not pray, or old men not give counsel, but that every feafon of life has its proper duties. I have thought of retiring, and have talked of it to a friend; but I find my vocation is rather to active life." I faid fome young monks might be allowed, to fhew that it is not age alone that can retire to pious folitude; but he thought this would only fhew they could not refift temptation.

He wanted to mount the fteeples, but it could not be done. There are no good infcriptions here. Bad Roman characters he naturally miftook for half Gothick, half Roman. One of the fteeples, which he was told was in danger, he wished not to be taken down; "< faid he, it may fall on fome of the pofterity of John Knox; and no great matter!" Dinner was mentioned.-Johnson. “Aye, aye; amidst all these forrowful fcenes, I have no objection to dinner."

for,

We