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"DEAR SIR,

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TO SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS.

"May 2, 1783.

The gentleman who waits on you with this is Mr. Cruikshank, who wishes to succeed his friend Dr. Hunter1 as professor of anatomy in the Royal Academy. His qualifications are very generally known, and it adds dignity to the institution that such men are candidates. I am, Sir, &c., "SAM. JOHNSON."

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I have no minute of any interview with Johnson till Thursday, May 15th, when I find what follows: BoswELL. "I wish much to be in parliament, Sir." JOHNSON. "Why, Sir, unless you come resolved to support any administration, you would be the worse for being in parliament, because you would be obliged to live more expensively." BOSWELL. "Perhaps, Sir, I should be the less happy for being in parliament. I never would sell my vote, and I should be vexed if things went wrong." JOHNSON. "That's cant, Sir. It would not vex you more in the House than in the gallery: public affairs vex no man. BOSWELL. "Have not they vexed yourself a little, Sir? Have not you been vexed by all the turbulence of this reign, and by that absurd vote of the House of Commons, That the influence of the crown has increased, is increasing, and ought to be diminished""? JOHNSON. "Sir, I have never slept an hour less, nor eat an ounce less meat. I would have knocked the factious dogs on the head, to be sure; but I was not vexed." BOSWELL. "I declare, Sir, upon my honour, I did imagine I was vexed, and took a pride in it; but it was, perhaps, cant; for I own I neither eat less nor slept less.' JOHNSON. " My dear friend, clear your mind of cant. You may talk as other people do; you may say to a man, Sir, I am your humble servant.' You are not his

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1 William Hunter, M.D., the elder brother of the illustrious John Hunter, born at Kilbride, Lanarkshire, May 22, 1718, died in London, March 30, 1783. William Cruikshank, born at Edinburgh, 1745, died in London, 1800; he was most assiduous in his attentions to Johnson in his declining years.-Editor.

2 Let it be remembered by those who accuse Dr. Johnson of illiberality, that both were Scotchmen.

"These are bad

most humble servant. You may say, times; it is a melancholy thing to be reserved to such times.' You don't mind the times. You tell a man, ‘I am sorry you had such bad weather the last day of your journey, and were so much wet.' You don't care sixpence whether he is wet or dry. You may talk in this manner; it is a mode of talking in society; but don't think foolishly."

I talked of living in the country. JOHNSON. "Don't set up for what is called hospitality; it is a waste of time, and a waste of money: you are eaten up, and not the more respected for your liberality. If your house be like an inn, nobody cares for you. A man who stays a week with another makes him a slave for a week." BOSWELL. "But there are people, Sir, who make their houses a home to their guests, and are themselves quite easy." JOHNSON. Then, Sir, home must be the same to the guests, and they need not come."

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Here he discovered a notion common enough in persons not much accustomed to entertain company, that there must be a degree of elaborate attention, otherwise company will think themselves neglected: and such attention is no doubt very fatiguing. He proceeded: "I would not, however, be a stranger in my own county; I would visit my neighbours, and receive their visits; but I would not be in haste to return visits. If a gentleman comes to see me, I tell him he does me a great deal of honour. I do not go to see him, perhaps, for ten weeks; then we are very complaisant to each other. No, Sir, you will have much more influence by giving or lending money where it is wanted, than by hospitality."

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On Saturday, May 17, I saw him [for a short time. Having mentioned that I had that morning been with old Mr. Sheridan, he remembered their former intimacy with a cordial warmth, and said to me, "Tell Mr. Sheridan, I shall be glad to see him and shake hands with him." BOSWELL. "It is to me very wonderful that resentment should be kept up so long.' JOHNSON. "Why, Sir, it is not altogether resentment that he does not visit me; it is partly falling out of the habit,--partly disgust, such as one has at a drug that has made him sick. Besides, he knows that I laugh at his oratory."

Another day I spoke of one of our friends, of whom he, as well as I, had a very high opinion. He expatiated in his praise; but added, "Sir, he is a cursed Whig, a bottomless Whig, as they all are now."

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Sir,

I mentioned my expectations from the interest of an eminent person then in power; adding, "But I have no claim but the claim of friendship; however, some people will go a great way from that motive." JOHNSON. they will go all the way from that motive." A gentleman talked of retiring;- Never think of that," said Johnson. The gentleman urged, "I should then do no ill." JOHNSON. Nor no good either. Sir, it would be a civil suicide."

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On Monday, May 26, I found him at tea, and the celebrated Miss Burney,' the author of "Evelina and 'Cecilia," with him. I asked if there would be any speakers in parliament, if there were no places to be obtained. JOHNSON. "Yes, Sir. Why do you speak here? Either to instruct and entertain, which is a benevolent motive; or for distinction, which is a selfish motive." I mentioned "Cecilia." JOHNSON. (with an air of animated satisfaction.) Sir, if you talk of Cecilia,' talk on."

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We talked of Mr. Barry's exhibition of his pictures. JOHNSON. Whatever the hand may have done, the mind has done its part. There is a grasp of mind there which you find nowhere else." 2

I asked, whether a man naturally virtuous, or one who has overcome wicked inclinations, is the best. JOHNSON. "Sir, to you, the man who has overcome wicked inclinations is not the best. He has more merit to himself. I would rather trust my money to a man who has no hands, and so a physical impossibility to steal, than to a man of the most honest principles. There is a witty satirical story of Foote. He had a small bust of Garrick placed upon his bureau. 'You may be surprised,' said he, that I allow

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1 On Mr. Croker's treatment of Miss Burney, see Appendix to this volume.-Editor.

2 In Mr. Barry's printed analysis or description of these pictures, he speaks of Johnson's character in the highest terms.

They are still to be seen, in the great room of the Society of Arts in the Adelphi.—Croker.

him to be so near my gold;-but you will observe he has no hands.'

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On Friday, May 29,' being to set out for Scotland next morning, I passed a part of the day with him in more than usual earnestness, as his health was in a more precarious state than at any time when I had parted from him. He, however, was quick and lively, and critical, as usual. I mentioned one who was a very learned man. JOHNSON. "Yes, Sir, he has a great deal of learning; but it never lies straight. There is never one idea by the side of another; 'tis all entangled: and then he drives it so awkwardly upon conversation!"

I stated to him an anxious thought, by which a sincere Christian might be disturbed, even when conscious of having lived a good life, so far as is consistent with human infirmity; he might fear that he should afterwards fall. away, and be guilty of such crimes as would render all his former religion vain. Could there be, upon this awful

1 Before Boswell left town he was negotiating another dinner with Dr. Johnson and Mr. Wilkes at the house of the latter; but Johnson was pre-engaged.

BOSWELL TO WILKES.

"Wednesday, May 21, 1783. "Mr. Boswell's compliments to Mr. Wilkes. He rejoices to find he is so much better as to be abroad. He finds that it would not be unpleasant to Dr. Johnson to dine at Mr. Wilkes's. The thing would be so curiously benignant, it were a pity it should not take place. Nobody but Mr. Boswell should be asked to meet the doctor. Mr. Boswell goes for Scotland on Friday the 30th. If, then, a card were sent to the doctor on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, without delay, it is to be hoped he would be fixed; and notice will be sent to Mr. Boswell."

BOSWELL TO MR. AND MISS WILKES.

"Mr. Boswell presents his best compliments to Mr. and Miss Wilkes ; encloses Dr. Johnson's answer; and regrets much that so agreeable a meeting must be deferred till next year, as Mr. Boswell is to set out for Scotland in a few days. Hopes Mr. Wilkes will write to him there."

Enclosed.

"May 24, 1783.

"Dr. Johnson returns thanks to Mr. and Miss Wilkes for their kind invitation; but he is engaged for Tuesday to Sir Joshua Reynolds and for Wednesday to Mr. Paradise." Wilkes's Corresp., vol. iv., pp. 314, 321.-Croker.

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subject, such a thing as balancing of accounts? Suppose a man who has led a good life for seven years commits an act of wickedness, and instantly dies; will his former good life have any effect in his favour? JOHNSON. Sir, if a man has led a good life for seven years, and then is hurried by passion to do what is wrong, and is suddenly carried off, depend upon it he will have the reward of his seven years' good life: God will not take a catch of him. Upon this principle Richard Baxter believes that a suicide may be saved. 'If,' says he, 'it should be objected that what I maintain may encourage suicide, I answer, I am not to tell a lie to prevent it." BOSWELL. "But does not the text say, 'As the tree falls, so it must lie""? JOHNSON. "Yes, Sir: as the tree falls: but,"-after a little pause"that is meant as to the general state of the tree, not what is the effect of a sudden blast." In short, he interpreted the expression as referring to condition, not to position. The common notion, therefore, seems to be erroneous; and Shenstone's witty remark on divines trying to give the tree a jerk upon a death-bed, to make it lie favourably, is not well founded.1

I asked him what works of Richard Baxter's I should read. He said, "Read any of them; they are all good."

He said, "Get as much force of mind as you can. Live within your income. Always have something saved at the end of the year. Let your imports be more than your exports, and you'll never go far wrong."

I assured him, that in the extensive and various range of his acquaintance there never had been any one who had a more sincere respect and affection for him than I had. He said, "I believe it, Sir. Were I in distress, there is no man to whom I should sooner come than to you, I should like to come and have a cottage in your park, toddle about, live mostly on milk, and be taken care of by Mrs. Boswell. She and I are good friends now; are we not?

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Talking of devotion, he said, "Though it be true that

1 "When a tree is falling, I have seen the labourers, by a trivial jerk with a rope, throw it upon the spot where they would wish it to lie. Divines, understanding this text too literally, pretend, by a little interposition in the article of death, to regulate a person's everlasting happiness." Shenstone's Works, vol. ii., p. 255. Lond. 3 vols 12mo., 1773.

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