1763. Atat. 54. The converfation then took a philofophical turn. JOHNSON. "Human experience, which is conftantly contradicting theory, is the great teft of truth. A fyftem, built upon the discoveries of a great many minds, is always of more strength, than what is produced by the mere workings of any one mind, which, of itself, can do little. There is not fo poor a book in the world that would not be a prodigious effort were it wrought out entirely by a fingle mind, without the aid of prior investigators. The French writers are fuperficial, because they are not scholars, and fo proceed upon the mere power of their own minds; and we fee how very little power they have." "As to the Christian religion, Sir, befides the ftrong evidence which we have for it, there is a balance in its favour from the number of great men who have been convinced of its truth, after a ferious confideration of the queftion. Grotius was an acute man, a lawyer, a man accustomed to examine evidence, and he was convinced. Grotius was not a reclufe, but a man of the world, who certainly had no bias to the fide of religion. Sir Ifaac Newton fet out an infidel, and came to be a very firm believer." He this evening again recommended to me to perambulate Spain. I faid it would amufe him to get a letter from me dated at Salamancha. "I fully intended to have followed advice of fuch weight; but having ftaid much longer both in Germany and Italy than I propofed to do, and having alfo vifited Corfica, I found that I had exceeded the time allowed me by my father, and haftened to France in my way homewards.. JOHNSON. JOHNSON."I love the University of Salamancha; for when the Spaniards were in doubt as to the lawfulness of their conquering America, the Univerfity of Salamancha gave it as their opinion that it was not lawful." He spoke this with great emotion, and with that generous warmth which dictated the lines in his "London," againft Spanish encroachment. I expreffed my opinion of my friend Derrick as but a poor writer. JOHNSON. "To be fure, Sir, he is; but you are to confider that his being a literary man has got for him all that he has. It has made him King of Bath. Sir, he has nothing to fay for himself but that he is a writer. Had he not been a writer, he must have been sweeping the croffings in the streets, and asking halfpence from every body that past." In juftice, however, to the memory. of Mr. Derrick, who was my first tutor in the ways of London, and fhewed me the town in all its variety of departments, both literary and sportive, the particulars of which Dr. Johnfon advised me to put in writing, it is proper to mention what Johnfon, at a fubfequent period, faid of him both as a writer and an editor: "Sir, I have often faid, that if Derrick's letters had been written by one of a more established name, they would have been thought very pretty letters. And, "I fent Derrick to Dryden's relations to gather materials for his life; and I believe he got all that I myself fhould have got." 8 " 8 Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, 3d edit. p. 104′′ 1. Ibid. p. 142. E e 2 Poor 1763. Etat. 54. 1.763. Etat. 54. Poor Derrick! I remember him with kindness. Yet I cannot with-hold from my readers a pleasant humourous fally which could not have hurt him had he been alive, and now is perfectly harmless. In his collection of poems, there is one upon entering the harbour of Dublin, his native city, after a long abfence. It begins thus: "Eblana! much lov'd city, hail! And after a folemn reflection on his being "numbered with forgotten dead," there is the following stanza: "Unless my lines protract my fame, "And thofe, who chance to read them, cry, "I knew him! Derrick was his name, "In yonder tomb his afhes lie.” Which was thus happily parodied by Mr. John Home, to whom we owe the beautiful and pathetick tragedy of "Douglas:" "Unless my deeds protract my fame, I doubt much whether the amiable and ingenious authour of these burlefque lines will recollect them, for they were produced extempore one evening while he and I were walking together in the dining room room at Eglintoune castle, in 1760, and I have 1763. never mentioned them to him fince. Johnson faid once to me, "Sir, I honour Derrick for his presence of mind. One night, when Floyd, another poor authour, was wandering about the streets in the night, he found Derrick fast asleep upon a bulk; upon being fuddenly waked, Derrick ftarted up, My dear Floyd, I am forry to see you in this deftitute state; will you go home with me to my lodgings?" I again begged his advice as to my method of study at Utrecht." Come, (faid he) let us make a day of it. Let us go down to Greenwich and dine, and talk of it there." The following Saturday was fixed for this excurfion. As we walked along the Strand to-night, arm in arm, a woman of the town accofted us, in the ufual enticing manner. "No, no, my girl, (faid Johnson) it won't do." He, however, did not treat her with harfhnefs, and we talked of the wretched life of fuch women; and agreed, that much more mifery than happiness, upon the whole, is produced by illicit commerce between the fexes. On Saturday, July 30, Dr. Johnson and I took a fculler at the Temple-ftairs, and set out for Greenwich. I asked him if he really thought a knowledge of the Greek and Latin languages an effential requifite to a good education. JOHNSON. "Moft certainly, Sir; for those who know them have a very great advantage over those who do He publifhed a biographical work, containing an account of eminent writers, in three vols. 8vo. Etat. 54 Atat, 54. 17631 not. Nay, Sir, it is wonderful what a difference learning makes upon people even in the common intercourfe of life, which does not appear to be much connected with it." And yet, (faid I) people go through the world very well, and carry on the business of life to good advantage, without learning." JOHNSON. "Why, Sir, that may be true in cafes where learning cannot poffibly be of any use; for instance, this boy rows us as well without learning, as if he could fing the fong of Orpheus to the Argonauts, who were the first failors." He then called to the boy, What would you give, my lad, to know about the Argonauts ?" "Sir, (faid the boy,) I would give what I have." Johnson was much pleased with his anfwer, and we gave him a double fare. Johnfon then turning to me, "Sir, (faid he) a defire of knowledge is the natural feeling of mankind; and every human being, whofe mind is not debauched, will be willing to give all that he has to get knowledge." Dr. We landed at the Old Swan, and walked to Billingsgate, where we took oars, and moved smoothly along the filver Thames. It was a very fine day. We were entertained with the immenfe number and variety of fhips, that were lying at anchor, and with the beautiful country on each fide of the river. I talked of preaching, and of the great fuccefs which thofe called Methodists have. Joнnson. "Sir, All who are acquainted with the history of Religion, (the most important, furely, that concerns the human, mind,) know that |