288

"Why, sir, them a respite." JOHNSON. as the happiness or misery of embodied spirits does not depend upon place, but is intellectual, we cannot say that they are less happy or less miserable by appearing upon earth."

all the motives which they have for remaining in that connexion, and the restraints which civilized society imposes to prevent separation, are hardly sufficient to keep them together." The general said, that in a state of nature a man and woman uniting together, would form a strong and constant affection, by the mutual pleasure each would

We went down between twelve and one to Mrs. Williams's room, and drank tea. I mentioned that we were to have the re-receive; and that the same causes of dismains of Mr. Gray in prose and verse, published by Mr. Mason. JOHNSON. "I think we have had enough of Gray. I see they have published a splendid edition of Akenside's works. One bad ode may be suffered; but a number of them together makes one sick." BOSWELL. "Akenside's distinguished poem is his Pleasures of Imagination:' but, for my part, I never could admire it so much as most people do." JOHNSON. "Sir, I could not read it through." BOSWELL. "I have read it through; but I did not find any great power in it."

sension would not arise between them, as
occur between husband and wife in a civiliz-
"Sir, they would
ed state. JOHNSON.
have dissensions enough, though of another
kind. One would choose to go a hunting
in this wood, the other in that; one would
choose to go a fishing in this lake, the oth-
er in that; or, perhaps, one would choose
to go a hunting, when the other would
choose to go a fishing; and so they would
part. Besides, sir, a savage man and a sav-
age woman meet by chance; and when the
man sees another woman that pleases him
better, he will leave the first."

We then fell into a disquisition whether
there is any beauty independent of utility.
The general maintained there was not.
Dr. Johnson maintained that there was;
cup which he held
and he instanced a coffee
in his hand, the painting of which was of
no real use, as the cup could hold the coffee
equally well if plain; yet the painting was
beautiful.

I mentioned Elwal, the heretick, whose trial Sir John Pringle had given me to read. JOHNSON. "Sir, Mr. Elwal was, I think, an ironmonger at Wolverhampton; and he had a mind to make himself famous, by being the founder of a new sect, which he wished much should be called Elwallians. He held, that every thing in the Old Testament that was not typical was to be of perpetual observance; and so he wore a riWe talked of the strange custom of swearband in the plaits of his coat, and he also The general said, wore a beard. I remember I had the hon-ing in conversation. our of dining in company with Mr. Elwal. There was one Barter, a miller, who wrote against him; and you had the controversy To between Mr. Elwal and Mr. Barter. try to make himself distinguished, he wrote a letter to King George the Second, challenging him to dispute with him, in which he said, George, if you be afraid to come by yourself, to dispute with a poor old man, you may bring a thousand of your blackguards with you; and if you should still be afraid, you may bring a thousand of your red-guards.' The letter had something of the impudence of Junius to our present king. But the men of Wolverhampton were not so inflammable as the common council of London; so Mr. Elwal failed in his scheme of making himself a man of great consequence."

On Tuesday, 31st March, he and I dined at General Paoli's. A question was started whether the state of marriage was natural to man. JOHNSON. "Sir, it is so far from being natural for a man and woman to live in a state of marriage, that we find

["The Triumph of Truth; being an account of the trial of E. Elwal for heresy and blasphemy, 8vo. Lond." This is rather the rambling declamation of an enthusiast, than the account of a trial. -ED.]

that all barbarous nations swore from a cer-
tain violence of temper, that could not be
confined to earth, but was always reaching
He said, too, that
at the powers above.
there was greater variety of swearing, in
proportion as there was a greater variety
of religious ceremonies.

Dr. Johnson went home with me to my lodgings in Conduit-street and drank tea, previous to our going to the Pantheon, which neither of us had seen before.

He said, "Goldsmith's Life of Parnell is poor; not that it is poorly written, but that he had poor materials; for nobody can write the life of a man, but those who have eat and drunk and lived in social intercourse 2 with him."

I said, that if it was not troublesome and presuming too much, I would request him to tell me all the little circumstances of his life; what schools he attended, when he came to Oxford, when he came to London, &c. &c. He did not disapprove of my curiosity as to these particulars; but said, "They 'll come out by degrees, as we talk together."

2 [Yet Johnson himself knew but few of the many whose lives he wrote, and these few are certainly not his most amusing biographical productions. See ante, p. 110 n.-ED.]

p. 24, 25.

we

Piozzi, [When Mrs. Piozzi, in July, 1773, happened to allude to his future biographer, "And who will be my biographer," said he, "do you think?" "Goldsmith, no doubt," replied she, "and he will do it the best among us." "The dog would write it best, to be sure," replied he; "but his particular malice towards me, and general disregard for truth, would make the book useless to all, and injurious to my character." "Oh! as to that," said she, should all fasten upon him, and force him to do you justice; but the worst is, the doctor does not know your life; nor can I tell indeed who does, except Dr. Taylor of Ashbourne." Why, Taylor," said he, "is better acquainted with my heart than any man or woman now alive; and the history of my Oxford exploits lies all between him1 and Adams; but Dr. James knows my very early days better than he. After my coming to London to drive the world about a little, you must all go to Jack Hawkesworth for anecdotes: I lived in great familiarity with him (though I think there was not much affection) from the year 1753 till the time Mr. Thrale and you took me up. I intend, however, to disappoint the rogues, and either make you write the life, with Taylor's intelligence; or, which is better, do it myself, after outliving you all. I am now," added he, "keeping a diary, in hopes of using it for that purpose some time."]

tr

an uncommercial country, when men being idle, were glad to be entertained at rich men's tables. But in a commercial country, a busy country, time becomes precious, and therefore hospitality is not so much valued. No doubt there is still room for a certain degree of it; and a man has a satisfaction in seeing his friends eating and drinking around him. But promiscuous hospitality is not the way to gain real influence. You must help some people at table before oth ers; you must ask some people how they like their wine oftener than others. You therefore offend more people than you please. You are like the French statesman, who said, when he granted a favour. 'J'ai fait dix mécontents et un ingrat.' Besides, sir, being entertained ever so well at a man's table, impresses no lasting regard or esteem. No, sir, the way to make sure of power and influence is, by lending money confidentially to your neighbours at a small interest, or perhaps at no interest at all, and having their bonds in your possession." BosWELL. "May not a man, sir, employ his riches to advantage, in educating young men of merit?" JOHNSON. "Yes, sir, if they fall in your way; but if it be understood that you patronize young men of merit, you will be harassed with solicitations. You will have numbers forced upon you, who have no merit; some will force them upon you from mistaken partiality; and some from downright interested motives, without scruple; and you will be disgraced.

"Were I a rich man, I would propagate all kinds of trees that will grow in the open air. A green-house is childish. I would introduce foreign animals into the country; for instance, the rein-deer 2."

He censured Ruffhead's Life of Pope; and said, "he knew nothing of Pope, and nothing of poetry.” He praised Dr. Joseph Warton's Essay on Pope; but said, he supposed we should have no more of it, as the authour had not been able to persuade the world to think of Pope as he did." BosThe conversation now turned on critical WELL Why, sir, should that prevent JOHNSON. him from continuing his work? He is an subjects. "Bayes, in 'The ingenious counsel, who has made the most Rehearsal,' is a mighty silly character. If of his cause: he is not obliged to gain it." it was intended to be like a particular man, JOHNSON. "But, sir, there is a difference it could only be diverting while that man when the cause is of a man's own making." was remembered. But I question whether We talked of the proper use of riches. it was meant for Dryden, as has been reportJOHNSON. "If I were a man of great es-ed; for we know some of the passages said tate, I would drive all the rascals whom I to be ridiculed were written since the Redid not like out of the county, at an elec-hearsal: at least a passage mentioned in tion." the preface 3 is of a later date." I main

I asked him, how far he thought wealth should be employed in hospitality. JOHN"You are to consider that ancient hospitality of which we hear so much, was in

SON.

2 This project has since been realized. Sir Henry Liddel, who made a spirited tour into Lapland, brought two rein-deer to his estate in Northumberland, where they bred: but the race has unfortunately perished.-Boswell.

3 There is no preface to "The Rehearsal," as originally published. Dr. Johnson seems to have meant the address to the reader, with a key, subjoined to it, which have been prefixed to the modern editions of that play. He did not know, it appears, that several additions were made to "The Rehearsal" after the first edition. The ridicule on the passages here alluded to is found

290

tained that it had merit as a general satire |" But, sir, there is half a guinea's worth of on the self-importance of dramatick authours. But even in this light he held it very cheap.

We then walked to the Pantheon. The first view of it did not strike us so much as Ranelagh, of which he said, the "coup d'ail was the finest thing he had ever seen.' The truth is, Ranelagh is of a more beautiful form; more of it, or rather indeed the whole rotunda, appears at once, and it is better lighted. However, as Johnson observed, we saw the Pantheon in time of mourning, when there was a dull uniformity; whereas we had seen Ranelagh when the view was enlivened with a gay profusion of colours. Mrs. Bosville 2, of Gunthwait, in Yorkshire, joined us, and entered into conversation with us. Johnson said to me afterwards, "Sir, this is a mighty intelligent lady."

I said there was not half a guinea's worth of pleasure in seeing this place. JOHNSON. among those additions. They therefore furnish no ground for the doubts here suggested. Unquestionably Bayes was meant to be the representative of Dryden, whose familiar phrases in his ordinary conversation are frequently introduced in this piece.-MALONE. [Bayes may have been originally sketched for Sir Robert Howard, but there is no doubt that the finished picture was meant for Dryden―he himself complains bitterly that it was so; and Johnson, better informed when he came to write Dryden's life, expressly says that he was characterized under the name of Bayes in The Rehearsal.'"-ED.]

[Ranelagh, so called because its site was that of the villa of Viscount Ranelagh, near Chelsea, was a place of entertainment, of which the principal room was an oval of great dimensions, with an orchestra in the centre, and tiers of boxes all round. The chief amusement was promenading, as it was called, round and round the circular area below, and taking refreshments in the boxes, while the orchestra executed different pieces of music. The Pantheon, in Oxford-street, was built in 1772, after Wyatt's designs, as a kind of town Ranelagh, but partook more of the shape of a theatre (to the purposes of which it was sometimes applied.) Both these places had a considerable vogue for a time, but are now almost forgotten; the last appearance (if one may use the expression) of Ranelagh was when the installation ball of the Knights of the Bath, in 1802, was given there. It has since been razed to the ground, and no vestige of that once fairy palace remains. The original Pantheon was burned down, but was rebuilt on a more moderate scale, and used to be heard of, as the scene of an occasional masquerade or concert; but it has not been opened, it is believed, for the last twenty years.-ED.]

2 [Diana Wentworth, wife of Godfrey Bosville, Esq. of Gunthwait, whose daughter had married, in 1768, Sir Alexander, afterwards created Lord, Macdonald.-ED.]

inferiority to other people in not having seen it." BosWELL. "I doubt, sir, whether there are many happy people here." JOHNSON. "Yes, sir, there are many happy people here. There are many people here who are watching hundreds, and who think hundreds are watching them."

Happening to meet Sir Adam Ferguson 3, I presented him to Dr. Johnson. Sir Adam expressed some apprehension that the Pantheon would encourage luxury. "Sir," said Johnson, " I am a great friend to publick amusements; for they You now (adkeep people from vice. dressing himself to me) would have been with a wench, had you not been here. O! I forgot you were married."

Sir Adam suggested, that luxury corrupts a people, and destroys the spirit of liberty. JOHNSON. "Sir, that is all visionary. I would not give half a guinea to live under one form of government rather than another. It is of no moment to the happiness of an individual. Sir, the danger of the abuse of power is nothing to a private man. What Frenchman is prevented from passing his life as he pleases 4?" SIR ADAM. "But, sir, in the British constitution it is surely of importance to keep up a spirit in the people, so as to preserve a balance against the crown." JOHNSON. "Sir, I perceive you are a vile whig 5. Why all this The crown has not power enough. When childish jealousy of the power of the crown? I say that all governments are alike, I consider that in no government power can be abused long. Mankind will not bear it. If a sovereign oppresses his people to a great degree, they will rise and cut off his head. There is a remedy in human nature against tyranny, that will keep us safe under every form of government. Had not the people of France thought themselves honoured in sharing in the brilliant actions

3 [Sir Adam Ferguson of Kelkerran, Bart. member of parliament for Ayrshire from 1774 to 1780.-ED.]

[This is sad " laxity of talk." If a Frenchman had written any thing like Johnson's Norfolk Prophecy, or talked of Louis XV. as Johnson did of George the Second, he would have been either forced to fly, or would have expiated his indiscretion in the Bastille poor Marmontel was, we know, sent to the Bastille for repeating the parody of a few lines in a play, at which a lord of the bed-chamber happened to be offended.-ED.]

5 [These words must have been accompanied and softened by some jocular expression of countenance or intonation of voice, for, rude as Jolinson often was, it is hardly conceivable that he should have seriously said such a thing to a gentleman whom he saw for the first time.→ ED.]

of Louis XIV., they would not have en-
dured him; and we may say the same of
the King of Prussia's people." Sir Adam
introduced the ancient Greeks and Ro-
mans. JOHNSON. "Sir, the mass of both
of them were barbarians. The mass of ev-
ery people must be barbarous where there
is no printing, and consequently knowledge
is not generally diffused. Knowledge is
diffused among our people by the newspa-
pers." Sir Adam mentioned the orators,
poets, and artists of Greece. JOHNSON.
"Sir, I am talking of the mass of the peo-
ple. We see even what the boasted Athe-
nians were.
The little effect which De-
mosthenes's orations had upon them, shows
that they were barbarians."

That clergyman may be considered as sinners in general, as all men are, cannot be denied; but this reflection will not counteract their good precepts so much, as the absolute knowledge of their having been guilty of certain specific immoral acts. I told him, that by the rules of the church of Scotland, in their " Book of Discipline," if a scandal, as it is called, is not prosecuted for five years, it cannot afterwards be proceeded upon, " unless it be of a heinous nature, or again become flagrant;" and that hence a question arose, whether fornication was a sin of a heinous nature; and that I had maintained, that it did not deserve that epithet, inasmuch as it was not one of those sins which argue very great depravity of heart: in short, was not, in the general acceptation of mankind, a heinous sin. JOHNSON. "No, sir, it is not a heinous sin. A heinous sin is that for which a man is punished with death or banishment." BosWELL. "But, sir, after I had argued that it was not a heinous sin, an old clergyman rose up, and repeating the text of scripture denouncing judgment against whoremonOn Sunday, April 5, after attending di- gers, asked, whether, considering this, vine service at St. Paul's church, I found there could be any doubt of fornication behim alone. Of a schoolmaster of his ac- ing a heinous sin." JOHNSON. "Why, sir, quaintance, a native of Scotland, he said, observe the word whoremonger. Every "He has a great deal of good about him; sin, if persisted in, will become heinous. but he is also very defective in some re- Whoremonger is a dealer in whores, as spects. His inner part is good, but his ironmonger is a dealer in iron. But as you outer part is mighty awkward. You in don't call a man an ironmonger for buyScotland do not attain that nice critical skilling and selling a penknife; so you don't in languages, which we get in our schools call a man a whoremonger for getting one in England. I would not put a boy to wench with child 2?” him, whom I intended for a man of learning. But for the sons of citizens, who are to learn a little, get good morals, and then go to trade, he may do very well."

Sir Adam was unlucky in his topicks; for he suggested a doubt of the propriety of bishops having seats in the house of lords. JOHNSON. "How so, sir? Who is more proper for having the dignity of a peer than a bishop, provided a bishop be what he ought to be; and if improper bishops be made, that is not the fault of the bishops, but of those who make them."

I mentioned a cause in which I had appeared as counsel at the bar of the general assembly of the church of Scotland, where a probationer (as one licensed to preach, but not yet ordained, is called) was opposed in his application to be inducted, because it was alleged that he had been guilty of fornication five years before. JOHNSON. "Why, sir, if he has repented, it is not a sufficient objection. A man who is good enough to go to heaven, is good enough to be a clergyman." This was a humane and liberal sentiment. But the character of a clergyman is more sacred than that of an ordinary christian. As he is to instruct with authority, he should be regarded with reverence, as one upon whom divine truth has had the effect to set him above such transgressions, as men, less exalted by spiritual habits and yet upon the whole not to be excluded from heaven, have been betrayed into by the predominance of passion.

I spoke of the inequality of the livings of the clergy in England, and the scanty provisions of some of the curates. JOHNSON.

Why yes, sir; but it cannot be helped. You must consider, that the revenues of the clergy are not at the disposal of the state, like the pay of the army. Different men have founded different churches; and some are better endowed, some worse, The state cannot interfere, and make an equal division of what has been particularly appropriated. Now when a clergyman has but small living, or even two small liv. ings, he can afford very little to the cu