touch. The General mentioned jugglers and fraudulent gamesters, who could know cards by the touch. Dr. Johnson said, "The cards used by such persons must be less polished than ours commonly are."

We talked of sounds. The General said, there was no beauty in a simple sound, but only in an harmonious composition of sounds. I presumed to differ from this opinion, and mentioned the soft and sweet sound of a fine woman's voice. JOHNSON. "No, Sir, if a serpent or a toad uttered it, you would think it ugly." Boswell. "So you would think, Sir, were a beautiful tune to be uttered by one of those animals." JOHNSON. "No, Sir, it would be admired. We have seen fine fiddlers whom we liked as little as toads" (laughing). Talking on the subject of taste in the arts, he said, that difference of taste was, in truth, difference of skill. BOSWELL. "But, Sir, is there not a quality called taste, which consists merely in perception or in liking? for instance, we find people differ much as to what is the best style of English composition. Some think Swift's the best; others prefer a fuller and grander way of writing." JOHNSON. "Sir, you must first define what you mean by style, before you can judge who has a good taste in style, and who has a bad. The two classes of persons whom you have mentioned, don't differ as to good and bad. They both agree that Swift has a good neat style; but one loves a neat style, another loves a style of more splendour. In like manner, one loves a plain coat, another loves a laced coat; but neither will deny that each is good in its kind." 1

While I remained in London this spring, I was with him at several other times, both by himself and in company. I dined with him one day at the Crown and Anchor tavern, in the Strand, with Lord Elibank, Mr. Langton, and Dr. Vansittart, of Oxford.2 Without specifying each particular day, I have preserved the following memorable things.

I regretted the reflection, in his preface to Shakspeare, against Garrick, to whom we cannot but apply the following passage : — “I

1 The following meditations, made about this period, are very interesting sketches of his feelings :

April 26. was some way hindered from continuing this contemplation in the usual manner, and therefore try, at the distance of a week, to review the last [Easter] Sunday.

I went to church early, having first, I think, used my prayer. When I was there, I had very little perturbation of mind. During the usual time of meditation, I considered the Christian duties under the three principles of soberness, righteousness, and godliness; and purposed to forward godliness by the annual perusal of the Bible; righteousness by tting something for charity, and soberness by carly hours. I commended, as usual, with preface of permission, and, I think, mentioned Bathurst. I came home, and found Paoli and Boswell waiting for me. What devotions I used after my return home, I do not distinctly remember. I went to prayers in the evening; and, I think, entered late.

On Good Friday, I paid Peyton, without requiring work. "It is a comfort to me, that, at last, in my sixty-third year, I have attained to know, even thus hastily, confusedly, and imperfectly, what my Bible contains.

Having missed church in the morning (April 26.), I went this evening, and afterwards sat with Southwell." Pr. and Med. pp. 115. 117, 118.— CROKER.

collated such copies as I could procure, and wished for more, but have not found the collectors of these rarities very communicative." I told him, that Garrick had complained to me of it, and had vindicated himself by assuring me, that Johnson was made welcome to the full use of his collection, and that he left the key of it with a servant, with orders to have a fire and every convenience for him. I found Johnson's notion was, that Garrick wanted to be courted for them, and that, on the contrary, Garrick should have courted him, and sent him the plays of his own accord. But, indeed, considering the slovenly and careless manner in which books were treated by Johnson, it could not be expected that scarce and valuable editions should have been lent to him."

A gentleman having, to some of the usual arguments for drinking, added this: - "You know, Sir, drinking drives away care, and makes us forget whatever is disagreeable. Would not you allow a man to drink for that reason?" JOHNSON. "Yes, Sir, if he sat next you."

I expressed a liking for Mr. Francis Osborne's works, and asked him what he thought of that writer. He answered, “A conceited fellow. Were a man to write so now, the boys would throw stones at him." He, however, did not alter my opinion of a favourite author, to whom I was first directed by his being quoted in "The Spectator," and in whom I have found much shrewd and lively sense, expressed, indeed, in a style somewhat quaint; which, however, I do not dislike. His book has an air of originality. We figure to ourselves an ancient gentleman talking to us.

When one of his friends endeavoured to maintain that a country gentleman might contrive to pass his life very agreeably, "Sir," said he, "you cannot give me an instance of any man who is permitted to lay out his own time, contriving not to have tedious hours.” This observation, however, is equally applicable to gentlemen who live in cities, and are of no profession.

He said, "There is no permanent national

2 Robert Vansittart, LL.D. See p. 117. n. 4.- CROKER. 3 Cooke in his Life of Foote records an instance of Johnson's treating Garrick's library very roughly opening the books so wide as to crack the backs, and throwing them on the floor, to poor Garrick's very natural displeasure. No portion of Johnson's character is so painful to a general admirer as his treatment of Garrick.CROKER.

4 I believe Boswell himself. CROKER.

5 Of the family of the Osbornes of Chicksands, in Bedfordshire. The work by which he is now best known is his "Historical Memoirs of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and King James," written in a very acrimonious spirit. He had attached himself to the Pembroke family; and, like Earl Philip, whom Walpole designates by the too gentle appellation of memorable simpleton, joined the Parliamentarians. He died in 1659.- CROKER.

6 No. 150. Osborne advises his son to appear, in his habit, rather above than below his fortune; and tells him that he will find a handsome suit of clothes always procures some additional respect. - WRIGHT.

7 Not quite men who live in cities have theatres, clubs, and all the variety of public and private society within easier reach. CROKER.

character: it varies according to circumstances. Alexander the Great swept India'; now the Turks sweep Greece."

A learned gentleman [Dr. Vansittart], who, in the course of conversation, wished to inform us of this simple fact, that the counsel upon the circuit of Shrewsbury were much bitten by fleas, took, I suppose, seven or eight minutes in relating it circumstantially. He in a plenitude of phrase told us, that large bales of woollen cloth were lodged in the town-hall; that by reason of this, fleas nestled there in prodigious numbers; that the lodgings of the counsel were near the town-hall; and that those little animals moved from place to place with wonderful agility. Johnson sat in great impatience till the gentleman had finished his tedious narrative, and then burst out (playfully however), "It is a pity, Sir, that you have not seen a lion; for a flea has taken you such a time, that a lion must have served you a twelvemonth."

66

He would not allow Scotland to derive any credit from Lord Mansfield; for he was educated in England. Much," said he, " may be made of a Scotchman, if he be caught young." Talking of a modern historian and a modern moralist, he said, “There is more thought in the moralist than in the historian. There is but a shallow stream of thought in history." BOSWELL. "But, surely, Sir, an historian has reflection?" JOHNSON. "Why, yes, Sir; and so has a cat when she catches a mouse for her kitten but she cannot write like [Beattie]; neither can [Robertson]."

He said, "I am very unwilling to read the manuscripts of authors, and give them my opinion. If the authors who apply to me have money, I bid them boldly print without a name; if they have written in order to get money, then to go to the booksellers and make the best bargain they can." Boswell. But, Sir, if a bookseller should bring you a manuscript to look at ?" JOHNSON." Why, Sir, I would desire the bookseller to take it away.'

66

I mentioned a friend of mine who had resided long in Spain, and was unwilling to return to Britain. JOHNSON. "Sir, he is attached to some woman." BOSWELL. "I rather believe, Sir, it is the fine climate which keeps him there." JOHNSON. "Nay, Sir, how can you talk so? What is climate to happiness? Place me in the heart of Asia; should I not be exiled? What proportion does climate bear to the complex system of human life? You may advise me to go to live at Bologna to eat

sausages. The sausages there are the best in the world; they lose much by being carried."

On Saturday, May 9., Mr. Dempster and I had agreed to dine by ourselves at the British Coffee-house. Johnson, on whom I happened to call in the morning, said he would join us; which he did, and we spent a very agreeable day, though I recollect but little of what passed.

He said, "Walpole was a minister given by the King to the people: Pitt was a minister given by the people to the King,—as an adjunct.'

"The misfortune of Goldsmith in conversation is this: he goes on without knowing how he is to get off. His genius is great, but his knowledge is small. As they say of a generous man, it is a pity he is not rich, we may say of Goldsmith, it is a pity he is not knowing. He would not keep his knowledge to himself."

Before leaving London this year, I consulted him upon a question purely of Scotch law. It was held of old, and continued for a long period to be an established principle in that law, that whoever intermeddled with the effects of a person deceased, without the interposition of legal authority to guard against embezzlement, should be subjected to pay all the debts of the deceased, as having been guilty of what was technically called vicious intromission. The court of session had gra dually relaxed the strictness of this principle, where the interference proved had been inconsiderable. In a case which came before that court the preceding winter, I had laboured to persuade the judge to return to the ancient law. It was my own sincere opinion, that they ought to adhere to it; but I had exhausted all my powers of reasoning in vain. Johnson thought as I did; and, in order to assist me in my application to the Court for a revision and alteration of the judgment, he dictated to me the following Argument. [Sce Appendix.]

With such comprehension of mind, and such clearness of penetration, did he thus treat a subject altogether new to him, without any other preparation than my having stated to him the arguments which had been used on each side of the question. His intellectual ¦ powers appeared with peculiar lustre, when tried against those of a writer of such fame as Lord Kames, and that, too, in his Lordship's own department.

1 This seems somewhat obscure, but the meaning, I suppose, is, that Greece, which formerly sent forth the conquerors of Asia, had sunk to be the province of an Asiatic empire, CROKER.

Mrs. Piozzi, to whom I told this anecdote, has related it se if the gentleman had given "the natural history of the Anecdotes, p. 191. BOSWELL. The learned gentleman was certainly Dr. Vansittart, as is proved by two in the correspondence between Mrs. Thrale and ****n, July and August, 1773. She writes to the Dr.

in Semtland, "I have seen the man that saw the mouse," &c.

"

Johnson replies, “Poor V- -, &c.; he is a good man. and, when his mind is composed, a man of parts." This proves the identity of the person, and also that Johnson him-i self sanctioned Mrs. Piozzi's version of the story-mouse versus flea- CROKER.

3 The historian and the moralist, whose names Mr. Boswell had left in blank, are Doctors Robertson and Beattic.— ¦ CROKER.

4 Probably Mr. Boswell's brother David. See post, April 29. 1780. CROKER.

5 Wilson against Smith and Armour.- BOSWELL.

This masterly argument, after being prefaced and concluded with some sentences of my own, and garnished with the usual formularies, was actually printed and laid before the lords of session, but without success. My respected friend Lord Hailes, however, one of that honourable body, had critical sagacity enough to discover a more than ordinary hand in the petition. I told him Dr. Johnson had favoured me with his pen. His lordship, with wonderful acumen, pointed out exactly where his composition began, and where it ended. But, that I may do impartial justice, and conform to the great rule of courts, Suum cuique tribuito, I must add, that their lordships in general, though they were pleased to call this "a well-drawn paper," preferred the former very inferior petition, which I had written; thus confirming the truth of an observation made to me by one of their number, in a merry mood:-"My dear Sir, give yourself no trouble in the composition of the papers you present to us: for, indeed, it is casting pearls before swine."

I renewed my solicitations that Dr. Johnson would this year accomplish his long-intended visit to Scotland.

August 13. 1772. "DEAR SIR,- The regret has not been little with which I have missed a journey so pregnant with pleasing expectations, as that in which I could promise myself not only the gratification of curiosity, both rational and fanciful, but the delight of

seeing those whom I love and esteem.

But such

has been the course of things, that I could not cone; and such has been, I am afraid, the state of my body, that it would not well have seconded my inclination. My body, I think, grows better, and I refer my hopes to another year; for I am very sincere in my design to pay the visit, and take the ramble. In the mean time, do not omit any opportunity of keeping up a favourable opinion of me in the minds of any of my friends. Beattie's book? is, I believe, every day more liked; at least, I like it more, as I look more upon it.

"I ain glad if you got credit by your cause; and am yet of opinion that our cause was good, and that the determination ought to have been in your favour. Poor Hastie [the Schoolmaster], I think, had but his deserts.

"You promised to get me a little Pindar: you may add to it a little Anacreon.

The leisure which I cannot enjoy, it will be a pleasure to hear that you employ upon the antiquities of the feudal establishment. The whole system of ancient tenures is gradually passing away; and

This application of the scriptural phrase was not very becoming, but the meaning was correct: the facts and the lae only ought to be considered by the judge- the verbal decorations of style should be of no weight. It is pro. bable that the judge who used it was bantering Boswell on some pleading in which there was, perhaps, more ornament than substance. - CROKER.

"Essay on Truth." of which a third edition was published in 1772.-CROKER.

3 "While memory lasts and life inspires my frame."

I wish to have the knowledge of it preserved adequate and complete; for such an institution makes a very important part of the history of mankind. Do not forget a design so worthy of a scholar who studies the law of his country, and of a gentleman who may naturally be curious to know the condition of his own ancestors. I am, dear Sir, yours with great affection, SAM. JOHNSON,"

BOSWELL TO JOHNSON.

"Edinburgh, Dec. 25. 1772. "MY DEAR SIR,- I was much disappointed that Howyou did not come to Scotland last autumn. ever, complaining; not only because I am sensible that I must own that your letter prevents me from the state of your health was but too good an excuse, but because you write in a strain which shows that you have agreeable views of the scheme which we have so long proposed.

His

"I communicated to Beattie what you said of his book in your last letter to me. He writes to me thus: - You judge very rightly in supposing that Dr. Johnson's favourable opinion of my book must give me great delight. Indeed, it is impossible for me to say how much I am gratified by it; for there is not a man upon earth whose good opinion I would be more ambitious to cultivate. talents and his virtues I reverence more than any words can express. The extraordinary civilities (the paternal attentions I should rather say), and the many instructions I have had the honour to receive from him, will to me be a perpetual source of pleasure in the recollection, — 'Dum memor ipse mei, dum spiritus hos reget artus." "I had still some thoughts, while the summer lasted, of being obliged to go to London on some little business; otherwise I should certainly have given some vent to my gratitude and admiration. troubled him with a letter several months ago, and This I intend to do as soon as I am left a little at leisure. Meantime, if you have occasion to write to him, I beg you will offer him my most respectful compliments, and assure him of the sincerity of my attachment and the warmth of my gratitude.' "I am, &c., JAMES BOSWELL."

[JOHNSON TO MRS. THRALE.' (Extracts.)

"Lichfield, Oct. 19. 1772. — I set out on Thursday night, at nine, and arrived at Lichfield on Friday night, at eleven, no otherwise incommoded than with want of sleep, which, however, I enjoyed very comfortably the first night. I think a stage coach is not the worst bed.

"Ashbourne, Nov. 4. 1772. —Since I came to Ashbourne I have been out of order. I was well at Lichfield. You know sickness will drive me to you; so, perhaps, you very heartily wish me better:

Æn. iv. 336. Yet it seems that Boswell had allowed Johnson's kind letter of the 13th August to remain above four months unanswered.- CROKER.

4 It appears from the extracts of his letters to Mrs. Thrale, which I have given in the text, that in the autumn of this year Johnson again visited Lichfield and Ashbourne, where he was somewhat indisposed; and on his return to town had a fit of the gout, accompanied by a cough, which gave him more trouble. - CROKER.

but you know likewise that health will not hold me away.

I

"Ashbourne, Nov. 27. 1772. If you are so kind as to write to me on Saturday, the day on which you will receive this, I shall have it before I leave Ashbourne. I am to go to Lichfield on Wednesday, and purpose to find my way to London through Birmingham and Oxford. I was yesterday at Chatsworth. It is a very fine house. wish you had been with me to see it; for then, as we are apt to want matter of talk, we should have gained something new to talk on. They complimented me with playing the fountain, and opening the cascade. But I am of my friend's opinion, that, when one has seen the ocean, cascades are but little things."]

CHAPTER XXVIII.

1773.

George Steevens. Goldsmith and Evans. - Dalrymple's History. Action in Speaking. Chesterfield and Tyrawley. The Spectator. — Sir Andrew Freeport. Burnet's Own Times. Good Friday. Easter Day. A Dinner at Johnson's. Wages to Women Servants.— Keeping a Journal. - Luxury. · Equality. The Stuarts. Law Reports. "The Gentle Shepherd.". Whigs and Tories. - Sterne.-Charles Townshend. Happy Revolution.” -"She Stoops to Conquer." Short-Hand. Dedications. James Duelling. Lord

66

--

The Fiddle.

Harris.
Chatham's Verses to Garrick. · Savage Life.
Suicide. Budgell, The Douglas Cause.

IN 1773, his only publication was an edition of his folio Dictionary, with additions and corrections; nor did he, so far as is known, furnish any productions of his fertile pen to any of his numerous friends or dependants, except the Preface to his old amanuensis Macbean's "Dictionary of Ancient Geography." His Shakspeare, indeed, which had been received with high approbation by the public, and gone through several editions, was this year republished by George Steevens, Esq., a gentleman not only deeply skilled in ancient learning, and of very extensive reading in English literature, especially the early writers, but at the same time of acute discernment and elegant taste.

He, however, wrote, or partly wrote, an Epitaph on Mrs. Bell, wife of his friend John Bell, Esq., brother of the Rev. Dr. Bell, Prebendary of Westminster, which is printed in his works. It is in English prose, and has so little of his manner, that I did not believe he had any hand in it, till I was satisfied of the fact by the authority of Mr. Bell. — BosWELL. See antè, p. 225.-C.

2 Dr. Johnson's early friend, Mr. Edmond Southwell, third son of the first Lord Southwell, born in 1705, had died in the preceding November, aged 67: the Mr. Southwell here mentioned was, probably, Thomas Arthur, afterwards the fourth Lord and second Viscount. (See antè, p. 123.)

[JOHNSON TO MRS. THRALE.
(Extracts.)

"Tuesday, Jan. 26. 1773. "Last night was very tedious, and this day makes no promises of much ease. However, I have this day put on my shoe, and hope that gout is gone. I shall have only the cough to contend with; and I doubt whether I shall get rid of that without change of place. I caught cold in the coach as I went away, and am disordered by very little things. Is it accident or age?"

"Feb. 19. 1773.

"I think I am better, but cannot say much more than that I think so. I was yesterday with Miss Lucy Southwell and Mrs. Williams, at Mr. Southwell's. Miss Frances Southwell is not well. I have an invitation to dine at Sir Joshua Reynolds's on Tuesday. May I accept it?"]

JOHNSON TO BOSWELL.

"London, Feb. 22. 1773. "DEAR SIR, - I have read your kind letter much more than the elegant Pindar which it accompanied. I am always glad to find myself not forgotten; and to be forgotten by you would give me great uneasiness. My northern friends have never been unkind to me: I have from you, dear Sir, testimonies of affection, which I have not often been able to excite; and Dr. Beattie rates the testimony which I was desirous of paying to his merit, much higher than I should have thought it reasonable to expect.

"I have heard of your masquerade. What says your synod to such innovations? I am not studiously scrupulous, nor do I think a masquerade either evil in itself, or very likely to be the occasion of evil; yet, as the world thinks it a very licentious relaxation of manners, I would not have been one of the first masquers in a country where no masquerade had ever been before.*

"A new edition of my great Dictionary is revise; but, having made no preparation, I was printed, from a copy which I was persuaded to able to do very little. Some superfluities I have expunged, and some faults I have corrected, and here and there have scattered a remark; but the main fabric of the work remains as it was. looked very little into it since I wrote it; and, I think, I found it full as often better, as worse, than I expected.

I had

The two ladies mentioned were, probably, daughters of the first lord: Frances, born in 1708, and Lucy, born in 1710. - CROKER.

3 Given by a lady at Edinburgh. - BOSWELL.

4 There had been masquerades in Scotland; but not for a very long time. - BOSWELL. This masquerade was given on the 15th of January, by the Countess Dowager of Fife. Johnson had no doubt seen an account of it in the Gentleman's Magazine for January, where it is said to have been the first masquerade ever seen in Scotland. Mr. Boswell himself appeared in the character of a Dumb Conjurer. CROKER.