confess, I then envied him this mighty privilege, of which he seemed so proud; but it was not long before I obtained the same mark of distinction.

On Tuesday, the 5th of July, I again visited Johnson. He told me he had looked into the poems of a pretty voluminous writer, Mr. (now Dr.) John Ogilvie, one of the presbyterian ministers of Scotland, which had lately come out, but could find nothing in them. BoswELL. "Is there not imagination in them, sir?" JOHNSON. "Why, sir, there is in them what was imagination, but it is no more imagination in him, than sound is sound in the echo. And his diction too is not his own. We have long ago seen white-robed innocence, and flower-bespangled meads."

|

easily suppose,-nothing but that I love you and wish you happy, of which you may be always assured, whether I write or not.

"I have had an inflammation in my eyes, but it is much better, and will be, I hope, soon quite well.

"Be so good as to let me know whether you design to stay at Lichfield this summer; if you do, I purpose to come down. I shall bring Frank with me, so that Kitty must contrive to make two beds, or get a servant's bed at the Three Crowns, which may be as well. As I suppose she may want sheets and table-linen, and such things, I have sent ten pounds, which she may lay out in conveniences. I will pay her for her board what you think proper; I think a guinea a week for me and the boy.

"Be pleased to give my love to Kitty.-I am, my dearest love, your most humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON."]

Talking of London, he observed, "Sir, if you wish to have a just notion of the magnitude of this city, you must not be satisfied with seeing its great streets and squares, but must survey the innumerable On Wednesday, July 6, he was engaged little lanes and courts. It is not in the to sup with me at my lodgings in Downingshowy evolutions of buildings, but in the street, Westminster. But on the precedmultiplicity of human habitations which are ing night my landlord having behaved very crowded together, that the wonderful im- rudely to me and some company who were mensity of London consists."-I have often with me, I resolved not to remain another amused myself with thinking how different night in his house. I was exceedingly una place London is to different people. They, easy at the awkward appearance I supposed whose narrow minds are contracted to the I should make to Johnson and the other consideration of some one particular pursuit, gentlemen whom I had invited, not being view it only through that medium. A po- able to receive them at home, and being litician thinks of it merely as the seat of obliged to order supper at the Mitre: I government in its different departments; went to Johnson in the morning, and talka grazier, as a vast market for cattle; a ed of it as of a serious distress. He laughmercantile man, as a place where a prodi- ed, and said, "Consider, sir, how insignifigious deal of business is done upon 'Change; cant this will appear a twelvemonth hence." a dramatick enthusiast, as the grand scene Were this consideration to be applied to of theatrical entertainments; a man of plea- most of the little vexatious incidents of life, sure, as an assemblage of taverns, and the by which our quiet is too often disturbed, great emporium for ladies of easy virtue. it would prevent many painful sensations. But the intellectual man is struck with it, I have tried it frequently with good effect. as comprehending the whole of human life" There is nothing (continued he) in this in all its variety, the contemplation of which is inexhaustible.

["DR. JOHNSON TO MISS LUCY PORTER.

Pearson
MSS.

"5th July, 1763. "MY DEAREST DEAR,-I am extremely glad that so much prudence and virtue as yours is at last rewarded with so large a fortune, and doubt not but that the excellence which you have shown in circumstances of difficulty will continue the same in the convenience of wealth.

"I have not written to you sooner, having nothing to say, which you would not

were supposed to have two sets of tenets-one, the exoteric, external, or public doctrines-the other the esoteric, the internal, or secret doctrine,

which were reserved for the more favoured few. -ED.]

[Miss Porter had just received a legacy of 10,000l. by the death of her brother.-ED.]

mighty misfortune; nay, we shall be better at the Mitre." I told him that I had been at Sir John Fielding's office, complaining of my landlord, and had been informed, that though I had taken my lodgings for a year, I might, upon proof of his bad behaviour, quit them when I pleased, without being under an obligation to pay rent for any longer time than while I possessed them. The fertility of Johnson's mind could show itself even upon so small a matter as this." Why, sir (said he), I suppose this must be the law, since you have been told so in Bow-street. But, if your landlord could hold you to your bargain, and the lodgings should be yours for a year, fit2. So, sir, you may quarter two lifeyou may certainly use them as you think

2 [Certainly not; you must use them according to the contract, expressed or implied, under which

guardmen upon him; or you may send the greatest scoundrel you can find into your apartments; or you may say that you want to make some experiments in natural philosophy, and may burn a large quantity of assafoetida in his house.".

I had as my guests this evening at the Mitre tavern, Dr. Johnson, Dr. Goldsmith, Mr. Thomas Davies, Mr. Eccles1, an Irish gentleman, for whose agreeable company was obliged to Mr. Davies, and the Reverend Mr. John Ogilvie2, who was desirous of being in company with my illustrious friend, while I, in my turn, was proud to have the honour of showing one of my countrymen upon what easy terms Johnson permitted me to live with him.

we prosecute and punish. Political institutions are formed upon the consideration of what will most frequently tend to the good of the whole, although now and then exceptions may occur. Thus it is better in general that a nation should have a supreme legislative power, although it may at times be abused. And then, sir, there is this consideration, that if the abuse be enormous, Nature will rise up, and claiming her original rights, overturn a corrupt political system." I mark this animated sentence with peculiar pleasure, as a noble instance of that truly dignified spirit of freedom which ever glowed in his heart, though he was charged with slavish tenets by superficial observers; because he was at all times indignant against that false patriotism, that pretended love of freedom, that unruly restlessness, which is inconsistent with the stable authority of any good government.

Goldsmith, as usual, endeavoured, with too much eagerness, to shine, and disputed very warmly with Johnson against the well known maxim of the British constitution," the king can do no wrong;" affirm- This generous sentiment, which he uttering, that "what was morally false could ed with great fervour, struck me exceedingnot be politically true; and as the kingly, and stirred my blood to that pitch of might, in the exercise of his regal power, fancied resistance, the possibility of which command and cause the doing of what was I am glad to keep in mind, but to which I wrong, it certainly might be said, in sense trust I never shall be forced. and in reason, that he could, do wrong." JOHNSON. Sir, you are to consider, that in our constitution, according to its true principles, the king is the head, he is supreme; he is above every thing, and there is no power by which he can be tried. Therefore it is, sir, that we hold the king can do no wrong; that whatever may happen to be wrong in government may not be above our reach, by being ascribed to majesty. Redress is always to be had against oppression, by punishing the immediate agents. The king, though he should command, cannot force a judge to condemn a man unjustly; therefore it is the judge whom you have hired them. If a landlord breaks his part of the contract, the law will relieve the other party; but the latter is not at liberty to take such violent and illegal steps as Johnson suggests. ED.]

1

[Isaac Ambrose Eccles, Esq. of Cromroe, in the county of Wicklow, in Ireland: he published one or two plays of Shakspeare, with notes.ED.]

"Great abilities," said he," are not requisite for an historian; for in historical composition, all the greatest powers of the human mind are quiescent. He has facts ready to his hand: so there is no exercise of invention. Imagination is not required in any high degree: only about as much as is used in the lower kinds of poetry. Some penetration, accuracy, and colouring, will fit a man for the task, if he can give the application which is necessary."

Bayle's Dictionary is a very useful work for those to consult who love the biographical part of literature, which is what I love most."

Talking of the eminent writers in Queen Anne's reign, he observed, "I think Dr. Arbuthnot the first man among them. He was the most universal genius, being an excellent physician, a man of deep learning, and a man of much humour. Mr. Addison was, to be sure, a great man: his learning was not profound; but his morality, his humour, and his elegance of writing, set him very high."

The northern bard mentioned page 191. When I asked Dr. Johnson's permission to intro- Mr. Ogilvie was unlucky enough to choose duce him, he obligingly agreed; adding, however, for the topick of his conversation the praises with a sly pleasantry, "but he must give us none of his native country. He began with sayof his poetry." It is remarkable that Johnson ing, that there was very rich land around and Churchill, however much they differed in Edinburgh. Goldsmith, who had studied other points, agreed on this subject. See Church- physick there, contradicted this, very unill's "Journey." It is, however, but justice to truly, with a sneering laugh. DisconcertDr. Ogilvie to observe, that his "Day of Judged a little by this, Mr. Ogilvie then took a

ment" has no inconsiderable share of merit.—

BOSWELL. [Boswell's naiveté in thinking it remarkable that two persons should agree in disliking the poetry of his northern bard is amusing: ft might have been more remarkable if two had agreed in liking it.-ED.]

himself perfectly safe; for he observed, that new ground, where, I suppose, he thought Scotland had a great many noble wild prospects. JOHNSON. "I believe, sir, you have a great many. Norway, too, has noble

wild prospects; and Lapland is remarkable | ry you have had your head filled with buildfor prodigious noble wild prospects. But, ing 2 for many reasons.

p. 204-205.

"You might have hired a house at half the interest of the money for which you build it, if your house cost you a thousand pounds. You might have the Palace for twenty pounds, and make forty of your thousand pounds; so in twenty years you would have saved forty pounds, and still have had your thousand. I am, dear dear, yours, &c. "SAM. JOHNSON."]

sir, let me tell you, the noblest prospect "It was not necessary to settle immediatewhich a Scotchman ever sees is the highly for life at any one place; you might road that leads him to England!" This have staid and seen more of the world. unexpected and pointed sally produced a "You will not have your work done, as roar of applause. After all, however, those you do not understand it, but at twice the who admire the rude grandeur of nature value. cannot deny it to Caledonia. Mrs. Piozzi, Brooke 1 received an answer not unlike this, when expatiating on the accumulation of sublime and beautiful objects, which form the fine prospect up the river St. Lawrence in North America: "Come, madam (says Dr. Johnson), confess that nothing ever equalled your pleasure in seeing that sight reversed; and finding yourself looking at the happy prospect DOWN the river St. Lawrence." The truth is, he hated to hear about prospects and views, and laying out ground, and taste in gardening: "That was the best garden (he said) which produced most roots and fruits; and that water was most to be prized which contained most fish." He used to laugh at Shenstone most unmercifully for not caring whether there was any thing good to eat in the streams he was so fond of. Walking in a wood when it rained was, Mrs. Piozzi thought, the only rural image which pleased his fancy.

He loved the sight of fine forest-trees, however, and detested Brighthelmstone Downs," because it was a country so truly desolate (he said),' that if one had a mind to hang one's self for desperation at being obliged to live there, it would be difficult to find a tree on which to fasten the rope." On Saturday, July 9, I found Johnson surrounded with a numerous levee, but have not preserved any part of his conver

sation.

On the 14th we had another evening by ourselves at the Mitre. It happening to be a very rainy night, I made some commonplace observations on the relaxation of nerves and depressions of spirits which such weather occasioned 3; adding, however, that it was good for the vegetable creation. Johnson, who, as we have already seen 4, denied that the temperature of the air had any influence on the human frame, answered, with a smile of ridicule, "Why, yes, sir, it is good for vegetables, and for the animals who eat those vegetables, and for the animals who eat those animals." This observation of his aptly enough introduced a good supper; and I soon forgot, in Johnson's company, the influence of a moist atmosphere.

Piozzi,

p. 160.

[Though Dr. Johnson owed his very life to air and exercise, given him when his organs of respiration could scarcely play, in the year 1766, yet he ever persisted in the notion, that neither of them had any thing to do with health. "People live as long," said he, "in Pepper-alley as on Salisbury plain; and they live so much

2 [Miss Porter laid out nearly one-third of her legacy in building a handsome house at Lichfield.

her have the note, and do what-ED.] you can for her, for she has been always very good. I will help her to a little more money if she wants it, and will write. I intend that she shall have the use of the house as long as she and I live.

"That there should not be room for me at the house is some disappointment to me, but the matter is not very great. I am sor

3 Johnson would suffer none of his friends to fill up chasms in conversation with remarks on the weather: "Let us not talk of the weather."BURNEY. [The French, who rally us for talking of the weather, have a proverbial saying, which shows that they are also driven to the same resource to describe an idle conversation they say, "Parler de la pluie et du beau temps.' One may here also remark another little inconsis tency of our neighbours on this point-they make themselves merry with our English fogs, protesting that there is no such thing in France. Yet, when they made their descriptive revolutionary calendar, they denominated one month Brumaire. A Cockney could not have told a severer truth of his own climate.-ED.]

4 [See ante, p. 142.—ED.]

happier, that an inhabitant of the first would, if he turned cottager, starve his understanding for want of conversation, and perish in a state of mental inferiority."]

6

true. But the ministry have put us to an enormous expense by the war in America, and it is their interest to persuade us that we have got something for our money. But the fact is confirmed by thousands of men who were at the taking of it.' Ay, but these men have still more interest in deceiving us. They don't want that you should think the French have beat them, but that they have beat the French. Now suppose you should go over and find that it really is taken, that would only satisfy yourself; for when you come home we will not believe you. We will say, you have been bribed. Yet, sir, notwithstanding all these plausible objections, we have no doubt that Canada is really ours. Such is the weight of common testimony. How much stronger are the evidences of the Christian religion!"

port my denial by pretty good arguments. The French are a much more numerous people than we; and it is not likely that they would allow us to take it. But the Feeling myself now quite at ease as his ministry have assured us, in all the formalcompanion, though I had all possible rever-ity of the Gazette, that it is taken.' Very ence for him, I expressed a regret that I could not be easy with my father, though he was not much older than Johnson, and certainly however respectable had not more learning and greater abilities to depress me. I asked him the reason of this. JOHNSON. "Why, sir, I am a man of the world. I live in the world, and I take, in some degree, the colour of the world as it moves along. Your father is a judge in a remote part of the island, and all his notions are taken from the old world. Besides, sir, there must always be a struggle between a father and a son, while one aims at power and the other at independence." I said I was afraid my father would force me to be a lawyer. JOHNSON. "Sir, you need not be afraid of his forcing you to be a laborious practising lawyer; that is not in his power. For as the proverb says, One man may lead a horse to the water, but twenty cannot make "Idleness is a disease which must be him drink.' He may be displeased that you combated; but I would not advise a rigid adare not what he wishes you to be; but that herence to a particular plan of study2. I mydispleasure will not go far. If he insists on-self have never persisted in any plan for two ly on your having as much law as is necessary for a man of property, and then endeavours to get you into parliament, he is quite in the right."

He enlarged very convincingly upon the excellence of rhyme over blank verse in English poetry. I mentioned to him that Dr. Adam Smith, in his lectures upon composition, when I studied under him in the College of Glasgow, had maintained the same opinion strenuously, and I repeated some of his arguments. JOHNSON. "Sir, I was once in company with Smith, and we did not take to each other; but had I known that he loved rhyme as much as you tell me he does, I should have HUGGED him."

Talking of those who denied the truth of Christianity, he said, "It is always easy to be on the negative side. If a man were now to deny that there is salt upon the table, you could not reduce him to an absurdity. Come, let us try this a little further. I deny that Canada is taken, and I can sup

1 [Adam Smith was admitted to THE CLUB on the 1st December, 1775, which, all things considered, would have appeared remarkable enough; but on inquiry of Mr. Hatchett, now treasurer of that society, he informs me, that the members present on that evening were only Messrs. Beauclerk, Jones, Gibbon, and Sir J. Reynolds. Dr. Barnard was admitted at the sarre time. Johnson w probably at Streatham. In 1777 it was resolved hat not less than seven should make a quorum, ich is still the rule. ED.]

days together. A man ought to read just as inclination leads him: for what he reads as a task will do him little good. A young man should read five hours in a day, and so may acquire a great deal of knowledge."

To a man of vigorous intellect and ardent curiosity like his own, reading without a regular plan may be beneficial; though even such a man must submit to it, if he would attain a full understanding of any of the sciences 3.

To such a degree of unrestrained frankness had he now accustomed me, that in the course of this evening I talked of the numerous reflections which had been thrown out against him on account of his having accepted a pension from his present majesty.

Why, sir," said he, with a hearty laugh, "it is a mighty foolish noise that they make 4. I have accepted of a pension as a reward which has been thought due to my literary merit; and now that I have this pension, I am the same man in every respect that I have ever been; I retain the same principles. It is true, that I cannot now curse (smiling) the house of Hanover; nor would it be decent for me to drink King

2 [See post, his letter to Mr. George Strahan, 25th May, 1765.—Ed.]

3

[See ante, p. 20.-ED.]

4 When I mentioned the same idle clamour to him several years afterwards, he said, with a smile, "I wish my pension were twice as large, that they might make twice as much noise."BOSWELL.

James's health in the wine that King | (said Johnson), I meant no offence to your George gives me money to pay for. But, niece, I meant her a great compliment. A sir, I think that the pleasure of cursing the Jacobite, sir, believes in the divine right of house of Hanover, and drinking King kings. He that believes in the divine right James's health, are amply overbalanced by of kings believes in a divinity. A Jacobite three hundred pounds a year." believes in the divine right of bishops. He that believes in the divine right of bishops believes in the divine authority of the Christian religion. Therefore, sir, a Jacobite is neither an atheist nor a deist. That cannot be said of a whig; for whiggism is a negation of all principle 2."

There was here, most certainly, an affectation of more Jacobitism than he really had; and indeed an intention of admitting, for the moment, in a much greater extent than it really existed, the charge of disaffection imputed to him by the world, merely for the purpose of showing how dexterously he could repel an attack, even though he were placed in the most disadvantageous position; for I have heard him declare, that if holding up his right hand would have secured victory at Culloden to Prince Charles's army, he was not sure he would have held | it up; so little confidence had he in the right claimed by the house of Stuart, and so fearful was he of the consequences of another revolution on the throne of Great Britain; and Mr. Topham Beauclerk assured me, he had heard him say this before he had his pension. At another time he said to Mr. Langton, "Nothing has ever offered, that has made it worth my while to consider the question fully.". He, however, also said to the same gentleman, talking of King James the Second, "It was become impossible for him to reign any longer in this country." He no doubt had an early attachment to the house of Stuart; but his zeal had cooled as his reason strengthened. Indeed I heard him once say, "that after the death of a violent whig, with whom he used to contend with great eagerness, he felt his toryism much abated." I suppose he meant Mr. Walmsley1.

Yet there is no doubt that at earlier periods he was wont often to exercise both his pleasantry and ingenuity in talking Jacobitism. My much respected friend, Dr. Douglas, now Bishop of Salisbury, has favoured me with the following admirable instance from his lordship's own recollection. One day when dining at old Mr. Langton's, where Miss Roberts, his niece, was one of the company, Johnson, with his usual complacent attention to the fair sex, took her by the hand, and said, "My dear, I hope you are a Jacobite." Old Mr. Langton, though a high and steady tory, was attached to the present royal family, seemed offended, and asked Johnson, with great warmth, what he could mean by putting such a question to his niece? Why, sir,

66

1 [It seems unlikely that he and Mr. Walmsley could have had much intercourse since Johnson removed to London, in 1737: it was more probably some member of the Ivy-lane club, Dyer, M'Ghie, or Barker, whose political and religious tenets were what Johnson would have called whiggish.—ED.]

He advised me, when abroad, to be as much as I could with the professors in the universities, and with the clergy; for from their conversation I might expect the best accounts of every thing in whatever country I should be, with the additional advantage of keeping my learning alive.

It will be observed, that when giving me advice as to my travels, Dr. Johnson did not dwell upon cities, and palaces, and pictures, and shows, and Arcadian scenes. He was of Lord Essex's3 opinion who advises his kinsman Roger Earl of Rutland, "rather to go a hundred miles to speak with one wise man, than five miles to see a fair town 4."

sir.

I described to him an impudent fellow from Scotland, who affected to be a savage, and railed at all established systems. JOHNSON. "There is nothing surprising in this, He wants to make himself conspicuHe would tumble in a hogsty, as long as you looked at him and called to him to come out. But let him alone, never mind him, and he'll soon give it over."

ous.

I added that the same person maintained that there was no distinction between virtue and vice. JOHNSON. "Why, sir, if the fellow does not think as he speaks, he is lying; and I see not what honour he can propose to himself from having the character of a liar. But if he does really think that there is no distinction between virtue and vice, why, sir, when he leaves our houses, let us count our spoons." Sir David Dalrymple 5 now one of the

He used to tell, with great humour, from my relation to him, the following little story of my early years, which was literally true: " Boswell, in the year 1745, was a fine boy, wore a white cockade, and prayed for King James, till one of his uncles (General Cochran) gave him a sning on condition that he would pray for King George, which he accordingly did. So you see (says Boswell) that whigs of all ages are made the same way."-Boswell.

3 [The celebrated and unfortunate Ear & Essex.-ED.]

4 [Letter to Rutland on Trave, 6mo. 1596. BOSWELL.

5 [This learned and exceller person was for in 1726; educated at Eton, and afterward at Utrecht; called to the Scotch ta is 1748 & ord