ness to Boswell, however, it should be stated that his interrogations were not out of selfish curiosity to get knowledge, but in company to show at their best JOHNSON'S conversational powers; and in private, to draw him out of himself, in order that he might for a time forget his miseries.

Another special mark of JOHNSON'S favour to Boswell was his admission into the literary club→→→ to be elected to which was considered in certain circles, as great an honour as to be elected a member of Parliament. When Boswell was pro posed Burke and other members were indignant, and thought that Boswell was not fit to be admitted. The dictator, however, said that he was→→→→ that was enough, he was omnipotent.

Boswell was at Lady Beauclerk's at dinner when news came of his election, and that his presence was requested without delay. Accordingly, in a tumult of excitement, he left Lady Beauclerk and the other guests, and hurried to the club. As he entered the club room, JOHNSON, the president, rose and placed himself behind a chair, on which he leaned, as from a pulpit, and in a formal manner

delivered to Boswell a charge, laying down rules for his guidance, stating what they expected from him as a loyal member of the club. What these hints were, we have now no means of knowing; we may surmise one-not to retail club talk; this at least is significant, that Boswell is judiciously silent regarding club conversation. Boswell not merely proved a most clubable man, but soon became one of the most popular members of it.

Another special mark of JOHNSON'S great regard for Boswell, was his journey with him through the Highlands of Scotland. What an influence Boswell must have exercised to drag the intellectual giant from his literary den in London, to the wilds of Scotland, to survey a nation and people against whom, it was popularly believed, he had such an unaccountable prejudice! JOHNSON arrived in Edinburgh on the 14th August, 1773, and took up his residence with Boswell. Thinking that he was going to a savage nation, he had provided himself with a pistol, which Boswell judiciously advised him to leave behind, which he did in a drawer in his room, with a manuscript, which Boswell after

wards discovered to be notes of his life. He was sorry, on his return, to find that Mrs. Boswell had not had that female curiosity of her sisterhood to inspect the mysterious drawer, and transcribe the autobiography-a theft which, being committed pro bono publico, might have been forgiven. Boswell, although objecting to take a pistol with them on their tour, suggested that they should provide themselves with lemons, of which JOHNSON was so fond, as these would not readily be found in the Highland homes where they had been invited to sojourn for a time. JOHNSON was indignant. "Sir," said he, "I do not wish to be thought an old man who cannot do without lemons; besides, sir, do you not know that it is bad manners to carry provisions to a house where you are invited as a guest? To an inferior it is oppression, to a superior it is insolence." Accordingly, this extraordinary pair started on their tour without pistols and without lemons.

We regret that our space will not allow us to accompany them on the journey. There are, however, two or three features in their characters which

appear very marked and at which we may glance for a moment.

Boswell liked scenery; JOHNSON did not. Before they set out on their journey, Boswell desired JOHNSON to go with him to the Calton-hill, and "he would see a noble prospect." "Sir," said JOHNSON," the noblest prospect that a Scotchman ever sees, is the highroad which takes him to London." We are informed by Mrs. Thrale that when he travelled with them through England and France, Mr. Thrale would sometimes call his atten tion to charming scenery. "Never heed such nonsense," would be the reply; "a blade of grass, whether in one country or another; let us, if we do talk, talk about something; men and women are my subjects of inquiry; let us see how these differ from those we have left behind." He seemed to be of Pope's opinion: "the proper study of mankind is man." Accordingly he came to Scotland not to view scenery, but to survey the men and manners of what he thought an antiquated nation. Thus we hear him saying at Raasay, "this is truly patriarchial; this is what we came to find."

Another matter in which the two differed was in Churchmanship. Boswell was a staunch sup porter of the Presbyterian Kirk, Johnson of Episcopacy. In Edinburgh he was told by Boswell that Episcopalians were dissenters here: "they were only tolerated." "Sir," said he, "we are here as Christians in Turkey."

When the travellers came to St. Andrews and stood viewing the ruins of the ancient Romanist churches, JOHNSON was deeply affected. Boswell happened to ask where John Knox was buried? JOHNSON burst out, "I hope in the highway; I have been looking at his reformations." A little further on we hear him saying in reference to some remarks made by a Parish Minister: "this, sir, has been a day of anomalies, I have seen to-day old trees in Scotland, and have heard the English Clergy talked of with disrespect."

When he had finished his tour, and was staying at Auchinleck, we hear him saying to Boswell's Parish Minister, who, with bad taste, had talked in JOHNSON'S presence about "fat Bishops and drowsy Deans," "Sir, you know no more of