company. JOHNSON. "I have been reading 'Twiss's Travels in Spain,' which are just come out. They are as good as the first book of travels that you will take up. They are as good as those of Keysler or Blainville; nay, as Addison's, if you except the learning. They are not so good as Brydone's, but they are better than Pococke's. I have not, indeed, cut the leaves yet; but I have read in them where the pages are open, and I do not suppose that what is in the pages which are closed is worse than what is in the open pages. It would seem (he added,) that Addison had not acquired much Italian learning, for we do not find it introduced into his writings. The only instance that I recollect, is his quoting • Stavo bene. Per star meglio, sto qui.'

I mentioned Addison's having borrowed many of his classical remarks from Leandro Alberti. Mr. Beauclerk said, "It was alleged that he had borrowed also from another Italian authour." JOHNSON. "Why, Sir, all who go to look for what the Classicks have said of Italy must find the same passages; and I should think it would be one of the first things the Italians would do on the revival of learning, to collect all that the Roman authours had said of their country."

Ossian being mentioned ;-JOHNSON. "Supposing the Irish and Erse languages to be the same, which I do not believe, yet as there is no reason to suppose that the inhabitants of the Highlands and Hebrides ever wrote their native language, it is not to be credited that a long poem was preserved among them. If we had no evidence of the art of writing being practised in one of the counties of England, we should not believe that a long poem was preserved there, though in the neighbouring counties, where the same language was spoken, the inhabitants could write." BEAUCLERK. "The ballad of Lullabalero was once in the mouths of all the people of this country, and is said to have had a great effect in bringing about the Revolution. Yet I question whether any body can repeat it now; which shews how improbable it is that much poetry should be preserved by tradition."

One of the company suggested an internal objection to the antiquity of the poetry said to be Ossian's, that we do not find the wolf in it, which must have been the case had it been of that age.

by his reports of their conversations.

But, in truth, Boswell records a good deal of what occurred in the club room. I believe the true cause to have been his fear of Burke, from whom he had

hopes; for on other occasions, when that statesman was present, he suppresses his name, and that of the place of meeting.

The mention of the wolf had led Johnson to think of other wild beasts; and while Sir Joshua Reynolds and Mr. Langton were carrying on a dialogue about something which engaged them earnestly, he, in the midst of it, broke out, "Pennant tells of Bears-" [what he added, I have forgotten.] They went on, which he being dull of hearing, did not perceive, or, if he did, was not willing to break off his talk; so he continued to vociferate his remarks, and Bear ("like a word in a catch," as Beauclerk said,) was repeatedly heard at intervals, which coming from him who, by those who did not know him, had been so often assimilated to that ferocious animal, while we who were sitting around could hardly stifle laughter, produced a very ludicrous effect. Silence having ensued, he proceeded: "We are told, that the black bear is innocent; but I should not like to trust myself with him." Mr. Gibbon muttered, in a low tone of voice, "I should not like to trust myself with you." This piece of sarcastick pleasantry was a prudent resolution, if applied to a competition of abilities.

Patriotism having become one of our topicks, Johnson suddenly uttered, in a strong determined tone, an apothegm, at which many will start: "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel." But let it be considered, that he did not mean a real and generous love of our country, but that pretended patriotism which so many, in all ages and countries, have made a cloak for self-interest. I maintained, that certainly all patriots were not scoundrels. Being urged (not by Johnson,) to name one exception, I mentioned an eminent. person, whom we all greatly admired. JOHNSON. "Sir, I do not say that he is not honest; but we have no reason to conclude from his political conduct that he is honest. Were he to accept of a place from this ministry, he would lose that character of firmness. which he has, and might be turned out of his place in a year. This ministry is neither stable, nor grateful to their friends, as Sir Robert Walpole was: so that he may think it more for his interest to take his chance of his party coming in."

Mrs. Pritchard being mentioned, he said, "Her playing was. quite mechanical. It is wonderful how little mind she had. Sir, she had never read the tragedy of Macbeth all through.' She no more thought of the play out of which her part was taken, than

'Mrs. Thrale adds (Marginalia) that the actress gave Johnson her reason for this neglect "she had not time to do Mr. Forster suggests as the proba

30."

ble cause of Dr. Johnson's depreciation of this lady, that he associated her with the disagreeable recollection of the failure of his play.

a shoemaker thinks of the skin, out of which the piece of leather, of which he is making a pair of shoes, is cut."

On Saturday, May 8, I dined with him at Mr. Thrale's, where we met the Irish Dr. Campbell. Johnson had supped the night before at Mrs. Abington's, with some fashionable people whom he named; and he seemed much pleased with having made one in so elegant a circle.1

Mrs. Thrale, who frequently practised a coarse mode of flattery, by repeating his bon mots in his hearing, told us that he had said, a certain celebrated actor was just fit to stand at the door of an auction-room, with a long pole, and cry, " Pray, gentlemen, walk in;" and that a certain authour, upon hearing this, had said, that another still more celebrated actor was fit for nothing better than that, and would pick your pocket after you came out. JOHNSON. Nay, my dear lady, there is no wit in what our friend added; there is only abuse. You may as well say of any man that he will pick a pocket. Besides, the man who is stationed at the door does not pick people's pockets: that is done within, by the auctioneer."

Mrs. Thrale told us, that Tom Davies repeated, in a very bald manner, the story of Dr. Johnson's first repartee to me, which I have related exactly. He made me say, "I was born in Scotland," instead of "I come from Scotland;" so that Johnson's saying, "That, Sir, is what a great many of your countrymen cannot help," had no point, or even meaning: and that upon this being mentioned to Mr. Fitzherbert, he observed, "It is not every man that can carry a bon mot."2

Vol. I., page 241.

Cor. et Ad.-Line 3: For "May" read "April."

Ibid.-Line 7: After "circle" read, "Nor did he omit to pique his mistress a little with jealousy of her housewifery; for he said, (with a smile,) 'Mrs. Abington's jelly, my dear lady, was better than yours.''

1 "Mrs. Abington," says Baretti in his Marginalia, "invited Johnson to dinner, and took pains to distinguish him above all her guests, who were all people of the first distinction." No wonder that the sage was gratified.

* Boswell's report of this evening is again meagre, and it would almost seem that at these large dinners he grew too convivial to carry out his duties. Dr. Campbell's diary supplies some characteristic details: "Dined with Thrale, where Dr. Johnson was, and Boswell (and Baretti as usual). The Doctor was not in as good spirits as he was at

Dilly's. He had supped the night before
with Lady
Miss Jeffreys, one of
the maids of honour, Sir J. Reynolds,
&c., at Mrs. Abington's. He said Sir
C. Thompson, and others who were there,
spoke like people who had seen good
company, and so did Mrs. Abington
herself, who could not have seen good
company.. When Dr. Goldsmith was
mentioned, and Dr. Percy's intention of
writing his life, he expressed his appro-
bation strongly, adding that Goldsmith
was the best writer he ever knew upon
every subject he wrote upon. He said
that Kenrick had borrowed all bis

On Monday, April 1o, I dined with him at General Oglethorpe's, with Mr. Langton and the Irish Dr. Campbell, whom the General had obligingly given me leave to bring with me. This learned gentleman was thus gratified with a very high intellectual feast, by not only being in company with Dr. Johnson, but with General Oglethorpe, who had been so long a celebrated name both at homeand abroad.

I must, again and again, intreat of my readers not to suppose that my imperfect record of conversation contains the whole of what was said by Johnson, or other eminent persons who lived with him. What I have preserved, however, has the value of the most perfect authenticity.

He this day enlarged upon Pope's melancholy remark,

"Man never is, but always to be blest."

He asserted, that the present was never a happy state to any human being; but that, as every part of life, of which we are conscious, was at some point of time a period yet to come, in which felicity

Soon

Let me here be allowed to pay my tribute of most sincere gratitude to the memory of that excellent person, my intimacy with whom was the more valuable to me, because my first acquaintance with him was unexpected and unsolicited. after the publication of my "Account of Corsica," he did me the honour to call on me, and approaching me with a frank courteous air, said, "My name, Sir, is Oglethorpe, and I wish to be acquainted with you." I was not a little flattered to be thus addressed by an eminent man, of whom I had read in Pope, from my early years,

"Or, driven by strong benevolence of soul,

Will fly, like OGLETHORPE, from pole to pole."

I was fortunate enough to be found worthy of his good opinion, insomuch, that I not only was invited to make one in the many respectable companies whom he entertained at his table, but had a cover at his hospitable board every day when I happened to be disengaged; and in his society I never failed to enjoy learned and animated conversation, seasoned with genuine sentiments of virtue and religion.

a

dictionary from him. Why,' says Boswell, every man who writes dictionary must borrow.' 'Not he,' says Johnson; that is not necessary.' 'Why,' says Boswell, have you not a great deal in common with those who wrote before you ?' 'Yes, Sir,' says Johnson, I have the words, but my business was not to make words, but to explain them.' Talking of Garrick and Barry, he said he always abused Garrick himself, but when any body else did so he fought for the dog like a tiger: as to Barry, he supposed he could not read.

And how does he get his part?' says one. Why somebody reads it to him; and yet I know,' says he, that he is very much admired.' Mrs. Thrale then

This

took him by repeating a repartee of
Murphy's" (this was the speech about
the "long pole"). "Johnson said that
Murphy spoke nonsense, for that people's
pockets were not picked at the door, but
in the room. Then,' said I, 'he was
worse than the pick-pocket, forasmuch
as he was a pandar to them.'
went off with a laugh." Mr. Croker, who
was often very happy in his guesses,
rightly supposed the "still more cele-
brated actor" to be Garrick, and the
"certain author" Murphy, both of whose
names Campbell supplies. He was
wrong, however, in his guess at the
"certain celebrated actor," which was
Barry, not Sheridan, as he fancied,

was expected, there was some happiness produced by hope. Being pressed upon this subject, and asked if he really was of opinion that though, in general, happiness was very rare in human life, a man was not sometimes happy in the moment that was present, he answered, "Never, but when he is drunk."

He urged General Oglethorpe to give the world his Life. He said, "I know no man whose Life would be more interesting. If I were furnished with materials, I should be very glad to write it."

Mr. Scott of Amwell's Elegies were lying in the room. Dr. Johnson observed, "They are very well; but such as twenty people might write." Upon this I took occasion to controvert Horace's maxim,

mediocribus esse poetis

Non Di, non homines, non concessere columnæ."

for here (I observed,) was a very middle-rate poet, who pleased

• The General seemed unwilling to enter upon it at this time; but upon a subsequent occasion he communicated to me a number of particulars, which I have committed to writing; but I was not sufficiently diligent in obtaining more from him, not apprehending that his friends were so soon to lose him; for notwithstanding his great age, he was very healthy and vigorous, and was at last carried off by a violent fever, which is often fatal at any period of life.

"The old man," says Dr. Campbell, "excused himself, saying the life of a private man was not worthy public notice. . . . Boswell told him to furnish the skeleton, and Dr. Johnson would find the bones and muscles. 'He would be a good doctor,' says the general, who would do that.' 'Well,' says I, he is a good Doctor;' at which he, the Doctor, laughed very heartily. Talked of America, and that his works would not be admired there. 'No,' says Boswell, we shall soon hear of his being hung in effigy.' 'I should be glad of that,' says the Doctor, that would be a new source of fame,' alluding to some conversation on the fulness of his fame, which had gone before. And,' says Boswell, I wonder he has not been hung in effigy from the Hebrides to England.' 'I shall suffer them to do it corporeally,' says the Doctor, if they can find a tree to do it upon.' Boswell asked if he had ever been under the hands of a dancing-master. Aye, and a dancing-mistress too, but I own to you I never took a lesson, but one or two. My blind eyes showed me I never could make a proficiency.' Roswell led him

་

to give his opinion of Gray: he said there were but two good stanzas in all his works. Boswell, desirous of eliciting his opinion on too many subjects, as he thought, he rose up and took his hat. This was not noticed by any body, as it was nine o'clock; but after we got into Mr. Langton's coach, who gave us a set down, he said, Boswell's conversation consists entirely in asking questions, and it is extremely offensive.' We defended it upon Boswell's eagerness to hear the Doctor speak."

"Boswell took up the defence of suicide for argument's sake, and the Doctor said that some cases were more excusable than others, but if it were excusable, it should be the last resource. For instance,' he says, 'if a man is distressed in circumstances (as in the case I mentioned of Denny) he ought to fly the country.' 'How can he fly,' says Boswell, if he has wife and children?' 'What, Sir,' says the Doctor, shaking his head as if to promote the fermentation of his wit, doth not a man fly from his wife and children if he murders himself?'"