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you may stand disputing which is best to put in first, but in the mean time your breech is bare. Sir, while you are considering which of two things you should teach your child first, another boy has learnt them both.'

On Thursday, July 28, we again supped in private at the Turk's Head coffee-house. JOHNSON. 'Swift has a higher reputation than he deserves. His excellence is strong sense; for his humour, though very well, is not remarkably good. I doubt whether The Tale of a Tub be his; for he never owned it, and it is much above his usual manner.'

'Thomson, I think, had as much of the poet about him as most writers. Every thing appeared to him through the medium of his favourite pursuit. He could not have viewed those two candles burning but with a poetical eye.'

'As to the Christian religion, Sir, besides the strong evidence which we have for it, there is a balance in its favour from the number of great men who have been convinced of its truth, after a serious consideration of the question. Grotius was an acute man, a lawyer, a man accustomed to examine evidence, and he was convinced. Grotius was not a recluse, but a man of the world, who certainly had no bias to the side of religion. Sir Isaac Newton set out an infidel, and came to be a very firm believer.'

He this evening recommended to me to perambulate Spain. I said it would amuse him to get a letter from me dated at Salamancha. JOHNSON. 'I love the University of Salamancha; for when the Spaniards were in doubt as to the lawfulness of their conquering America, the University of Salamancha gave it as their opinion that it was not lawful.' He spoke this with great emotion, and with that generous warmth which dictated the lines in his London, against Spanish encroachment.

I expressed my opinion of my friend Derrick as but a poor writer. JOHNSON. 'To be sure, Sir, he is; but you are to consider that his being a literary man has got for him all that he has. It has made him King of Bath. Sir, he has nothing to say for himself but that he is a writer. Had he not been a writer, he must have been sweeping the crossings in the streets, and asking halfpence from every body that past.'

In justice, however, to the memory of Mr. was my first tutor in the ways of London, and town in all its variety of departments, bot sportive, the particulars of which Dr. Johnso put in writing, it is proper to mention wha subsequent period, said of him both as a editor: 'Sir, I have often said, that if Derr been written by one of a more established n have been thought very pretty letters.' Derrick to Dryden's relations to gathe his life; and I believe he got all that I my got.'

Johnson said once to me, 'Sir, I honour presence of mind. One night, when Flo authour, was wandering about the streets found Derrick fast asleep upon a bulk; denly waked, Derrick started up, "My d sorry to see you in this destitute state; with me to my lodgings?"

I again begged his advice as to my me Utrecht. 'Come, (said he) let us make a go down to Greenwich and dine, and talk following Saturday was fixed for this excu

As we walked along the Strand to-ni a woman of the town accosted us, in t manner. 'No, no, my girl, (said Johns He, however, did not treat her with harshn of the wretched life of such women; and a more misery than happiness, upon the w by illicit commerce between the sexes.

On Saturday, July 30, Dr. Johnson and at the Temple-stairs, and set out for Gre him if he really thought a knowledge of the languages an essential requisite to a good e SON. 'Most certainly, Sir; for those who a very great advantage over those who de it is wonderful what a difference learning m even in the common intercourse of life, wh pear to be much connected with it.' A

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#opulation of which he asked ons; recommending, at the the tenantry, as people over

THESTER Aced by Providence. He took

tion of the romantick seat of ere, Sir, (said he) and we will

there is not a room in it reI was highly flattered, but could t Auchinleck would indeed be and celebrated by a description, Journey to the Western Islands. d of my setting out for Holland, ut of England; I will accompany not find words to express what I and very great mark of his affec

31, I told him I had been that he people called Quakers, where ach. JOHNSON. 'Sir, a woman's walking on his hinder legs. It is

surprized to find it done at all.' (the day of my departure from for the 5th,) Dr. Johnson did me rt of the morning with me at my at 'he always felt an inclination to d, that it was strange to think that

in Britain had written the most lish Dictionary.

d my title to be a privileged man, in in the evening to drink tea with hough under the misfortune of having to be agreeable in conversation; for terature, and expressed herself well; was the intimacy in which she had on, by which she was well acquainted new how to lead him on to talk.

me to what he called his walk, which ved court in the neighbourhood, overThere we sauntered a considera

ces.

In justice, however, to the memory of Mr. Derrick, who was my first tutor in the ways of London, and shewed me the town in all its variety of departments, both literary and sportive, the particulars of which Dr. Johnson advised me to put in writing, it is proper to mention what Johnson, at a subsequent period, said of him both as a writer and an editor: 'Sir, I have often said, that if Derrick's letters had been written by one of a more established name, they would have been thought very pretty letters.' And, 'I sent Derrick to Dryden's relations to gather materials for his life; and I believe he got all that I myself should have got.'

Johnson said once to me, "Sir, I honour Derrick for his presence of mind. One night, when Floyd, another poor authour, was wandering about the streets in the night, he found Derrick fast asleep upon a bulk; upon being suddenly waked, Derrick started up, "My dear Floyd, I am sorry to see you in this destitute state; will you go home with me to my lodgings ?"

I again begged his advice as to my method of study at Utrecht. 'Come, (said he) let us make a day of it. Let us go down to Greenwich and dine, and talk of it there.' The following Saturday was fixed for this excursion.

As we walked along the Strand to-night, arm in arm, a woman of the town accosted us, in the usual enticing manner. 'No, no, my girl, (said Johnson) it won't do.' He, however, did not treat her with harshness, and we talked of the wretched life of such women; and agreed, that much more misery than happiness, upon the whole, is produced by illicit commerce between the sexes.

On Saturday, July 30, Dr. Johnson and I took a sculler at the Temple-stairs, and set out for Greenwich. I asked him if he really thought a knowledge of the Greek and Latin languages an essential requisite to a good education. JOHNSON. 'Most certainly, Sir; for those who know them have a very great advantage over those who do not. Nay, Sir, it is wonderful what a difference learning makes upon people even in the common intercourse of life, which does not appear to be much connected with it.' 'And yet, (said I)

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people go through the world very well, and carry on the business of life to good advantage, without learning.' JOHNSON. 'Why, Sir, that may be true in cases where learning cannot possibly be of any use; for instance, this boy rows us as well without learning, as if he could sing the song of Orpheus to the Argonauts, who were the first sailors.' He then called to the boy, 'What would you give, my lad, to know about the Argonauts?' 'Sir, (said the boy,) I would give what I have.' Johnson was much pleased with his answer, and we gave him a double fare. Dr. Johnson then turning to me, Sir, (said he) a desire of knowledge is the natural feeling of mankind; and every human being, whose mind is not debauched, will be willing to give all that he has to get knowledge.

We landed at the Old Swan, and walked to Billingsgate, where we took oars, and moved smoothly along the silver Thames. It was a very fine day. We were entertained with the immense number and variety of ships that were lying at anchor, and with the beautiful country on each side of the river.

I talked of preaching, and of the great success which those called Methodists have. JOHNSON. 'Sir, it is owing to their expressing themselves in a plain and familiar manner, which is the only way to do good to the common people, and which clergymen of genius and learning ought to do from a principle of duty, when it is suited to their congregations; a practice, for which they will be praised by men of sense. To insist against drunkenness as a crime, because it debases reason, the noblest faculty of man, would be of no service to the common people: but to tell them that they may die in a fit of drunkenness, and shew them how dreadful that would be, cannot fail to make a deep impression. Sir, when your Scotch clergy give up their homely manner, religion will soon decay in that country.' Let this observation, as Johnson meant it, be ever remembered.

I was much pleased to find myself with Johnson at Greenwich, which he celebrates in his London as a favourite scene. I had the poem in my pocket, and read the lines aloud with enthusiasm: