Johnson, with his usual acuteness, at once, saw and explained the reason of this: "Why, sir, you have Edinburgh where the gentlemen from all your counties meet, and which is not so large but they are all known. There is no such common place of collection in England, except London, where from its great size, and diffusion, many of those who reside in contiguous counties of England may long remain unknown to each other."

innumerable have been the melancholy instances of men once distinguished for firmness, resolution, and spirit, who in their latter days have been governed like children, by interested female artifice.

Dr. Taylor commended a physician 1 who was known to him and Dr. Johnson, and said, “I fight many battles for him, as many people in the country dislike him." JOHNSON. "But you should consider, sir, that by every one of your victories he is a loser; for every man of whom you get the better will be very angry, and resolve not to employ him; whereas if people get the better of you in argument about him, they'll think, We'll send for Dr. [Butter] nevertheless." This was an observation deep and sure in human nature.

Next day we talked of a book 2 in which an eminent judge was arraigned before the bar of the publick, as having pronounced an unjust decision in a great cause. Dr. Johnson maintained that this publication would not give any uneasiness to the judge. "For," said he, "either he acted honestly, or he meant to do injustice. If he acted honestly, his own consciousness will protect him; if he meant to do injustice, he will be glad to see the man who attacks him so much vexed."

Next day, as Dr. Johnson had acquainted Dr. Taylor of the reason for his returning speedily to London, it was resolved that we should set out after dinner. A few of Dr. Taylor's neighbours were his guests that day.

On Tuesday, March 26, there came for us an equipage properly suited to a wealthy well-beneficed clergyman: Dr. Taylor's large roomy post-chaise, drawn by four stout plump horses, and driven by two steady jolly postilions, which conveyed us to Ashbourne; where I found my friend's schoolfellow living upon an establishment perfectly corresponding with his substantial creditable equipage: his house, garden, pleasure-ground, table, in short every thing good, and no scantiness appearing. Every man should form such a plan of living as he can execute completely. Let him not draw an outline wider than he can fill up. I have seen many skeletons of show and magnificence which excite at once ridicule and pity. Dr. Taylor had a good estate of his own, and good preferment in the church, being a prebendary of Westminster, and rector of Bosworth. He was a diligent justice of the peace, and presided over the town of Ashbourne, to the inhabitants of which I was told he was very liberal; and as a proof of this it was mentioned to me, he had the preceding winter distributed two hundred pounds among such of them as stood in need of his assistance. He had consequently a considerable political interest in the county of Derby, which he employed to support the Devonshire family; but not having a want." I maintained, for though the schoolfellow and friend of against this proposition, that it was better Johnson, he was a whig. I could not per- to have fine clothes, for instance, than not ceive in his character much congeniality of to feel the want of them. JOHNSON. any sort with that of Johnson, who, how-"No, sir; fine clothes are good only as they ever, said to me, "Sir, he has a very strong understanding." His size, and figure, and countenance, and manner, were that of a hearty English squire, with the parson super-induced: and I took particular notice of his upper-servant, Mr. Peters, a decent grave man, in purple clothes, and a large white whig, like the butler or major-domo of a bishop.

Dr. Johnson and Dr. Taylor met with great cordiality; and Johnson soon gave him the same sad account of their schoolfellow, Congreve, that he had given to Mr. Hector; adding a remark of such moment to the rational conduct of a man in the decline of life, that deserves to be imprinted upon every mind: "There is nothing against which an old man should be so much upon his guard as putting himself to nurse."

Dr. Johnson talked with approbation of one who had attained to the state of the philosophical wise man, that is, to have no want of any thing. "Then, sir," said I, "the savage is a wise man." "Sir," said he, "I do not mean simply being without,

supply the want of other means of procuring respect. Was Charles the Twelfth, think you, less respected for his coarse blue coat and black stock? And you find the King of Prussia dresses plain, because the dignity of his character is sufficient." I here brought myself into a scrape, for I heedlessly said, "Would not you, sir, be the better for velvet embroidery?" JOHNSON. "Sir, you put an end to all argument when you introduce your opponent himself. Have you no better manners? There is your want 3."

1 [Dr. Butter, who afterwards came to practise in London, and attended Johnson in his last illness. -ED.]

2 [Andrew Stuart's Letters to Lord Mansfield on the Douglas Cause.'-ED.]

3 [The want seems, on this occasion, to have been common to both.-ED.]

I apologised by saying I had mentioned him | as an instance of one who wanted as little as any man in the world, and yet, perhaps, might receive some additional lustre from dress.

Having left Ashbourne in the evening, we stopped to change horses at Derby, and availed ourselves of a moment to enjoy the conversation of my countryman, Dr. Butter, then physician there. He was in great indignation because Lord Mountstuart's bill for a Scotch militia had been lost. Dr. Johnson was as violent against it. "I am glad," said he, " that parliament has had the spirit to throw it out. You wanted to take advantage of the timidity of our scoundreis "meaning, I suppose, the ministry). It may be observed, that he used the epithet scoundrel, very commonly, not quite in the sense in which it is generally understood, but as a strong term of disapprobation; as when he abruptly answered Mrs. Thrale, who had asked him how he did, "Ready to become a scoundrel, madam; with a little more spoiling you will, I think, make me a complete rascal 2; " he meant, easy to become a capricious and self-indulgent valetudinarian3; a character for which I have heard him express great disgust; [particularly when it connected itself in his mind with intellectual apathy.] ["Nothing more certainly Piozzi, offended Dr. Johnson than the idea of a man's mental faculties decaying by time. It is not true; sir,' would he say: 'what a man could once do, he would always do, unless, indeed, by dint of vicious indolence, and compliance with the nephews and nieces who crowd round an old fellow, and help to tuck him in, till he, contented with the exchange of fame for ease, e'en resolves to let them set the pillows at his back, and gives no farther proof of his existence than just to suck the jelly that prolongs it.""]

ED.

P. 152.

Johnson had with him upon this jaunt "Il Palmerino d'Inghilterra," a romance praised by Cervantes; but did not like it much. He said, he read it for the language, by way of preparation for his Italian expedition. We lay this night at Loughborough.

On Thursday, March 28, we pursued our journey. I mentioned that old Mr.

["It is so very difficult," he said, on another occasion, to Mrs. Piozzi, "for a sick man not to be a scoundrel." It may be here observed, that scoundrel seems to have been a favourite word of his. In his Dictionary, he defined knave, a scoundrel; loon, a scoundrel; lout, a scoundrel; poltroon, a scoundrel; sneakup, a scoundrel; rascal, a scoundrel; and scoundrel itself he defines a mean rascal; a ow petty villain.-ED.] • Anecdotes, p. 176.-BOSWELL. [See post, 16th Sept. 1777.-ED.] 7

VOL. II.

Sheridan complained of the ingratitude of
Mr. Wedderburne and General Fraser, who
had been much obliged to him when they
were young Scotchmen entering upon life
in England. JOHNSON. "Why, sir, a man
is very apt to complain of the ingratitude
of those who have risen far above him. A
man, when he gets into a higher sphere,
into other habits of life, cannot keep up all
his former connexions. Then, sir, those
who knew him formerly upon a level with
themselves may think that they ought still
to be treated as on a level, which cannot
be: and an acquaintance in a former situa-
tion may bring out things which it would
be very disagreeable to have mentioned be-
fore higher company, though, perhaps,
every body knows of them." He placed
this subject in a new light to me, and
showed, that a man who has risen in the
world must not be condemned too harshly,
for being distant to former acquaintance,
even though he may have been much
obliged to them. It is, no doubt, to be
wished, that a proper degree of attention
should be shown by great men to their
early friends. But if either from obtuse in-
sensibility to difference of situation, or
presumptuous forwardness, which will not
submit even to an exteriour observance of
it, the diguity of high place cannot be pre-
served; when they are admitted into the
company of those raised above the state in
which they once were, encroachment must
be repelled, and the kinder feelings sacri-
ficed. To one of the very fortunate persons
whom I have mentioned, namely, Mr.
Wedderburne, now Lord Loughborough,
I must do the justice to relate, that I have
been assured by another early acquaint-
ance of his, old Mr. Macklin, who assisted
in improving his pronunciation, that he
found him very grateful. Macklin, I sup-
pose, had not pressed upon his elevation
with so much eagerness as the gentleman
who complained of him. Dr. Johnson's
remark as to the jealousy entertained of our
friends who rise far above us is certainly
very just. By this was withered the early
friendship between Charles Townshend
and Akenside 4; and many similar instances
might be adduced

He said, "It is commonly a weak man who marries for love." We then talked of marrying women of fortune; and I mentioned a common remark, that a man may

[This is no inappropriate instance. Charles Townshend-the nephew [grandnephew] of the prime minister-the son [grandson] of a peer, who was secretary of state, and leader of the house of lords-was as much above Akenside in their earliest days, as at any subsequent period; nor was Akenside in rank inferior to Dr. Brocklesby, with whom Charles Townshend continued in intimate friendship to the end of his life.-ED.]

in the degree in which they are capable of having them. If I were in the country, and were distressed by that malady, I would force myself to take a book; and every time I did it I should find it the easier. Melancholy, indeed, should be diverted by every means but drinking."

discovered, his " Translation of Lobo's Account of Abyssinia," which Sir John Pringle had lent me, it being then little known as one of his works. He said, "Take no notice of it," or Don't talk of it." He seemed to think it beneath him, though done at six-and-twenty. I said to him, "Your style, sir, is much improved since you translated this." He answered, with a sort of triumphant smile, "Sir, I hope it is."

I gave him an account of a conversation which had passed between me and Captain Cook, the day before, at dinner at Sir John Pringle's; and he was much pleased with the conscientious accuracy of that celebrated circumnavigator, who set me right as to many of the exaggerated accounts given by Dr. Hawkesworth of his Voyages. I told him that while I was with the captain I catched the enthusiasm of curiosity and adventure, and felt a strong inclination to go with him on his next voyage. JOHNSON.

We stopped at Messieurs Dillys, booksellers in the Poultry; from whence he hurried away, in a hackney coach, to Mr. Thrale's in the Borough. I called at his On Wednesday, April 3, in the morning, house in the evening, having promised to I found him very busy putting his books acquaint Mrs. Williams of his safe return; in order, and, as they were generally very when, to my surprise, I found him sitting old ones, clouds of dust were flying around with her at tea, and, as I thought, not in a him. He had on a pair of large gloves, such very good humour: for, it seems, when he as hedgers use. His present appearance had got to Mr. Thrale's he found the coach put me in mind of my uncle Dr. Boswell's was at the door waiting to carry Mrs. and description of him, "A robust genius, born Miss Thrale, and Signor Baretti, their Ital- | to grapple with whole libraries." ian master, to Bath. This was not showing the attention which might have been expected to the "guide, philosopher, and friend; " the Imlac who had hastened from the country to console a distressed mother, who, he understood, was very anxious for his return. They had, I found, without ceremony, proceeded on their journey. I was glad to understand from him that it was still resolved that his tour to Italy with Mr. and Mrs. Thrale should take place, of which he had entertained some doubt, on account of the loss which they had suffered; and his doubts afterwards appeared to be well founded. He observed, indeed very ustly, that "their loss was an additional reason for their going abroad; and if it had | not been fixed that he should have been one of the party, he would force them out; but he would not advise them unless his advice was asked, lest they might suspect that he recommended what he wished on his own account." I was not pleased that his intimacy with Mr. Thrale's family, though it no doubt contributed much to his comfort and enjoyment, was not without some degree of restraint: not, as has been grossly suggested, that it was required of him as a task to talk for entertainment of them and their company; but that he was not quite at his ease; which, however, might partly be owing to his own honest pride-that dignity of mind which is always jealous of appearing too compliant.

On Sunday, March 31, I called on him and showed him as a curiosity which I had

[How so? The journey must have been settled for some days, and, under the melancholy circumstances in which it was arranged, it would surely have been strange if Dr. Johnson's sudden appearance had interrupted it. Baretti, on the other hand, with more appearance of justice, complained that Johnson had not offered to accompany" the distressed mother," instead of himself, who went, he tells us, because no one else would go.-ED.]

66

Why, sir, a man does feel so, till he considers how very little he can learn from such voyages." BOSWELL. "But one is carried away with the general, grand, and indistinct notion of a VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD." JOHNSON. "Yes, sir, but a man is to guard himself against taking a thing in general." I said I was certain that a great part of what we are told by the travellers to the South Sea must be conjecture, because they had not enough of the language of those countries to understand so much as they have related. Objects falling under the observation of the senses might be clearly known; but every thing intellectual, every thing abstract-politicks, morals, and religion, must be darkly guessed. Dr. Johnson was of the same opinion. He, upon another occasion, when a friend mentioned to him several extraordinary facts, as communicated to him by the circumnav igators, slily observed, "Sir, I never before knew how much I was respected by these gentlemen; they told me none of these things."

native of one of the South Sea Islands, He had been in company with Omai, a after he had been some time in this country. He was struck with the elegance of his be haviour, and accounted for it thus: "Sir, he had passed his time, while in England, only in the best company; so that all that he had acquired of our manners was genteel. As a proof of this, sir. Lord Mulgrave and

he dined one day at Streatham; they sat with their backs to the light fronting me, so that I could not see distinctly; and there was so little of the savage in Omai, that I was afraid to speak to either, lest I should mistake one for the other '."

soldier, too, generally eats more than he can pay for. But when a common soldier is civil in his quarters, his red coat procures him a degree of respect." The peculiar respect paid to the military character in France was mentioned. BOSWELL. "I We agreed to dine to-day at the Mitre should think that where military men are tavern, after the rising of the House of so numerous, they would be less valuable Lords, where a branch of the litigation con- as not being rare." JOHNSON. "Nay, cerning the Douglas estate, in which I was sir, wherever a particular character or proone of the counsel, was to come on. Ifession is high in the estimation of a people, brought with me Mr. Murray, solicitor-gen- those who are of it will be valued above eral of Scotland, now one of the judges of other men. We value an Englishman the court of session, with the title of Lord high in this country, and yet Englishmen Henderland. I mentioned Mr. Solicitor's are not rare in it." relation, Lord Charles Hay 2, with whom I knew Dr. Johnson had been acquainted. JOHNSON. "I wrote something for Lord Charles 3, and I thought he had nothing to fear from a court-martial. I suffered a great loss when he died; he was a mighty pleasing man in conversation, and a reading man. The character of a soldier is high. They who stand forth the foremost in danger, for the community, have the respect of mankind. An officer is much more respected than any other man who has little money. In a commercial country, money will always purchase respect. But you find, an officer, who has, properly speaking, no money, is every where well received and treated with attention. The character of a soldier always stands him in stead." BOSWELL. "6 Yet, sir, I think that common soldiers are worse thought of than other men in the same rank of life; such as labourers." JOHNSON. "Why, sir, a common soldier is usually a very gross man, and any quality which procures respect may be overwhelmed by grossness. A man of learning may be so vicious or so ridiculous that you cannot respect him. A common

[This might perhaps nave been more justly attributed to the defect of his sight (see ante, p. 18, n.) than to any resemblance between Omai and Lord Mulgrave.-ED.]

[Third son of the third Marquis of Tweedale. He was an officer in the army, and distinguished himself at the battle of Fontenoy; where he is said to have been the officer who invited the French guards to fire. He was afterwards third in command under Lord Loudon and General Hopson, in an expedition against Canada; but expressing himself with some violence against the tardiness of his superiors, he was, on the 31st July, 1757, put under arrest and sent to England, to be tried by a court-martial, which, however, did not assemble till Feb. 1760; but Lord Charles died on the 1st of May following, before the sentence was promulgated.-ED.]

3 [The editor, by the kindness of his friend Sir John Beckett, now judge-advocate general, has looked over the original minutes of this court-martial, but finds nothing that can be supposed to have been written by Johnson.-ED.]

Mr. Murray praised the ancient philosophers for the candour and good humour with which those of different sects disputed with each other. JOHNSON. "Sir, they disputed with good humour, because they were not in earnest as to religion. Had the ancients been serious in their belief, we should not have had their gods exhibited in the manner we find them represented in the poets. The people would not have suffered it. They disputed with good humour upon their fanciful theories, because they were not interested in the truth of them: when a man has nothing to lose, he may be in good humour with his opponent. Accordingly you see, in Lucian, the Epicurean, who argues only negatively, keeps his temper; the Stoick, who has something positive to preserve, grows angry 4. Being angry with one who controverts an opinion which you value, is a necessary conse quence of the uneasiness which you feel. Every man who attacks my belief, diminishes in some degree my confidence in it, and therefore makes me uneasy; and I am angry with him who makes me uneasy. Those only who believed in revelation have been angry at having their faith called in question; because they only had something upon which they could rest as matter of fact." MURRAY. "It seems to me that we are not angry at a man for controverting an opinion which we believe and value; we rather pity him." JOHNSON. "Why, sir, to be sure, when you wish a man to have that belief which you think is of infinite advantage, you wish well to him; but your primary consideration is your own quiet. If a madman were to come into this room with a stick in his hand, no doubt we should pity the state of his mind; but our primary consideration would be to take care of ourselves. We should knock him

He alluded probably to the pleadings for and against Pleasure in Lucian's Dicasteria, where the Stoick, being defeated by Epicurus in the court below, appeals to Jupiter, but there seems no loss of temper. See Lucian, ed. 1615, p. 756. Perhaps the squabble between the disputants at the end of Jupiter the Tragic was meant.-ED.]