1 He thanked Dr. Johnson for his visit. JOHN- "Honour's a sacred tie; the law of kings; The noble mind's distinguishing perfection, her, And imitates her actions where she is not.'" When he took up his large oak stick, he said, "My lord, that's Homeric;" thus pleasantly alluding to his lordship's favourite writer. He was Gory, my lord's black servant, was sent as our guide, to conduct us to the high road. The circumstance of each of them having a black servant was another point of similarity between Johnson and Monboddo. I observed how curious it was to see an African in the north of Scotland, with little or no difference of manners from those of the natives. Dr. Johnson laughed to see Gory and Joseph riding together most cordially. "Those two fellows," said he, "one from Africa, the other from Bohemia, seem quite at home." much pleased with Lord Monboddo to-day. He said, he would have pardoned him for a few paradoxes, when he found that he had so much that was good: but that, from his appearance in London, he thought him all paradox; which would not do. He observed that his lordship had talked no paradoxes to-day. "And as to the savage and the London shopkeeper," said he, "I don't know but I might have taken the side of the savage equally, had any body else taken the side of the shopkeeper." fle had said to my lord, in opposition to the value of the savage's courage, that it was owing to his limited power of thinking, and repeated Pope's verses, in which "Macedonia's madman" is introduced, and the conclusion is, JOHNSON, "Sir, it is intended to be low it is satire. The expression is debased, to debase the character." When Gory was about to part from us, Dr. Johnson called to him, "Mr. Gory, give me leave to ask you a question! are you baptized?" Gory told him he was and confirmed by the Bishop of Durham. He then gave him a shilling. We had a tedious driving this afternoon, and were somewhat drowsy. Last night I was afraid Dr. Johnson was beginning to faint in his resolution; for he said, "If we must ride much, we shall not go; and there's an end on't." To-day, when he talked of Sky with spirit, I said, "Why, Sir, you seemed to me to despond yesterday. You are a delicate Londoner; you are a maccaroni; you can't ride.” JOHNSON. Sir, I shall ride better than you. 66 I was only afraid I should not find a horse able to carry me." I hoped then there would be no fear of getting through our wild Tour. We came to Aberdeen at half an hour past eleven. The New Inn, we were told, was full. This was comfortless. The waiter, however, asked if one of our names was Boswell, and brought me a letter left at the inn: it was from Mr. Thrale, enclosing one to Dr. Johnson. Finding who I was, we were told they would contrive to lodge us by putting us for a night into a room with two beds. The waiter said to me in the broad strong Aberdeenshire dialect, "I thought I knew you, by your likeness to your father." My father puts up at the New Inn, when on his circuit. Little was said to-night. I was to sleep in a little press-bed in Dr. Johnson's room. I had it wheeled out into the dining-room, and there I lay very well. Sunday, Aug. 22. — I sent a message to Professor Thomas Gordon, who came and breakfasted with us. He had secured seats for us at the English chapel. We found a respectable congregation, and an admirable organ well played by Mr. Tait. We walked down to the shore. Dr. Johnson laughed to hear that Cromwell's soldiers taught the Aberdeen people to make shoes and stockings, and to plant cabbages. He asked, if weaving the plaids was ever a domestic art in the Highlands, like spinning or knitting. They could not inform him here. But he conjectured probably, that where people lived so remote from each other, it was likely to be a domestic art; as we see it was among the ancients, from Penelope. I was sensible toI objected to the last phrase, as being low. day, to an extraordinary degree, of Dr. John "Yet ne'er looks forward farther than his nose." 1 Readers of this day will wonder that a mark of respect to ladies, now so universal, should ever have been withheld. It surely was not so in England at that period. - CROKER. ? Johnson says to Mrs. Thrale, "We agree pretty well, only we disputed in adjusting the claim of merit between a shopkeeper of London and a savage of the American wildernesses. Our opinions were, I think, maintained on both sides without full conviction. Monboddo declared boldly for the savage, and I, perhaps for that reason, sided with the citizen." Letters, vol. i. p. 115. A reason that too often influ son's excellent English pronunciation. I cannot account for its striking me more now than any other day; but it was as if new to me, and I listened to every sentence which he spoke, as to a musical composition. Professor Gordon gave him an account of the plan of education in his college. Dr. Johnson said, it was similar to that at Oxford. Waller, the poet's great-grandson, was studying here. Dr. Johnson wondered that a man should send his son so far off, when there were so many good schools in England. He said, "At a great school there is all the splendour and illumination of many minds; the radiance of all is concentrated in each, or at least reflected upon each. But we must own that neither a dull boy, nor an idle boy, will do so well at a great school as at a private one. For at a great school there are always boys enough to do well easily, who are sufficient to keep up the credit of the school; and after whipping being tried to no purpose, the dull or idle boys are left at the end of a class, having the appearance of going through the course, but learning nothing at all. Such boys may do good at a private school, where constant attention is paid to them, and they are watched. So that the question of public or private education is not properly a general one; but whether one or the other is best for my son." We were told the present Mr. Waller was a plain country gentleman; and his son would be such another. I observed, a family could not expect a poet but in a hundred generations. Nay," said Dr. Johnson, "not one family in a hundred can expect a poet in a hundred generations." He then repeated Dryden's celebrated lines, 66 "Three poets in three distant ages born, Greece, Italy, and England did adorn : The first in loftiness of thought surpass'd; The next, in majesty; in both the last. The force of Nature could no further go; To make a third, she join'd the former two: and a part of a Latin translation of it done at Oxford: he did not then say by whom. He received a card from Sir Alexander Gordon, who had been his acquaintance twenty years ago in London, and who, "if forgiven for not answering a line from him," would come in the afternoon. Dr. Johnson rejoiced to hear of him, and begged he would come and dine with us. I was much pleased to see the kindness with which Dr. Johnson received his old friend Sir Alexander; a gentleman of good family (Lismore), but who had not the estate. The King's College here made him Professor of Medicine, which affords him a decent subsistence. He told us that the value of the 1 London, 2d of May, 1778. Dr. Johnson acknowledged that he was himself the author of the translation above alluded to, and dictated it to me as follows: "Quos laudet vates Graius Romanus et Anglus Be stockings exported from Aberdeen was, in peace, a hundred thousand pounds; and amounted in time of war, to one hundred and seventy thousand pounds. Dr. Johnson asked what made the difference? Here we had a proof of the comparative sagacity of the two professors. Sir Alexander answered, cause there is more occasion for them in war." Professor Thomas Gordon answered, “Because the Germans, who are our great rivals in the manufacture of stockings, are otherwise employed in time of war." JOHNSON. "Sir, you have given a very good solution." At dinner, Dr. Johnson ate several platefuls of Scotch broth, with barley and peas in it, and seemed very fond of the dish. I said, "You never ate it before." JOHNSON. "No, Sir; but I don't care how soon I eat it again." My cousin, Miss Dallas, formerly of Inverness, was married to Mr. Riddoch, one of the ministers of the English chapel here. He was ill, and confined to his room; but she sent us a kind invitation to tea, which we all accepted. She was the same lively, sensible, cheerful woman, as ever. Dr. Johnson here threw out some jokes against Scotland. He said, "You go first to Aberdeen; then to Embru (the Scottish pronunciation of Edinburgh); then to Newcastle, to be polished by the colliers; then to York; then to London." And he laid hold of a little girl, Stuart Dallas, niece to Mrs. Riddoch, and, representing himself as a giant, said, he would take her with him! telling her, in a hollow voice, that he lived in a cave, and had a bed in the rock, and she should have a little bed cut opposite to it! He thus treated the point, as to prescription of murder in Scotland. "A jury in England would make allowance for deficiencies of evidence, on account of lapse of time: but a general rule that a crime should not be punished, or tried for the purpose of punishment, after twenty years, is bad. It is cant to talk of the king's advocate delaying a prosecution from malice. How unlikely is it the king's advocate should have malice against persons who commit murder, or should even know them at all. If the son of the murdered man should kill the murderer who got off merely by prescription, I would help him to make his escape; though, were I upon his jury, I would not acquit him. I would not advise him to commit such an act. On the contrary, I would bid him submit to the determination of society, because a man is bound to submit to the inconveniences of it, as he enjoys the good: but the young man, though politically wrong, would not be morally wrong. He would have to say, 'Here I am amongst barbarians, who not only refuse to do justice, but Sublime ingenium Graius; Romanus habebat 2 See antè, p. 270.- C. 290 He th SON. to me seey ladie Stan Sre he, pla the ap 6 292 BOSWELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON. sun, "the sun of righteousness." "a light to lighten the Gentiles; encourage the greatest of all crimes. I am I spoke of the satisfaction of Christ. He Dr. Johnson's to him, on his attempting "Who then to frail mortality shall trust. 66 of Christianity; for that, although a reveren for it shines through his works in severs places, that is not enough. I, "what Grotius has done, and what Addison has done, you should do also." I said, he should write expressly in support "I hope I shall." Professor Ross, visited us in the morning, as did Dr. Gerard 3, who had come six miles from the "You know," said Marischal College+, and at one o'clock we waited Monday, Aug. 23.-Principal Campbell, Sir Alexander Gordon, Professor Gordon, and invited us, in order to present Dr. Johnson with He replied, the freedom of the town, which Provost Jopp did with a very good grace. Dr. Johnson was country on purpose. We went and saw the much pleased with this mark of attention, and received it very politely. There was a on the magistrates in the town-hall, as they had numerous company assembled. It was striking to hear all of them drinking, "Dr. Johnson! Dr. Johnson!" in the town-hall of Aberdeen, and then to see him with his burgess-ticket, or diploma 5, in his hat, which he wore as he walked along the street, according to the usual custom. It gave me great satisfaction to obpretty done for us; as it removed the notion of im- informs me, that several divines have thus explained the My worthy, intelligent, and candid friend, Dr. Kippis, mediation of our Saviour. What Dr. Johnson now delivered was but a temporary opinion; for he afterwards was fully convinced of the propitiatory sacrifice, as I shall show at large in my future work, The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D." -BOSWELL. Dr. Kippis was a dissenter. Prayers and Meditations abundantly prove that he was, as far back as we have any record of his religious feelings, fully convinced of the propitiatory sacrifice. In the prayer on his birthday, in 1738 (transcribed by him in 1768), he expressly states his hope of salvation "through the satisfaction of Dr. Johnson's Jesus Christ." CROKER. -See his full opinion, sub June 3. 1781. 2 No doubt Mr. Langton. But see antè, p. 265., as to the 3 Dr. Alexander Gerard, author of an "Essay on Genius," præpositi, Adami Duff, Gulielmi Young, Georgii Marr, et 3 as he speaks, without thinking any more of what he throws out. When I read Warburton first, and observed his force, and his contempt of mankind, I thought he had driven the world before him; but I soon found that was not the case; for Warburton, by extending his abuse, rendered it ineffectual." e the regard, and, indeed, fondness too, ch every body here had for my father. While Sir Alexander Gordon conducted Dr. inson to Old Aberdeen, Professor Gordon 1 I called on Mr. Riddoch, whom I found De a grave worthy clergyman. He observed it, whatever might be said of Dr. Johnson ile he was alive, he would, after he was dead, He told me, when we were by ourselves, looked upon by the world with regard and that he thought it very wrong in the printer to tonishment, on account of his Dictionary. show Warburton's letter, as it was raising a Professor Gordon and I walked over to the body of enemies against him. He thought it d college, which Dr. Johnson had seen by foolish in Warburton to write so to the printer; is time. I stepped into the chapel, and looked and added, "Sir, the worst way of being int the tomb of the founder, Archbishop El-timate is by scribbling." He called Warbuton's hinston, of whom I shall have occasion to vrite in my History of James IV. of Scotland, he patron of my family.' We dined at Sir Alexander Gordon's. The provost, Professor Ross, Professor Dunbar, Professor Thomas Gordon, were there. After dinner came in Dr. Gerard, Professor Leslie, Professor Macleod. We had little or no conversation in the morning; now we were but barren. The professors seemed afraid to speak. Dr. Gerard told us that an eminent printer? was very intimate with Warburton. JOHNSON. Why, Sir, he has printed some of his works, and perhaps bought the property of some of them. The intimacy is such as one of the professors here may have with one of the carpenters who is repairing the college."-"But," said Gerard, "I saw a letter from him to this printer, in which he says, that the one half of the clergy of the Church of Scotland are fanatics, and the other half infidels." JOHNSON. "Warburton has accustomed himself to write letters just 66 rosus et doctrina clarus, Samuel Johnson, LL.D. receptus et admissus fuit in municipes et fratres guildæ præfati burgi de Aberdeen in deditissimi amoris et affectus ac eximiæ observantiæ tesseram, quibus dicti magistratus eum amplectuntur. Extractum per me, Alex. Carnegie."- BOSWELL. This, like many similar intimations scattered through these volumes, does not appear to have been carried into effect. Nor is Elphinston's designation as arch-bishop corAberdeen never was an archiepiscopal see. - CROKER. 2 Mr. Strahan. See Forbes's Life of Beattie, vol. ii. p. 170. -CROKER rect. 3 Had-for would have. This turn is seldom used in prose. CROKER. 4 All this, as Dr. Johnson suspected at the time, was the immediate invention of his own lively imagination; for there is not one word of it in Mr. Locke's complimentary performance. My readers will, I have no doubt, like to be satisfied, by comparing them; and, at any rate, it may entertain them to read verses composed by our great metaphysician, when a bachelor in physic. AUCTORI, IN TRACTATUM EJUS DE FEBRIBUS. Quum post mille artes, medicæ tentamina curæ, Præda sumus flammis; solum hoc speramus ab igne, Qui tardos potuit morbos, artusque trementes, Sic faber exesos fulsit tibicine muros; "Doctrine of Grace a poor performance, and so, he said, was Wesley's Answer. "Warburton," he observed, "had laid himself very open. In particular, he was weak enough to say, that, in some disorders of the imagination, people had spoken with tongues, had spoken languages which they never heard before; a thing as absurd as to say, that in some disorders of the imagination, people had been known to fly." I talked of the difference of genius, to try if I could engage Gerard in a disquisition with Dr. Johnson; but I did not succeed. I mentioned, as a curious fact, that Locke had written verses. JOHNSON. "I know of none, Sir, but a kind of exercise prefixed to Dr. Sydenham's Works, in which he has some conceits about the dropsy, in which water and burning are united; and how Dr. Sydenham removed fire by drawing off water, contrary to the usual practice, which is to extinguish fire by bringing water upon it. I am not sure that there is a word of all this; but it is such kind of talk." 4 Se tandem Sydenham febrisque scholæque furori Jam secura suas foveant præcordia flammas, J. LOCK, A. M. Ex. Æde Christ. Oron.- BOSWELL. Mr. Boswell says, that Dr. Johnson's observation was "the immediate invention of his own lively imagination; and that there was "not one word of it in Mr. Locke's per 3 CHAPTER XXXIV. 1773. We spoke of Fingal. Dr. Johnson said calmly, "If the poems were really translated, they were certainly first written down. Let Mr. Macpherson deposit the manuscript in one of the colleges at Aberdeen, where there are people who can judge; and, if the professors Ellon." The Great Doctor."- Goldsmith certify the authenticity, then there will be an end of the controversy. If he does not take this obvious and easy method, he gives the best reason to doubt; considering, too, how much is against it à priori." We sauntered after dinner in Sir Alexander's garden, and saw his little grotto, which is hung with pieces of poetry written in a fair hand. It was agreeable to observe the contentment and kindness of this quiet, benevolent man. Professor Macleod was brother to Macleod of Talisker, and brother-in-law to the Laird of Col. He gave me a letter to young Col. I was weary of this day, and began to think wishfully of being again in motion. I was uneasy to think myself too fastidious, whilst I fancied Dr. Johnson quite satisfied. But he owned to me, that he was fatigued and teased by Sir Alexander's doing too much to entertain him. I said, it was all kindness. JOHNSON. "True, Sir; but sensation is sensation." Bos"It is so we feel pain equally from the surgeon's probe, as from the sword of the WELL. foe." We visited two booksellers' shops, and could not find Arthur Johnston's Poems. We went and sat near an hour at Mr. Riddoch's. He could not tell distinctly how much education at the college here costs, which disgusted Dr. Johnson. I had pledged myself, that we should go to the inn, and not stay supper. They pressed us, but he was resolute. I saw Mr. Riddoch did not please him. He said to me, afterwards, "Sir, he has no vigour in his talk." But my friend should have considered, that he himself was not in good humour: so that it was not easy to talk to his satisfaction. We sat contentedly at our inn. He then became merry, and observed how little we had either heard or said at Aberdeen; that the Aberdonians had not started a single mawkin (the Scottish word for hare) for us to pursue. formance; " but did Mr. Boswell read the verses? or what did he understand by "Nec fictus, febres qui fovet, humor erit?" and "Si fallax ardeat intus aqua ? Surely these are the conceits, though not the precise expressions, which Johnson censured, and the whole is made up of the same "kind of talk."-CROKER. Johnston is one of the most eminent men that Aberdeen has produced. He was a native of the county (born about 1587), and rector of the university. His works were origi Slains Castle. Lady Errol. Buller of Buchan. and House of Peers. Sir Joshua Rey Earl of Errol. Feudal Times. Graham. Scenery of Macbeth. Fores. Leonidas. Paul Whitehead. Derrick. Calder Castle.. Kenneth M'Aulay. - EcclesiasFamily Worship. Tuesday, August 24.-We set out about eight in the morning, and breakfasted at Ellon. The landlady said to me, "Is not this the great doctor that is going about through the country ?" I said, “Yes." "Ay," said she, "we heard of him; I made an errand into the room great in his appearance: it is a pleasure to on purpose to see him. There's something have such a man in one's house; a man who does so much good. If I had thought of it, I would have shown him a child of mine, who has had a lump on his throat for some time." "But," said I, "he is not a doctor of physic." "Is he an oculist?" said the landlord. 66 "No," said I; "he is only a very learned man.' LANDLORD. "They say he is the greatest man in England, except Lord Mansfield." Dr. Johnson was highly entertained with this, and I do think he was pleased too. He said, "I like the exception. To have called me the greatest man in England, would have been an unmeaning compliment; but the exception marked that the praise was in earnest, and, in Scotland, the exception must be Lord Mansfield, or- -Sir John Pringle." He told me a good story of Dr. Goldsmith. Graham, who wrote "Telemachus, a Masque," son, and was half drunk. He rattled away to was sitting one night with him and Dr. JohnDr. Johnson. "You are a clever fellow, to be sure; but you cannot write an essay like Addison, or verses like the Rape of the Lock." At last he said, "Doctor, I should be happy to see you at Eton." 2 "I shall be glad to wait on you," answered Goldsmith. "No," said Graham, "'t is not you I mean, Dr. Minor; 't is Dr. Major, there." Goldsmith was excessively hurt by this. He afterwards spoke of it himself. "Graham," said he, "is a fellow to make one commit suicide."3 nally printed at Aberdeen; and their not being to be found in that seat of learning, to which he did so much honour, is strange. But such things sometimes happen. In Haarlem, the cradle of the art of printing, I could not find a guide book for the town. - CROKER. 2 Graham was one of the masters at Eton. - Croker. 3 I am sure I have related this story exactly as Dr. Johnson told it to me; but a friend who has often heard him tell it, informs me, that he usually introduced a circumstance |