not be gay. There is a serene, solemn, placid old age. JOHNSON: 'Mrs. Thrale's mother said of me what flattered me much. A clergyman was complaining of want of society in the country where he lived, and said, "They talk of runts;" that is, young cows. "Sir," said Mrs. Salusbury, "Mr. Johnson would learn to talk of runts," meaning that I was a man who would make the most of my situation, whatever it was.' He added, I think myself a very polite man.'

companionable) was beginning to dissent as to the proscription of claret. JOHNSON (with a placid smile): 'Nay, sir, you shall not differ with me; as I have said that the man is most perfect who takes in the most things, I am for knowledge and claret.' ROBERTSON (holding a glass of generous claret in his hand): Sir, I can only drink your health.' JOHNSON: 'Sir, I should be sorry if you should be ever in such a state as to be able to do nothing more.' ROBERTSON: Dr. Johnson, allow me to say, that in one respect I have the advantage of you. When you were in Scotland you would not come to hear any of our preachers, whereas, when I am here, I attend your public worship without scruple, and, indeed, with great satisfaction.' JOHNSON: Why, sir, that is not so extra-it, except that there were several people there ordinary; the King of Siam sent ambassadors to Louis the Fourteenth; but Louis the Fourteenth sent none to the King of Siam.'1

Here my friend for once discovered a want of knowledge or forgetfulness; for Louis the Fourteenth did send an embassy to the King of Siam, and the Abbé Choisi, who was employed in it, published an account of it in two volumes.

Next day, Thursday, April 30, I found him at home by himself. JOHNSON: "Well, sir, Ramsay gave us a splendid dinner. I love Ramsay. You will not find a man in whose conversation there is more instruction, more information, and more elegance than in Ramsay's.' BosWELL: 'What I admire in Ramsay, is his continuing to be so young.' JOHNSON: 'Why, yes, sir, it is to be admired. I value myself upon this, that there is nothing of the old man in my conversation. I am now sixty-eight, and I have no more of it than at twenty-eight.' BosWELL: But, sir, would not you wish to know old age? He who is never an old man, does not know the whole of human life; for old age is one of the divisions of it.' JOHNSON: 'Nay, sir, what talk is this?' BOSWELL: I mean, sir, the Sphinx's description of it-morning, noon, and night. I would know night, as well as morning and noon.' JOHNSON: What, sir, would you know what it is to feel the evils of old age? Would you have the gout? Would you have decrepitude?' Seeing him heated, I would not argue further; but I was confident that I was in the right. I would in due time be a Nestor, an elder of the people; and there should be some difference between the conversation of twentyeight and sixty-eight. A grave picture should

3

1 Mrs. Piozzi confidently mentions this as having passed in Scotland. Anecdotes, p. 92.-BOSWELL.

2 The Abbé de Choisi was sent by Louis XIV. on an embassy to the King of Siam in 1653 with a view, it has been said, to convert the King of that country to Christianity.-MALONE.

3 Johnson clearly meant (what the author has often elsewhere mentioned) that he had none of the listlessness of old age, that he had the same activity and energy of mind as formerly; not that a man of sixty

On Saturday, May 2, I dined with him at Sir Joshua Reynolds's, where there was a very large company, and a great deal of conversation; but owing to some circumstances which I cannot now recollect, I have no record of any part of

by no means of the Johnsonian school; so that less attention was paid to him than usual, which put him out of humour; and upon some imaginary offence from me, he attacked me with such rudeness, that I was vexed and angry, because it gave those persons an opportunity of enlarging upon his supposed ferocity, and ill: treatment of his best friends. I was so much hurt, and had my pride so much roused, that I kept away from him for a week; and perhaps might have kept away much longer, nay, gone to Scotland without seeing him again, had not we fortunately met and been reconciled. To such unhappy chances are human friendships liable!

On Friday, May 8, I dined with him at Mr. Langton's. I was reserved and silent, which I supposed he perceived, and might recollect the cause. After dinner, when Mr. Langton was called out of the room, and we were by ourselves, he drew his chair near to mine, and said, in a tone of conciliating courtesy, 'Well, how have you done?' BOSWELL: 'Sir, you have made me very uneasy by your behaviour to me when we were last at Sir Joshua Reynolds's. You know, my dear sir, no man has a greater respect and affection for you, or would sooner go to the end of the world to serve you. Now, to treat me so-' He insisted that I had interrupted him, which I assured him was not the case; and proceeded, 'But why treat me so

eight might dance in a public assembly with as much propriety as he could at twenty-eight. His conver sation, being the product of much various knowledge; great acuteness, and extraordinary wit, was equally well suited to every period of life; and as in his youth it probably did not exhibit any unbecoming levity, so certainly in his later years it was totally free from the garrulity and querulousness of old age.-MALONE.

Such is the signification of this word in Scotland, and it should seem in Wales. (See Skinner in v.) But the heifers of Scotland and Wales, when brought to England, being always smaller than those of this country, the word runt has acquired a secondary sense, and generally signifies a heifer diminutive in size, small beyond the ordinary growth of that animal; and in this sense alone the word is acknowledged by Dr. Johnson in his Dictionary.-MALONE.

before people who neither love you nor me?' JOHNSON: "Well, I am sorry for it. I'll make it up to you twenty different ways, as you please.' BOSWELL: 'I said to-day to Sir Joshua, when he observed that you tossed me sometimes, I don't care how often, or how high he tosses me, when only friends are present, for then I fall upon soft ground; but I do not like falling on stones, which is the case when enemies are present. I think this is a pretty good image, sir.' JOHNSON: 'Sir, it is one of the happiest I ever have heard.'

The truth is, there was no venom in the wounds which he inflicted at any time, unless they were irritated by some malignant infusion by other hands. We were instantly as cordial again as ever, and joined in hearty laugh at some ludicrous but innocent peculiarities of one of our friends. BOSWELL: 'Do you think, sir, it is always culpable to laugh at a man to his face?' JOHNSON: 'Why, sir, that depends upon the man and the thing. If it is a slight man, and a slight thing, you may; for you take nothing valuable from him.'

they have not an alphabet. They have not been able to form what all other nations have formed.' BOSWELL: There is more learning in their language than in any other, from the immense number of their characters.' JOHNSON: It is only more difficult from its rudeness; as there is more labour in hewing down a tree with a stone than with an axe.'

He said, 'I have been reading Lord Kaimes's Sketches of the History of Man. In treating of severity of punishment, he mentions that of Madame Lapouchin, in Russia; but he does not give it fairly; for I have looked at Chappe d'Auteroche, from whom he has taken it. He stops where it is said that the spectators thought her innocent, and leaves out what followsthat she nevertheless was guilty. Now this is being as culpable as one can conceive, to misrepresent fact in a book; and for what motive? It is like one of those lies which people tell, one cannot see why. The woman's life was spared, and no punishment was too great for the favourite of an Empress who had conspired to dethrone her mistress.' BOSWELL: 'He was only giving a picture of the lady in her sufferJOHNSON: Nay, don't endeavour to palliate this. Guilt is a principal feature in the picture.Kaimes is puzzled with a question that puzzled me when I was a very young man. Why is it that the interest of money is lower when money is plentiful; for five pounds has the same proportion of value to a hundred pounds when money is plentiful as when it is scarce? A lady explained it to me. "It is," said she, "because when money is plentiful there are so many more who have money to lend, that they bid down one another. Many have then a hundred pounds; and one says, Take mine rather than another's, and you shall have it at four per cent." BOSWELL: 'Does Lord Kaimes decide the question?' JOHNSON: 'I think he leaves it as he found it.' BOSWELL:

He said, 'I read yesterday Dr. Blair's Sermon on Devotion, from the text "Cornelius, a devoutings.' man." His doctrine is the best limited, the best expressed; there is the most warmth without fanaticism, the most rational transport. There is one part of it which I disapprove, and I'd have him correct it; which is, that, "he who does not feel joy in religion is far from the kingdom of heaven!" There are many good men whose fear of GOD predominates over their love. It may discourage. It was rashly said. A noble sermon it is, indeed. I wish Blair would come over to the Church of England.'

When Mr. Langton returned to us, the 'flow of talk' went on. An eminent author being mentioned :-JOHNSON: 'He is not a pleasant man. His conversation is neither instructive nor brilliant. He does not talk as if impelled by any fulness of knowledge or vivacity of imagination. His conversation is like that of any other sensible man. He talks with no wish either to inform or to hear, but only because he thinks it does not become [Dr. Robertson] to sit in a company and say nothing.'

Mr. Langton having repeated the anecdote of Addison having distinguished between his powers in conversation and in writing, by saying, 'I have only ninepence in my pocket; but I can draw for a thousand pounds;'-JOHNSON: 'He had not that retort ready, sir; he had prepared it beforehand.' LANGTON (turning to me): A fine surmise. Set a thief to catch a thief.'

Johnson called the East Indians barbarians. BOSWELL: You will except the Chinese, sir?' JOHNSON: 'No, sir.' BOSWELL: 'Have they not arts?' JOHNSON: They have pottery.' BOSWELL: What do you say to the written characters of their language?' JOHNSON: 'Sir,

This must have been an extraordinary lady who instructed you, sir. May I ask who she was?' JOHNSON: Molly Aston, sir, the sister

to.

1 Author of Voyage en Sibérie, which is here alluded

2 Johnson had an extraordinary admiration of this In lady, notwithstanding she was a violent Whig. answer to her high-flown speeches for Liberty, he addressed to her the following epigram, of which I presume to offer a translation:

'Liber ut esse velim, suasisti, pulcra Maria,
Ut maneam liber, pulera Maria, vale.'
(Adieu, Maria! since you'd have me free;
For who beholds thy charms a slave must be.)

A correspondent of The Gentleman's Magazine, who subscribes himself SCIOLUS, to whom I am indebted for several excellent remarks, observes: The turn of Dr.

Johnson's lines to Miss Aston, whose Whig principles from an ingenious epigram in The Menagiana (vol. iii. he had been combating, appears to me to be taken

p. 367, ed. 1716), on a young lady who appeared at a masquerade habillé en Jesuite, during the fierce con

:

In this observation I fully concurred with him; for unquestionably all the Peers are vested with | the highest judicial powers, and when they are confident that they understand a cause, are not obliged-nay, ought not-to acquiesce in the opinion of the ordinary law judges, or even in that of those who, from their studies and experience, are called the law lords. I consider the Peers in general as I do a jury, who ought to

the law; but if, after hearing them, they have a firm opinion of their own, are bound as honest men to decide accordingly. Nor is it so difficult for them to understand even law questions, as is generally thought, provided they will bestow sufficient attention upon them. This observation was made by my honoured relation the late Lord Cathcart, who had spent his life in camps and courts; yet he assured me that he could form a clear opinion upon most of the causes that came before the House of Lords, 'as they were so well enucleated in the cases.'

Mrs. Thrale told us that a curious clergyman of our acquaintance had discovered a licentious stanza, which Pope had originally in his Universal Prayer, before the stanza,

bade me tell you he has a great respect for you, and will call on you to-morrow at one o'clock, and communicate all he knows about Pope.' Here I paused in full expectation that he would be pleased with this intelligence, would praise my active merit, and would be alert to embrace such an offer from a nobleman. But whether I had shown an over-exultation, which provoked his spleen, or whether he was seized with a suspicion that I had obtruded him on Lord March-listen with respectful attention to the sages of mont, and humbled him too much, or whether there was anything more than an unlucky fit of ill-humour, I know not; but, to my surprise, the result was-JOHNSON: 'I shall not be in town to-morrow. I don't care to know about Pope.' MRS. THRALE (surprised as I was, and a little angry) I suppose, sir, Mr. Boswell thought that as you are to write Pope's Life, you would wish to know about him.' JOHNSON: Wish! why yes. If it rained knowledge, I'd hold out my hand; but I would not give myself the trouble to go in quest of it.' There was no arguing with him at the moment. Some time afterwards he said, 'Lord Marchmont will call on me, and then I shall call on Lord Marchmont.' Mrs. Thrale was uneasy at his unaccountable caprice, and told me that if I did not take care to bring about a meeting between Lord Marchmont and him, it would never take place, which would be a great pity. I sent a card to his Lordship, to be left at Johnson's house, acquainting him that Dr. Johnson could not be in town next day, but would do himself the honour of waiting on him at another time. I give this account fairly, as a specimen of that unhappy temper with which this great and good man had occasionally to struggle, from something morbid in his constitution. Let the most censorious of my readers suppose himself to have a violent fit of the toothache, or to have received a severe stroke or the shin-bone, and when in such a state to be asked a question, and if he has any candour he will not be surprised at the answers which Johnson sometimes gave in moments of irritation, which, let me assure them, is exquisitely painful. But it must not be erroneously supposed that he was, in the smallest degree, careless concerning any work which he undertook, or that he was generally thus peevish. It will be seen that in the following year he had a very agreeable interview with Lord Marchmont, at his Lordship's house, and this very afternoon he soon forgot any fretfulness, and fell into conversation as usual.

I mentioned a reflection having been thrown out against four Peers for having presumed to rise in opposition to the opinion of the twelve judges, in a cause in the House of Lords, as if that were indecent. JOHNSON: 'Sir, there is no ground for censure. The Peers are judges themselves, and supposing them really to be of a different opinion, they might from duty be in opposition to the judges, who were there only to be consulted.'

'What conscience dictates to be done,
Or warns us not to do,' etc.

It was this

'Can sins of moment claim the rod

Of everlasting fires?

And that offend great Nature's GOD,
Which Nature's self inspires?'

and that Dr. Johnson observed, 'It had been bor-
rowed from Guarini.' There are, indeed, in Pastor
Fido, many such flimsy superficial reasonings

as that in the last two lines of this stanza.

MRS.

BOSWELL: In that stanza of Pope's, "rod of fires" is certainly a bad metaphor.' THRALE: And "sins of moment" is a faulty expression; for its true import is momentous, which cannot be intended.' JOHNSON: 'It must have written "of moments." Of moment is momentous; of moments, momentary. I warrant you, however, Pope wrote this stanza, and some friend struck it out. Boileau wrote some such thing, and Arnaud struck it out, saying, “Vous gagnerez deux ou trois impies, et perdrez je ne sais combien des honnêtes gens." These fellows want to say a daring thing, and don't know how to go about it. Mere poets know no more of fundamental principles than-' Here he was interrupted somehow. Mrs. Thrale mentioned Dryden. JOHNSON: 'He puzzled himself about predestination. How foolish it was in Pope to give all his friendship to lords, who thought they honoured him by being with him; and to choose such lords as Burlington, and Cobham, and Bolingbroke! Bathurst was negative, a pleasing man; and I have heard no ill of Marchmont; and then always saying, I do not value you for being a lord, which was a sure proof that he did. I never say I do not value Boswell

Talking of divorces, I asked if Othello's doc- where about St. Paul's they lost him. He came trine was not plausible:

'He that is robb'd, not wanting what is stolen,

back, and said he had delivered the message, and the women exclaimed, "Then we are all undone!" Dr. Pellet, who was not a credulous man, inquired into the truth of this story, and he said the evidence was irresistible. My wife went to the Hummums (it is a place where people get themselves cupped). I believe she went with intention to hear about this story of Ford. At first they were unwilling to tell her; but after they had talked to her, she came away satisfied that it was true. To be sure the man had a fever, and this vision may have been the beginning of it. But if the message to the women, and their behaviour upon it, were true as related, there was something supernatural. That rests upon his word, and there it remains.'

Let him not know't, and he's not robb'd at all.' Dr. Johnson and Mrs. Thrale joined against this. JOHNSON: Ask any man if he'd wish not to know of such an injury.' BOSWELL: Would you tell your friend to make him unhappy?' JOHNSON: Perhaps, sir, I should not; but that would be from prudence on my own account. A man would tell his father.' BosWELL: Yes; because he would not have spurious children to get any share of the family inheritance.' MRS. THRALE: 'Or he would tell his brother.' BOSWELL: Certainly his elder brother.' JOHNSON: 'You would tell your friend of a woman's infamy, to prevent his marrying a prostitute. There is the same reason to tell him of his wife's infidelity, when he is married, to prevent the consequences of imposi-nolds's argument on the preceding Sunday, that tion. It is a breach of confidence not to tell a friend.' BOSWELL: 'Would you tell Mr. -?' (naming a gentleman who assuredly was not in the least danger of such a miserable disgrace, though married to a fine woman.) JOHNSON: 'No, sir; because it would do no good; he is so sluggish, he'd never go to Parliament and get through a divorce.'

He said of one of our friends, ‘He is ruining himself without pleasure. A man who loses at play, or who runs out his fortune at court, makes his estate less, in hopes of making it bigger (I am sure of this word, which was often used by him): but it is a sad thing to pass through the quagmire of parsimony to the gulf of ruin. To pass over the flowery path of extravagance is very well.'

After Mrs. Thrale was gone to bed, Johnson and I sat up late. We resumed Sir Joshua Rey

a man would be virtuous though he had no other motive than to preserve his character. JOHNSON: 'Sir, it is not true; for, as to this world, vice does not hurt a man's character.' BosWELL: 'Yes, sir, debauching a friend's wife will.' JOHNSON: 'No, sir. Who thinks the worse of [Beauclerk] for it?' BOSWELL: 'Lord [Bolingbroke] was not his friend.' JOHNSON: That is only a circumstance, sir, a slight distinction. He could not get into the house but by Lord [Bolingbroke]. A man is chosen knight of the shire, not the less for having debauched ladies.' BOSWELL: 'What, sir, if he debauched the ladies of gentlemen in the county, will there not be a general resentment against him?' JOHNSON: No, sir, he will lose those particular gentlemen; but the rest will not trouble their heads about it' (warmly). BOSWELL: 'Well, sir, I cannot think so.' JOHNSON: 'Nay, sir, there is no talking with a man who will dispute what everybody knows (angrily). Don't you know this?' BOSWELL: 'No, sir; and I wish to think better of your country than you

Amongst the numerous prints pasted on the walls of the dining-room at Streatham was Hogarth's Modern Midnight Conversation.'I asked him what he knew of Parson Ford, who makes a conspicuous figure in the riotous group. JOHNSON: 'Sir, he was my acquaintance and relation, my mother's nephew. He had pur-represent it. I knew in Scotland a gentleman chased a living in the country, but not simoniacally. I never saw him but in the country. I have been told he was a man of great parts; very profligate, but I never heard he was impious.' BOSWELL: Was there not a story of his ghost having appeared?' JOHNSON: 'Sir, it was believed. A waiter at the Hummums, in which house Ford died, had been absent for some time, and returned, not knowing that Ford was dead. Going down to the cellar, according to the story, he met him; going down again, he met him a second time. When he came up he

obliged to leave it for debauching a lady, and in one of our counties an earl's brother lost his election, because he had debauched the lady of another earl in that county, and destroyed the peace of a noble family.'

Still he would not yield. He proceeded: Will you not allow, sir, that vice does not hurt a man's character so as to obstruct his prosperity in life, when you know that [Lord Clive] was loaded with wealth and honours; a man who had acquired his fortune by such crimes, that his consciousness of them impelled