sion." Here some question interrupted him, which is to be regretted, as he certainly would have pointed out and illustrated many circumstances of advantage, from being in a situation, where the powers of the mind are at once excited to vigorous exertion, and tempered by reverential

awe.

During all the time in which Dr. Johnson was employed in relating to the circle at sir Joshua Reynolds's the particulars of what passed between the king and him, Dr. Goldsmith remained unmoved upon a sofa at some distance, affecting not to join in the least in the eager curiosity of the company. He assigned as a reason for his gloom and seeming inattention, that he apprehended Johnson had relinquished his purpose of furnishing him with a prologue to his play, with the hopes of which he had been flattered; but it was strongly suspected that he was fretting with chagrin and envy at the singular honour Dr. Johnson had lately enjoyed. At length, the frankness and simplicity of his natural character prevailed. He sprung from the sofa, advanced to Johnson, and in a kind of flutter, from imagining himself in the situation which he had just been hearing described, exclaimed, "Well, you acquitted yourself in this conversation better than I should have done; for I should have bowed and stammered through the whole of it."

No. XVI.

CHARACTERS.

BOSWELL was first introduced to the acquaintance of Dr. Johnson at the house of T. Davies, formerly an actor, but then a bookseller, in `Russel-street, Covent-garden. In the course of the conversation, Johnson said, addressing himself to Davies, " What do you think of Garrick? He has refused me an order for the play for Miss Williams, because he knows the house will be full, and that an order would be worth three shillings." Eager to take any opening to get into conversation with him, he ventured to say, 66 O, sir, I cannot think Mr. Garrick would grudge such a trifle to you." "Sir," ́said he, with a stern look, "I have known David Garrick longer than you have done: and I know no right you have to talk to me on the subject." Boswell subjoins in a note: "That this was a momentary sally against Garrick there can be no doubt: for, at Johnson's desire, he had, some years before, given a benefit-night at his theatre to this very person, by which she had got two hundred pounds. Johnson, indeed, upon all other occasions, when I was in his company, praised the very liberal charity of Garrick. I once mentioned to him, 'It is observed, sir, that you attack Garrick yourself, but will suffer nobody else to do it.' JOHNSON,

6

smiling. Why, sir, that is true." "

Another time, talking of Garrick, he said: "He

is the first man in the world for sprightly conversation."

Of the master of the ceremonies at Bath he once said: "Derrick may do very well as long as he can outrun his character; but the moment his character gets up with him, it is all over.

It is, however, but just to record, that some years afterwards, when Boswell reminded him of this sarcasm, he said, "Well, but Derrick has now got a character that he need not run away from."

Of Goldsmith he observed: "Dr. Goldsmith is one of the first men we now have as an author, and he is a very worthy man too. He has been loose in his principles, but he is coming right."

Again: Sir, he is so much afraid of being unnoticed, that he often talks merely lest you should forget that he is in the company." BosWELL. "Yes, he stands forward." JOHNSON. "True, sir; but if a man is to stand forward, he should wish to do it not in an awkward posture, not in rags, not so as that he shall only be exposed to ridicule." BOSWELL." For my part I like very well to hear honest Goldsmith talk away carelessly." JOHNSON. "Why, yes, sir; but he should not like to hear himself."

And another time: "Goldsmith referred every thing to vanity; his virtues and his vices too were from that motive. He was not a social man. He never exchanged mind with you."

Dr. John Campbell, the celebrated political and biographical writer, being mentioned, Johnson said, "Campbell is a man of much knowledge, and has a good share of imagination. His Hermippus Redivivus' is very entertaining, as an account of

the Hermetic philosophy, and as furnishing a curious history of the extravagances of the human mind. If it were merely imaginary, it would be nothing at all. Campbell is not always rigidly careful of truth in his conversation; but I do not believe there is any thing of this carelessness in his books. Campbell is a good man, a pious man. I am afraid he has not been in the inside of a church for many years; but he never passes a church without pulling off his hat. This shows that he has good principles. I used to go pretty often to Campbell's on a Sunday evening, till I began to consider, that the shoals of Scotchmen who flocked about him might probably say, when any thing of mine was well done, Ay, ay, he has learnt this of Cawmell?”

Boswell expressed a desire to be acquainted with a lady who had been much talked of, and universally celebrated for extraordinary address and insinuation. JOHNSON."Never believe extraordinary characters which you hear of people: depend upon it, sir, they are exaggerated. You do not see one man shoot a great deal higher than another." Boswell mentioned Mr. Burke. JOHNSON." Yes; Burke is an extraordinary man. His stream of mind is perpetual." Johnson's high estimation of the talents of this gentleman was uniform from their early acquaintance. Sir Joshua Reynolds said, that when Mr. Burke was first elected a member of parliament, and sir John Hawkins expressed a wonder at his attaining a seat, Johnson replied, " Now we,

Warton tells, that Johnson said of him: "He is the richest author that ever grazed the common of literature."

who know Mr. Burke, know, that he will be one of the first men in the country."

Of Dr. Taylor of Ashbourne, Johnson said, “Taylor is a very sensible acute man, and has a strong mind he has great activity in some respects; and yet such a sort of indolence, that, if you should put a pebble upon his chimney-piece, you would find it there, in the same state, a year afterwards."

Talking of an acquaintance, distinguished for knowing an uncommon variety of miscellaneous articles both in antiquities and polite literature, he observed, "You know, sir, he runs about with little weight upon his mind." And talking of another very ingenious gentleman, who, from the warmth of his temper, was at variance with many of his acquaintance, and wished to avoid him, he said, "Sir, he leads the life of an outlaw."

Dr. Robertson expatiated on the character of a certain nobleman; that he was one of the strongestminded men that ever lived; that he would sit in company quite sluggish, while there was nothing to call forth his intellectual vigour; but the moment that any important subject was started, for instance, how this country is to be defended against a French invasion, he would rouse himself, and show his extraordinary talents with the most powerful ability and animation. JOHNSON." Yet this man cut his own throat. The true strong and sound mind is the mind that can embrace equally great things and small. Now I am told the king of Prussia will say to a servant, Bring me a bottle of such a wine, which came in such a year; it lies in such a corner of the cellars.' I would have a man great in great things, and elegant in little things." He