course. Let a man give application; and depend upon it he will soon getabove a despicable state of helplessness, and attain the power of actingfor himself.'On Saturday, April 7, I dined with him at Mr. Hoole's with GovernourBouchier and Captain Orme, both of whom had been long in theEast-Indies; and being men of good sense and observation, were veryentertaining. Johnson defended the oriental regulation of different_casts_ of men, which was objected to as totally destructive of thehopes of rising in society by personal merit. He shewed that there was a_principle_ in it sufficiently plausible by analogy. 'We see (said he)in metals that there are different species; and so likewise in animals,though one species may not differ very widely from another, as in thespecies of dogs,--the cur, the spaniel, the mastiff. The Bramins are themastiffs of mankind.'On Thursday, April 12, I dined with him at a Bishop's, where were SirJoshua Reynolds, Mr. Berrenger, and some more company. He had dined theday before at another Bishop's. I have unfortunately recorded none ofhis conversation at the Bishop's where we dined together[288]: but Ihave preserved his ingenious defence of his dining twice abroad inPassion-week[289]; a laxity, in which I am convinced he would not haveindulged himself at the time when he wrote his solemn paper in _TheRambler_[290], upon that aweful season. It appeared to me, that bybeing much more in company, and enjoying more luxurious living, he hadcontracted a keener relish of pleasure, and was consequently lessrigorous in his religious rites. This he would not acknowledge; but hereasoned with admirable sophistry, as follows: 'Why, Sir, a Bishop'scalling company together in this week is, to use the vulgar phrase, not_the thing_. But you must consider laxity is a bad thing; butpreciseness is also a bad thing; and your general character may be morehurt by preciseness than by dining with a Bishop in Passion-week. Theremight be a handle for reflection. It might be said, 'He refused to dinewith a Bishop in Passion-week, but was three Sundays absent fromChurch.' BOSWELL. 'Very true, Sir. But suppose a man to be uniformly ofgood conduct, would it not be better that he should refuse to dine witha Bishop in this week, and so not encourage a bad practice by hisexample?' JOHNSON. 'Why, Sir, you are to consider whether you might notdo more harm by lessening the influence of a Bishop's character by yourdisapprobation in refusing him, than by going to him.'TO MRS. LUCY PORTER, IN LICHFIELD.'DEAR MADAM,'Life is full of troubles. I have just lost my dear friend Thrale. Ihope he is happy; but I have had a great loss. I am otherwise prettywell. I require some care of myself, but that care is not ineffectual;and when I am out of order, I think it often my own fault.'The spring is now making quick advances. As it is the season in whichthe whole world is enlivened and invigorated, I hope that both you and Ishall partake of its benefits. My desire is to see Lichfield; but beingleft executor to my friend, I know not whether I can be spared; but Iwill try, for it is now long since we saw one another, and how little wecan promise ourselves many more interviews, we are taught by hourlyexamples of mortality. Let us try to live so as that mortality may notbe an evil. Write to me soon, my dearest; your letters will give megreat pleasure.'I am sorry that Mr. Porter has not had his box; but by sending it toMr. Mathias, who very readily undertook its conveyance, I did the best Icould, and perhaps before now he has it.'Be so kind as to make my compliments to my friends; I have a greatvalue for their kindness, and hope to enjoy it before summer is past. Dowrite to me. I am, dearest love,'Your most humble servant,'SAM. JOHNSON.''London, April 12, 1781.'On Friday, April 13, being Good-Friday, I went to St. Clement's churchwith him as usual. There I saw again his old fellow-collegian,Edwards[291], to whom I said, 'I think, Sir, Dr. Johnson and you meetonly at Church.'--'Sir, (said he,) it is the best place we can meet in,except Heaven, and I hope we shall meet there too.' Dr. Johnson told me,that there was very little communication between Edwards and him, aftertheir unexpected renewal of acquaintance. 'But (said he, smiling) he metme once, and said, "I am told you have written a very pretty book called_The Rambler_." I was unwilling that he should leave the world in totaldarkness, and sent him a set.'Mr. Berrenger[292] visited him to-day, and was very pleasing. We talkedof an evening society for conversation at a house in town, of which wewere all members, but of which Johnson said, 'It will never do, Sir.There is nothing served about there, neither tea, nor coffee, norlemonade, nor any thing whatever; and depend upon it, Sir, a man doesnot love to go to a place from whence he comes out exactly as he wentin.' I endeavoured, for argument's sake, to maintain that men oflearning and talents might have very good intellectual society, withoutthe aid of any little gratifications of the senses. Berrenger joinedwith Johnson, and said, that without these any meeting would be dull andinsipid. He would therefore have all the slight refreshments; nay, itwould not be amiss to have some cold meat, and a bottle of wine upon aside-board. 'Sir, (said Johnson to me, with an air of triumph,) Mr.Berrenger knows the world. Every body loves to have good thingsfurnished to them without any trouble. I told Mrs. Thrale once, that asshe did not choose to have card tables, she should have a profusion ofthe best sweetmeats, and she would be sure to have company enough cometo her[293].' I agreed with my illustrious friend upon this subject;for it has pleased GOD to make man a composite animal, and where thereis nothing to refresh the body, the mind will languish.On Sunday, April 15, being Easter-day, after solemn worship in St.Paul's church, I found him alone; Dr. Scott of the Commons came in. Hetalked of its having been said that Addison wrote some of his bestpapers in _The Spectator_ when warm with wine[294]. Dr. Johnson did notseem willing to admit this. Dr. Scott, as a confirmation of it, related,that Blackstone, a sober man, composed his _Commentaries_ with a bottleof port before him; and found his mind invigorated and supported in thefatigue of his great work, by a temperate use of it[295].I told him, that in a company where I had lately been, a desire wasexpressed to know his authority for the shocking story of Addison'ssending an execution into Steele's house[296]. 'Sir, (said he,) it isgenerally known, it is known to all who are acquainted with the literaryhistory of that period. It is as well known, as that he wrote _Cato_.'Mr. Thomas Sheridan once defended Addison to me, by alledging that hedid it in order to cover Steele's goods from other creditors, who weregoing to seize them.We talked of the difference between the mode of education at Oxford,and that in those Colleges where instruction is chiefly conveyed bylectures[297]. JOHNSON. 'Lectures were once useful; but now, when allcan read, and books are so numerous, lectures are unnecessary. If yourattention fails, and you miss a part of a lecture, it is lost; youcannot go back as you do upon a book.' Dr. Scott agreed with him. 'Butyet (said I), Dr. Scott, you yourself gave lectures at Oxford[298].' Hesmiled. 'You laughed (then said I) at those who came to you.'Dr. Scott left us, and soon afterwards we went to dinner. Our companyconsisted of Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Desmoulins, Mr. Levett, Mr. Allen, theprinter, and Mrs. Hall[299], sister of the Reverend Mr. John Wesley, andresembling him, as I thought, both in figure and manner. Johnsonproduced now, for the first time, some handsome silver salvers, which hetold me he had bought fourteen years ago; so it was a great day. I wasnot a little amused by observing Allen perpetually struggling to talk inthe manner of Johnson, like the little frog in the fable blowing himselfup to resemble the stately ox[300].I mentioned a kind of religious Robinhood Society[301], which met everySunday evening, at Coachmakers'-hall, for free debate; and that thesubject for this night was, the text which relates, with other miracles,which happened at our SAVIOUR'S death, 'And the graves were opened, andmany bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the gravesafter his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared untomany[302].' Mrs. Hall said it was a very curious subject, and she shouldlike to hear it discussed. JOHNSON, (somewhat warmly) 'One would not goto such a place to hear it,--one would not be seen in such a place--togive countenance to such a meeting.' I, however, resolved that I wouldgo. 'But, Sir, (said she to Johnson,) I should like to hear _you_discuss it.' He seemed reluctant to engage in it. She talked of theresurrection of the human race in general, and maintained that we shallbe raised with the same bodies. JOHNSON. 'Nay, Madam, we see that it isnot to be the same body; for the Scripture uses the illustration ofgrain sown, and we know that the grain which grows is not the same withwhat is sown[303]. You cannot suppose that we shall rise with a diseasedbody; it is enough if there be such a sameness as to distinguishidentity of person.' She seemed desirous of knowing more, but he leftthe question in obscurity.Of apparitions[304], he observed, 'A total disbelief of them is adverseto the opinion of the existence of the soul between death and the lastday; the question simply is, whether departed spirits ever have thepower of making themselves perceptible to us; a man who thinks he hasseen an apparition, can only be convinced himself; his authority willnot convince another, and his conviction, if rational, must be foundedon being told something which cannot be known but by supernatural means.'He mentioned a thing as not unfrequent, of which I had never heardbefore,--being _called_, that is, hearing one's name pronounced by thevoice of a known person at a great distance, far beyond the possibilityof being reached by any sound uttered by human organs. 'An acquaintance,on whose veracity I can depend, told me, that walking home one eveningto Kilmarnock, he heard himself called from a wood, by the voice of abrother who had gone to America; and the next packet brought accounts ofthat brother's death.' Macbean[305] asserted that this inexplicable_calling_ was a thing very well known. Dr. Johnson said, that one day atOxford, as he was turning the key of his chamber, he heard his motherdistinctly call Sam. She was then at Lichfield; but nothing ensued[306].This phaenomenon is, I think, as wonderful as any other mysteriousfact, which many people are very slow to believe, or rather, indeed,reject with an obstinate contempt.Some time after this, upon his making a remark which escaped myattention, Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Hall were both together striving toanswer him. He grew angry, and called out loudly, 'Nay, when you bothspeak at once, it is intolerable.' But checking himself, and softening,he said, 'This one may say, though you _are_ ladies.' Then he brightenedinto gay humour, and addressed them in the words of one of the songs in_The Beggar's Opera_[307]:--'But two at a time there's no mortal can bear.''What, Sir, (said I,) are you going to turn Captain Macheath?' There wassomething as pleasantly ludicrous in this scene as can be imagined. Thecontrast between Macheath, Polly, and Lucy--and Dr. Samuel Johnson,blind, peevish Mrs. Williams, and lean, lank, preaching Mrs. Hall, wasexquisite.I stole away to Coachmakers'-hall, and heard the difficult text of whichwe had talked, discussed with great decency, and some intelligence, byseveral speakers. There was a difference of opinion as to the appearanceof ghosts in modern times, though the arguments for it, supported by Mr.Addison's authority[308], preponderated. The immediate subject of debatewas embarrassed by the _bodies_ of the saints having been said to rise,and by the question what became of them afterwards; did they returnagain to their graves? or were they translated to heaven? Only oneevangelist mentions the fact[309], and the commentators whom I havelooked at, do not make the passage clear. There is, however, no occasionfor our understanding it farther, than to know that it was one of theextraordinary manifestations of divine power, which accompanied the mostimportant event that ever happened.On Friday, April 20, I spent with him one of the happiest days that Iremember to have enjoyed in the whole course of my life. Mrs. Garrick,whose grief for the loss of her husband was, I believe, as sincere aswounded affection and admiration could produce, had this day, for thefirst time since his death, a select party of his friends to dine withher[310]. The company was Miss Hannah More, who lived with her, and whomshe called her Chaplain[311]; Mrs. Boscawen[312], Mrs. Elizabeth Carter,Sir Joshua Reynolds, Dr. Burney, Dr. Johnson, and myself. We foundourselves very elegantly entertained at her house in the Adelphi[313],where I have passed many a pleasing hour with him 'who gladdenedlife[314].' She looked well, talked of her husband with complacency, andwhile she cast her eyes on his portrait, which hung over thechimney-piece, said, that 'death was now the most agreeable object toher[315].' The very semblance of David Garrick was cheering. Mr.Beauclerk, with happy propriety, inscribed under that fine portrait ofhim, which by Lady Diana's kindness is now the property of my friend Mr.Langton, the following passage from his beloved Shakspeare:--'A merrier man,Within the limit of becoming mirth,I never spent an hour's talk withal.His eye begets occasion for his wit;For every object that the one doth catch,The other turns to a mirth-moving jest;Which his fair tongue (Conceit's expositor)Delivers in such apt and gracious words,That aged ears play truant at his tales,And younger hearings are quite ravished:So sweet and voluble is his discourse[316].'We were all in fine spirits; and I whispered to Mrs. Boscawen, 'Ibelieve this is as much as can be made of life.' In addition to asplendid entertainment, we were regaled with Lichfield ale[317], whichhad a peculiar appropriated value. Sir Joshua, and Dr. Burney, and I,drank cordially of it to Dr. Johnson's health; and though he would notjoin us, he as cordially answered, 'Gentlemen, I wish you all as well asyou do me.'The general effect of this day dwells upon my mind in fond remembrance;but I do not find much conversation recorded. What I have preservedshall be faithfully given.One of the company mentioned Mr. Thomas Hollis, the strenuous Whig, whoused to send over Europe presents of democratical books, with theirboards stamped with daggers and caps of liberty. Mrs. Carter said, 'Hewas a bad man. He used to talk uncharitably.' JOHNSON. 'Poh! poh! Madam;who is the worse for being talked of uncharitably? Besides, he was adull poor creature as ever lived: And I believe he would not have doneharm to a man whom he knew to be of very opposite principles to his own.I remember once at the Society of Arts, when an advertisement was to bedrawn up, he pointed me out as the man who could do it best. This, youwill observe, was kindness to me. I however slipt away, and escaped it.'Mrs. Carter having said of the same person, 'I doubt he was anAtheist[318].' JOHNSON. 'I don't know that. He might perhaps havebecome one, if he had had time to ripen, (smiling.) He might have_exuberated_ into an Atheist.'Sir Joshua Reynolds praised _Mudge's Sermons_[319]. JOHNSON. 'Mudge'sSermons are good, but not practical. He grasps more sense than he canhold; he takes more corn than he can make into meal; he opens a wideprospect, but it is so distant, it is indistinct. I love _Blair'sSermons_. Though the dog is a Scotchman, and a Presbyterian, and everything he should not be, I was the first to praise them[320]. Such was mycandour.' (smiling.) MRS. BOSCAWEN. 'Such his great merit to get thebetter of all your prejudices.' JOHNSON. 'Why, Madam, let us compoundthe matter; let us ascribe it to my candour, and his merit.'In the evening we had a large company in the drawing-room, severalladies, the Bishop of Killaloe, Dr. Percy, Mr. Chamberlayne[321], of theTreasury, &c. &c. Somebody said the life of a mere literary man couldnot be very entertaining. JOHNSON. 'But it certainly may. This is aremark which has been made, and repeated, without justice; why shouldthe life of a literary man be less entertaining than the life of anyother man? Are there not as interesting varieties in such a life[322]?As _a literary life_ it may be very entertaining.' BOSWELL. 'But it mustbe better surely, when it is diversified with a little active variety--such as his having gone to Jamaica; or--his having gone to theHebrides.' Johnson was not displeased at this.Talking of a very respectable authour, he told us a curious circumstancein his life, which was, that he had married a printer's devil. REYNOLDS.'A printer's devil, Sir! Why, I thought a printer's devil was a creaturewith a black face and in rags.' JOHNSON. 'Yes, Sir. But I suppose, hehad her face washed, and put clean clothes on her. (Then looking veryserious, and very earnest.) And she did not disgrace him; the woman hada bottom of good sense. The word _bottom_ thus introduced, was soludicrous when contrasted with his gravity, that most of us could notforbear tittering and laughing; though I recollect that the Bishop ofKillaloe kept his countenance with perfect steadiness, while Miss HannahMore slyly hid her face behind a lady's back who sat on the same setteewith her. His pride could not bear that any expression of his shouldexcite ridicule, when he did not intend it; he therefore resolved toassume and exercise despotick power, glanced sternly around, and calledout in a strong tone, 'Where's the merriment?' Then collecting himself,and looking aweful, to make us feel how he could impose restraint, andas it were searching his mind for a still more ludicrous word, he slowlypronounced, 'I say the _woman_ was _fundamentally_ sensible;' as if hehad said, hear this now, and laugh if you dare. We all sat composed asat a funeral[323].He and I walked away together; we stopped a little while by the rails ofthe Adelphi, looking on the Thames, and I said to him with some emotionthat I was now thinking of two friends we had lost, who once lived inthe buildings behind us, Beauclerk and Garrick. 'Ay, Sir, (said he,tenderly) and two such friends as cannot be supplied[324].'For some time after this day I did not see him very often, and of theconversation which I did enjoy, I am sorry to find I have preserved butlittle. I was at this time engaged in a variety of other matters, whichrequired exertion and assiduity, and necessarily occupied almost allmy time.One day having spoken very freely of those who were then in power, hesaid to me, 'Between ourselves, Sir, I do not like to give oppositionthe satisfaction of knowing how much I disapprove of the ministry.' Andwhen I mentioned that Mr. Burke had boasted how quiet the nation was inGeorge the Second's reign, when Whigs were in power, compared with thepresent reign, when Tories governed;--'Why, Sir, (said he,) you are toconsider that Tories having more reverence for government, will notoppose with the same violence as Whigs, who being unrestrained by thatprinciple, will oppose by any means.'This month he lost not only Mr. Thrale, but another friend, Mr. WilliamStrahan, Junior, printer, the eldest son of his old and constant friend,Printer to his Majesty.'TO MRS. STRAHAN.'DEAR MADAM,'The grief which I feel for the loss of a very kind friend is sufficientto make me know how much you suffer by the death of an amiable son; aman, of whom I think it may truly be said, that no one knew him who doesnot lament him. I look upon myself as having a friend, another friend,taken from me.'Comfort, dear Madam, I would give you if I could, but I know how littlethe forms of consolation can avail. Let me, however, counsel you not towaste your health in unprofitable sorrow, but go to Bath, and endeavourto prolong your own life; but when we have all done all that we can, onefriend must in time lose the other.'I am, dear Madam,'Your most humble servant,'SAM. JOHNSON.''April 23, 1781.'On Tuesday, May 8[325], I had the pleasure of again dining with him andMr. Wilkes, at Mr. Billy's[326]. No _negociation_ was now required tobring them together; for Johnson was so well satisfied with the formerinterview, that he was very glad to meet Wilkes again, who was this dayseated between Dr. Beattie and Dr. Johnson; (between _Truth_[327] and_Reason_, as General Paoli said, when I told him of it.) WILKES. 'I havebeen thinking, Dr. Johnson, that there should be a bill brought intoparliament that the controverted elections for Scotland should be triedin that country, at their own Abbey of Holy-Rood House, and not here;for the consequence of trying them here is, that we have an inundationof Scotchmen, who come up and never go back again. Now here is Boswell,who is come up upon the election for his own county, which will not lasta fortnight.' JOHNSON. 'Nay, Sir, I see no reason why they should betried at all; for, you know, one Scotchman is as good as another.'WILKES. 'Pray, Boswell, how much may be got in a year by an Advocate atthe Scotch bar?' BOSWELL. 'I believe two thousand pounds.' WlLKES. 'Howcan it be possible to spend that money in Scotland?' JOHNSON. 'Why, Sir,the money may be spent in England: but there is a harder question. Ifone man in Scotland gets possession of two thousand pounds, what remainsfor all the rest of the nation?' WILKES. 'You know, in the last war, theimmense booty which Thurot[328] carried off by the complete plunder ofseven Scotch isles; he re-embarked with _three and six-pence_.' Hereagain Johnson and Wilkes joined in extravagant sportive raillery uponthe supposed poverty of Scotland, which Dr. Beattie and I did not thinkit worth our while to dispute.The subject of quotation being introduced, Mr. Wilkes censured it aspedantry[329]. JOHNSON. 'No, Sir, it is a good thing; there is acommunity of mind in it. Classical quotation is the _parole_ of literarymen all over the world.' WlLKES. 'Upon the continent they all quote thevulgate Bible. Shakspeare is chiefly quoted here; and we quote alsoPope, Prior, Butler, Waller, and sometimes Cowley[330].'