1777:

« Be so kind as to let me know how your time is to be distributed next autumn. I will meet you at Manchester, or where you please; but I wish you Ætat. 68. would complete your tour of the cathedrals, and come to Carline, and I will accompany you a part of the way homewards. I am ever

« Most faithfully yours,

“ JAMES BOSWELL.” To James Boswell, Esq. « DEAR SIR,

“ YOUR notion of the necessity of an yearly interview is very pleasing to both my vanity and tenderness. I shall, perhaps, come to Carlisle another year ; but my money has not held out so well as it used to do. I shall go to Alhbourne, and I purpose to make Dr. Taylor invite you. If you live awhile with me at his house, we shall have much time to ourselves, and our stay will be no expence to us or him. I shall leave London the 28th ; and after some stay at Oxford and Lichfield, shall probably come to Alhbourne about the end of your Session, but of all this you shall have notice. Be satisfied we will meet somewhere.

“ What passed between me and poor Dr. Dodd you shall know more fully when we meet.

“ Of lawsuits there is no end ; poor Sir Allan must have another trial, for which, however, his antagonist cannot be much blamed, having two judges on his side. I am more afraid of the debts than of the House of Lords. It is scarcely to be imagined to what debts will swell, that are daily encreasing by small additions, and how carelessly in a state of desperation debts are contracted. Poor Macquarry was far from thinking that when he fold his isands he should receive nothing. For what were they sold? And what was their yearly value? The admission of money into the Highlands will soon put an end to the feudal modes of life, by making those men landlords who were not chiefs., I do not know that the people will suffer by the change, but there was in the patriarchal authority something venerable and pleasing. Every eye must look with pain on a Campbell turning the Macquarries at will out of their fedes avitæ, their hereditary island.

« Sir Alexander Dick is the only Scotsman liberal enough not to be angry that I could not find trees, where trees were not. I was much delighted by his kind letter.

“ I remember Rasay with too much pleasure not to partake of the happiness of any part of that amiable family. Our ramble in the islands hangs

а

1777

a

upon my imagination, I can hardly help imagining that we fall go again. Aiat. 68. Pennant seems to have seen a great deal which we did not fee: When we travel

again let us look better about us.

“ You have done right in taking your unkle's house. Some change in
the form of life, gives from time to time a new epocha of existence. In a
new place there is something new to be done, and a different system of thoughts
rises in the mind. I wish I could gather currants in your garden. Now fit up
a little study, and have your books ready at hand; do not spare a little money,
to make your habitation pleasing to yourself.
« I have dined lately with poor

dear - I do not think he goes on
well. His table is rather coarse, and he has his children too much about him'.
But he is a very good man.

“ Mrs. Williams is in the country to try if she can improve her health; she is very ill. Matters have come so about that she is in the country with very good accommodation ; but, age and sickness, and pride, have made her fo peevish that I was forced to bribe the maid to stay with her, by a secret 'stipulation of half a crown a week over her wages.

“ Our club ended its session about six weeks ago. We now only meet to dine once a fortnight.

a fortnight. Mr. Dunning, the great lawyer, is one of our members. The Thrales are well.

“ I long to know how the Negro's cause will be decided. What is the opinion of Lord Auchinleck, or Lord Hailes, or Lord Monboddo? I am, dear Sir,

“ Your most affectionate, &c. “ July 22, 1777

SAM. JOHNSON."

Dr. Johnson to Mrs. BOSWELL.

" MADAM,

“ THOUGH I am well enough pleased with the taste of sweetmeats, very little of the pleasure which I received at the arrival of your jar of marmalade arose from eating it. I received it as a token of friendship, as a

proof of reconciliation, things much sweeter than sweetmeats, and upon

this 1777 consideration I return you, dear Madam, my sincerest thanks. By having Ærat. 68. your kindness I think I have a double security for the continuance of Mr. Boswell's, which it is not to be expected that any man can long keep, when the influence of a lady. so highly and so justly valued operates against him.. Mr. Boswell will tell you, that I was always faithful to your interest, and always endeavoured to exalt you in his estimation. You must now do the fame for me. We must all help one another, and you must now consider me, as, dear Madam,

“ Your most obliged,

66. And most humble servant, « July 22, 1777

SAM. JOHNSON."

Mr. Boswell to Dr. Johnson. « MY 'DEAR SIR,

Edinburgh, July 28, 1777. “. THIS is the day on which you were to leave London, and I have been amusing myself in the intervals of my law-drudgery; with figuring you in the Oxford post-coach. I doubt, however, if you have had so merry a journey as you and I had in that vehicle last year, when you made so much sport with Gwyn, the architect. Incidents upon a journey are recollected with peculiar pleasure; they are preserved in brisk fpirits, and come up again in our minds, tinctured with that gaiety, or at least that animation with which we first perceived them.”

[I added, that something had occurred, which I was afraid might prevent me from meeting him; and that my wife had been affected with: complaints which threatened a consumption, but was now better].

TO James Boswell, Esq. “ DEAR SIR,

« D'O'not disturb yourself about our interviews ; I hope we shall have many; nor think it any thing hard or unusual, that your design of meeting me is interrupted. We have both endured greater evils, and have greater

. evils to expect.

* Mrs. Boswell's illness makes a more serious distress. Does the blood rise from her lungs or from her stomach ? From little vessels broken in the stomach there is no danger.. Blood from the lungs is, I believe, always frothy,

as

1777

Ætat. 68.

as mixed with wind. Your physicians know very well what is to be done. The loss of such a lady would, indeed, be very amictive, and I hope she is in no danger. Take care to keep her mind as easy as is possible.

“ I have left Langton in London. He has been down with the militia, and is again quiet at home, talking to his little people, as, I suppose, you do sometimes. Make my compliments to Miss Veronica. The rest are too young for ceremony.

“ I cannot but hope that you have taken your country-house at a very seasonable time, and that it may conduce to restore, or establish Mrs. Boswell's health, as well as provide room and exercise for the young ones. That you and your lady may both be happy, and long enjoy your happiness, is the sincere and earnest wish of, dear Sir,

“ Your most, &c. « Oxford, Aug. 4, 1777.

Sam. Johnson."

Mr. BOSWELL to Dr. JOHNSON.

[Informing him that my wife had continued to grow better, so that my alarming apprehensions were relieved; and that I hoped to disengage myself from the other embarrassment which had occurred, and therefore requesting to know particularly when he intended to be at Ashbourne].

TO JAMES BOSWELL, Esq. « DEAR SIR,

“ I AM this day come to Ashbourne, and have only to tell you, that Dr. Taylor says you shall be welcome to him, and you know how welcome you will be to me. Make haste to let me know when you may be expected.

“ Make my compliments to Mrs. Boswell, and tell her, I hope we shall be at variance no more. I am, dear Sir,

“ Your most humble servant, " August 30, 1777

SAM. JOHNSON.”

To James Boswell, Esq. « DEAR SIR,

“ON Saturday I wrote a very short letter, immediately upon my arrival hither, to shew you that I am not less desirous of the interview than yourself. Life admits not of delays; when pleasure can be had it is fit to catch .

1777

Ætat. 68.

it: Every hour takes away part of the things that please us, and perhaps part
of our disposition to be pleased. When I came to Lichfield, I found

iny

old friend Harry Jackson dead. It was a loss, and a loss not to be repaired, as he was one of the companions of my childhood. I hope we may long continue to gain friends, but the friends which merit or usefulness can procure us, are not able to supply the place of old acquaintance, with whom the days of youth may be retraced, and those images revived which gave the earliest delight. If you and I live to be much older, we shall take great delight in talking over the Hebridean Journey.

“ In the mean time it may not be amiss to contrive some other little adventure, but what it can be I know not; leave it, as Sidney says,

To virtue, fortune, wine, and woman's breast;'

for I believe Mrs. Boswel must have some part in the consultation.

« One thing you will like. The Doctor, so far as I can judge, is likely to leave us enough to ourselves. He was out to-day before I came down, and, I fancy, will stay out till dinner. I have brought the papers

about

poor Dodd, to show you,

but

you will soon have dispatched them.
“ Before I came away I sent poor Mrs. Williams into the country, very ill
of a pituitous defluxion, which wastes her gradually away, and which her
physician declares himself unable to stop. I fupplied her as far as could be
desired, with all conveniencies to make her excursion and abode pleasant and
useful, but I am afraid she can only linger a short time in a morbid state of
weakness and pain.

“ The Thrales, little and great, are all well, and purpose to go to Bright-
helmston at Michaelmas. They will invite me to go with them, and perhaps
I may go, but I hardly think I shall like to stay the whole time; but of
futurity we know but little,

« Mrs. Porter is well; but Mrs. Aston, one of the ladies at Stowhill, has
been struck with a palsy, from which she is not likely ever to recover.

How
foon
may

such a stroke fall upon us !
“ Write to me, and let us know when we may expect you. I am,
dear Sir,

« Your most humble servant,
“ Ashbourne, Sept. 1, 1777:

SAM. JOHNSON.”