1783.

Ætat. 74.

“ It is a very good custom to keep a journal for a man's own use; he may write upon a card a day all that is necesary to be written, after he has had experience of life. At first there is a great deal to be written, because there is a great deal of novelty. But when once a man has settled his opinions, there is feldom much to be set down."

“ There is nothing wonderful in the journal which we see Swift kept in London, for it contains Night topicks, and it might soon be written."

I praised the accuracy of an account book of a private person whom I mentioned. Johnson. “ Keeping accounts, Sir, is of no use when a man is spending his own money, and has nobody to whom he is to account. You won't eat less beef to-day, because you have written down what it cost yesterday.” I mentioned a lady who thought as he did, so that her husband could not get her to keep an account of the expence of the family, as the thought it enough that she never exceeded the fum allowed her. Johnson. “ Sir, it is fit she should keep an account, because her husband wishes it; but I do not see its use.” I maintained that keeping an account has this advantage, that it fatisfies a man that his money has not been lost or stolen, which he might sometimes be apt to imagine, were there no written state of his

expence; and besides, a calculation of economy fo as not to exceed one's income, cannot be made without a view of the different articles in figures, that one may fee how to retrench in some particulars lefs necessary than others. This he did not attempt to answer.

Talking of an acquaintance of ours, whose narratives, which abounded in curious and interesting topicks, were unhappily found to be very fabulous; I mentioned Lord Mansfield's having said to me, “ Suppose we believe one half of what he tells.” Johnson. “ Aye; but we don't know which half to believe. By his lying we lose not only our reverence for him, but all comfort in his conversation.” Boswell. « May we not take it as amusing fiction?" Johnson. “ Sir, the misfortune is, that you will infensibly believe as much of it as you incline.”

It is remarkable, that notwithstanding their congeniality in politicks, he never was acquainted with a late eminent noble judge, whom I have heard speak of him as a writer, with great respect. Johnson, I know not upon what degree of investigation, entertained no exalted opinion of his Lordship’s intellectual character. Talking of him to me one day, he said, “ It is wonderful, Sir, with how little real superiority of mind men can make an eminent figure in publick life.” He expressed himself to the same purpose concerning another law Lord, who, it seems, once took a fancy to associate with the wits

of

а

of London ; but with so little success, that Foote said, “What can he mean 1783.
by coming among us? He is not only dull himself, but the cause of dullness Ætat. 74.
in others.” Trying him by the test of his colloquial powers, Johnson had
found him very defective. He once said to Sir Joshua Reynolds, “ This
man now has been ten years about town, and has made nothing of it;”
meaning as a companiono. He said to me, “ I never heard any thing from
him in company that was at all striking; and depend upon it, Sir, it is when
you come close to a man in conversation, that you discover what his real
abilities are; to make a speech in a publick assembly is a knack. Now I
honour Thurlow, Sir; Thurlow is a fine fellow; he fairly puts his mind to
yours.”

After repeating to him some of his pointed lively sayings, I said, “ It is
a pity, Sir, you don't always remember your own good things, that you may
have a laugh when you will.” Johnson. “ Nay, Sir, it is better that I
forget them, that I may be reminded of them and have a laugh brought to
my recollection.”

When I recalled his having said as we failed upon Lochlomond, “ That if
he wore any thing fine, it should be very fine;" I observed that all his
thoughts were upon a great scale. Johnson. “ Depend upon it, Sir, every ,
man will have as fine a thing as he can get; as a large diamond for his ring.”
Boswell. “ Pardon me, Sir; a man of a narrow mind will not think of it,
a Night trinket will fatisfy him.

* Nec fufferre queat majoris pondera gemmæ.”
I told him I should send him some “Essays” which I had written, which I
hoped he would be so good as to read, and pick out the good ones.
Johnson. “ Nay, Sir, send me only the good ones; don't make me pick
them.”

On Thursday, April 10, I introduced to him, at his house in Bolt-court,
the Honourable and Reverend William Stuart, son of the Earl of Bute; a
gentleman truly worthy of being known to Johnson, being, with all the
advantages of high birth, learning, travel, and elegant manners, an exemplary
parish priest in every respect.

• Knowing as well as I do, what precision and elegance of oratory his Lordship can display,
I cannot but suspect that his unfavourable appearance in a social circle, which drew such animad-
versions upon him, must be owing to a cold affectation of consequence, from being reserved and
stiff. If it be so, and he might be an agreeable man if he would, we cannot be sorry that he
misses his aim.
Vol. II.
L11

After

1783.

Ætar. 74.

After some compliments on both sides, the tour which Johnson and I had
made to the Hebrides was mentioned. - Johnson. “I got an acquisition of
more ideas by it than by any thing that I remember. I saw quite a different
system of life.” Boswell. “ You would not like to make the same journey
again.” Johnson. Why no, Sir; not the same: it is a tale told.
Gravina, an Italian critick, observes, that every man desires to see that of
which he has read; but no man desires to read an account of what he has
seen. So much does description fall short of reality. Description only
excites curiosity: seeing satisfies it. Other people may go and see the
Hebrides.” Boswell. “ I should wish to go and see some country totally
different from what I have been used to; such as Turkey, where religion and
every thing else are different.” Johnson. “ Yes, Sir; there are two objects
of curiosity-the Christian world and the Mahometan world. All the rest
may be considered as barbarous.” Boswell.“ Pray, Sir, is the Turkish
" ”

«
Spy' a genuine book?” Johnson. “ No, Sir. Mrs. Manley, in her Life,
says, that her father wrote the two first volumes. And in another book,
• Dunton's Life and Errours,' we find that the rest was written by one
Sault, at two guineas a sheet, under the direction of Dr. Midgeley."

Boswell. “ This has been a very factious reign, owing to the too great
indulgence of Government.” JOHNSON. “ I think so, Sir. What at first

Johnson
was lenity, grew timidity. Yet this is reasoning à posteriori, and may not
be juft. Supposing a few had at first been punished, I believe faction
would have been crushed; but it might have been said, that it was a fan-
guinary reign. A man cannot tell à priori what will be best for Government
This reign has been very unfortunate.

. We have had an unsuc-
cessful war; but that does not prove that we have been ill governed. One
side or other must prevail in war, as one or other muft win at play. When
we beat Louis, we were not better governed; nor were the French better
governed when Louis beat us.”

On Saturday, April 12, I visited him, in company with Mr. Windham, of Norfolk, whom, though a Whig, he highly valued. One of the best things he ever said was to this gentleman; who, before he set out for Ireland as Secretary to Lord Northington, when Lord Lieutenant, expressed to the Sage some modest and virtuous doubts, whether he could bring himself to practise those arts which it is fuppofed a person in that situation has occasion to employ. “ Don't be afraid, Sir, (said Johnson, with a pleasant smile,) you will soon make a very pretty rascal.”

to do.

1783.

Ætat. 74.

He talked to-day a good deal of the wonderful extent and variety of London, and observed, that men of curious enquiry might see in it such modes of life as very few could even imagine. He in particular recommended to us to explore Wapping, which we resolved to do, and certainly shall.

Mr. Lowe the painter, who was with him, was very much distressed that a large picture which he had painted was refused to be received into the exhibition of the Royal Academy. Mrs. Thrale knew Johnson's character so superficially, as to represent him as unwilling to do small acts of benevolence; and mentions, in particular, that he would hardly take the trouble to write a letter in favour of his friends. The truth, however, is, that he was remarkable, in an extraordinary degree, for what she denies to him ; and, above all, for this very sort of kindness, writing letters for those to whom his solicitations might be of service. He now gave Mr. Lowe the following, of which I was diligent enough, with his permission, to take copies at the next coffeehouse, while Mr. Windham was so good as to stay by me.

To Sir JOSHUA RERNOLD S.

« SIR,

a

“ MR. Lowe considers himself as cut off from all credit and all hope, by the rejection of his picture from the Exhibition. Upon this work he has exhausted all his powers, and suspended all his expectations : and certainly, to be refused an opportunity of taking the opinion of the publick, is in itself a very great hardship. It is to be condemned without a trial.

“ If you could procure the revocation of this incapacitating edict, you would deliver an unhappy man from great affiction. The Council has sometimes reversed its own determination; and I hope, that by your interposition this luckless picture may be got admitted. I am, &c.

I “ April 12, 1783.

SAM. JOHNson."

To Mr. BARRY,

« SIR,

“ Mr. Lowe's exclusion from the Exhibition gives him more trouble than you and the other gentlemen of the Council could imagine or intend. He considers disgrace and ruin as the inevitable consequence of your determination.

“ He says, that some pictures have been received after rejection; and if there be any such precedent, I earnestly intreat that you will use your interest

L 11 2

in

1783. in his favour. Of his work, I can say nothing: I pretend not to judge of Ætat. 74. painting ; and this picture I never saw: but I conceive it extremely hard to

Mut out any man from the possibility of success; and therefore I repeat my request that you will propose the re-consideration of Mr. Lowe's case; and if there be any among the Council with whom my name can have any weight, be pleased to communicate to them the desire of, Sir,

« Your most humble servant, April 12, 1783

SAM. Johnson."

Such intercession was too powerful to be resisted, and Mr. Lowe's performance was admitted at Somerset-house. The subject, as I recollect, was the Deluge, at that point of time when the water was verging to the top

of the last uncovered mountain. Near to the spot was seen the last of the antediluvian race, exclusive of those who were saved in the ark of Noah. This was one of those giants, then the inhabitants of the earth, who had still strength to swim, and with one of his hands held aloft his infant child. Upon the small remaining dry spot appeared a familhed lion, ready to spring at the child and devour it. Mr. Lowe told me that Johnson said to him, “Sir, yonr picture is noble and probable.”—“A compliment, indeed, (faid Mr. Lowe,) from a man who cannot lie, and cannot be mistaken.”

About this time he wrote to Mrs. Lucy Porter, mentioning his bad health, and that he intended a visit to Lichfield. “ It is (says he) with no great expectation of amendment that I make every year a journey into the country; but it is pleasant to visit those whose kindness has been often experienced.”

On April 18, (being Good-Friday,) I found him at breakfast, in his usual manner upon that day, drinking tea without milk, and eating a cross-bun to prevent faintness; we went to St. Clement's church, as formerly. When we came home from church he placed himself on one of the stone feats at his garden-door, and I took the other, and thus in the open air and in a placid frame, he talked away very easily. Johnson. “ Were I a country gentleman, I should not be very hospitable, I should not have crowds in my