Dr. Goldsmith, upon occasion of Mrs. Lennox's bringing out a play, said to Dr. Johnson at the Club, that a person had advised him to go and hiss it, because she had attacked Shakspcare in her book called ' Shakspeare Illustrated.' JOHNSON. "And did not you tell him that he was a rascal ?" - GOLDSMTH. "No, Sir, I did not. Perhaps he might not mean what he said." -JOHNSON. "Nay, Sir, if he lied it is a different thing."-Colman flily faid (but it is believed Dr. Johnson did not hear him), " Then the proper expreffion should have been, -Sir, if you don't lie, you're a rafcal." Goldsmith could sometimes take adventu rous liberties with Johnson, and escape unpunished. When he once talked of a project for having a third theatre in London, solely for the exhibition of new plays, in order to deliver authors from the supposed tyranny of managers, Johnson treated it flightingly; upon which Goldsmith faid, " Aye, aye, this may be nothing to you, who can now shelter yourfelf hehind the corner of a pension;" and John fon bore this with good humour. Goldsmith, upon being vifited by Johnfor one day in the Temple, said to him with a little jealousy of the appearance of his accom modation, modation, "I shall foon be in better chambers than these." Johnson at the fame time checked him and paid him a handsome compliment, implying that a man of his talents fhould be above attention to such distinctions. |