connoisseur. He afterwards in a conversation with me waggishly insisted, that all the time Johnson shewed visible signs of a fervent admiration of the corresponding charms of the fair Quaker. This record, though by no means so perfect as I could wish, will serve to give a notion of a very curious interview, which was not only pleasing at the time, but had the agreeable and benign effect of reconciling any animosity, and sweetening any acidity, which, in the various bustle of political contest, had been produced in the minds of two men, who though widely different, had so many things in commonclassical learning, modern literature, wit and humour, and ready repartee-that it would have been much to be regretted if they had been for ever at a distance from each other. Mr. Burke gave me much credit for this successful negotiation; and pleasantly said, "that there was nothing equal to it in the whole history of the Corps Diplomatique.” I attended Dr. Johnson home, and had the satisfaction to hear him tell Mrs. Williams how much he had been pleased with Mr. Wilkes's company, and what an agreeable day he had passed. I talked a good deal to him of the celebrated Margaret Caroline Rudd, whom I had visited, induced by the fame of her talents, address, and irresistible power of fascination. To a lady who disapproved of my visiting her, he said on a former occasion, "Nay Madam, Boswell is in the right; I should have visited her myself, were it not that they have a trick of putting every thing into the news-papers." This evening he exclaimed, “I envy him his acquaintance with Mrs. Rudd." I mentioned a scheme which I had of making a tour to the Isle of Man, and giving a full account of it; and that Mr. Burke had playfully suggested as a motto, "The proper study of mankind is MAN." JOHNSON. "Sir, you will get more by the book than the jaunt will cost you so you will have your diversion for nothing, and add to your reputation." On the evening of the next day I took leave of him, being to set out for Scotland. I thanked him with great warmth for all his kindness. "Sir, (said he,) you are very welcome. Nobody repays it with more." How very false is the notion that has gone round the world of the rough, and passionate, and harsh manners of this great and good man. That he had occasional sallies of heat of temper, and that he was sometimes, perhaps, too "easily provoked, by absurdity and folly, and sometimes too desirous of triumph in colloquial contest, must be allowed. The quickness both of his perception and sensibility disposed him to sudden explosions of satire; to which his extraordinary readiness of wit was a strong and almost irresistible incitement. To adopt one of the finest images in Mr. Home's "Douglas," -On each glance of thought "Decision followed, as the thunderbolt "Pursues the flash !". I admit that the beadle within him was often. so eager to apply the lash, that the Judge had not time to consider the case with sufficient deliberation. That he was occasionally remarkable for. violence of temper may be granted: but let us ascertain the degree, and not let it be supposed that he was in a perpetual rage, and never without a club in his hand to knock down. every one who approached him. On the contrary, the truth is, that by much the greatest part of his time he was civil, obliging, nay,: polite in the true sense of the word; so much so, that many gentlemen who were long acquainted with him never received, or even, heard a strong expression from him. The following letters concerning an Epitaph. which he wrote for the monument of Dr. Goldsmith, in Westminster-Abbey, afford at once a proof of his unaffected modesty, his carelessness as to his own writings, and of the great respect which he entertained for the, taste and judgment of the excellent and eminent person to whom they are addressed: 66 TO SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS. DEAR SIR, "I HAVE been kept away from you, I know not well how, and of these vexatious hindrances I know not when there will be an end. I therefore send you the poor dear Doctor's epitaph. Read it first yourself; and if you then think it right, show it to the Club. I am, you know, willing to be corrected. If you think any thing much amiss, keep it to yourself, till we come together. I have sent two copies, but prefer the card. be settled by Dr. Percy. I am, Sir, "Your most humble servant, The dates must May 16, 1776. TO THE SAME. SAM. JOHNSON." SIR, "MISS REYNOLDS has a mind to send the Epitaph to Dr. Beattie; I'am very willing, but having no copy, cannot immediately recollect it. She tells me you have lost it. Try to recollect, and put down as much as you retain; you perhaps may have kept what I have dropped. The lines for which I am at a loss are something of rerum civilium sive naturalium.* It was a sorry trick to lose it; help me if you can. I am, Sir, "Your most humble servant, "June 22, 1776. "The gout grows better but slowly." It was, 1 think, after I had left Londou in this year, that this Epitaph gave occasion to a Remonstrance to the MONARCHY OF LITERATURE, for an account of which I am indebted to Sir William Forbes of Pitsligo. * These words must have been in the other copy. They are not in that which was preferred. That my readers may have the subject more fully and clearly before them, I shall first insert the Epitaph. "Amicorum fides, "Lectorum veneratio. "Natus in Hibernia Forniæ Longfordiensis, Sir William Forbes writes to me thus: "I enclose the Round Robin. This jeu d'esprit took its rise one day at dinner at our friend Sir Joshua Reynolds's. All the company present, except myself, were friends and acquaintance of Dr. Goldsmith. The Epitaph, written for him by Dr. Johnson, became the subject of conversation, and various emendations were suggested, which it was agreed should be submitted to the Doctor's consideration. But the question was, who should have the courage to propose them to him? At last it was hinted, that there could be no way so good as that of a Round Robin, as the |