12. C.Waterston THE LIFE OF SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL.D. BY JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ. A New Edition. IN FOUR VOLUMES. VOL. II. LONDON: PRINTED FOR G. WALKER, J. AKERMAN, E. EDWARDS, J. HARWOOD, W. ROBINSONS AND SONS, LIVERPOOL; E. THOMSON, MANCHESTER ; MARVARD COLLEGE Oct 11, 1738 LIBRARY 1 ibl-be Plummer and Brewis, Printers, Love Lane, Eästchelpe THE LIFE OF SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL. D. ON Saturday, March 31, I called on him, and shewed him as a curiosity which I had discovered, bis “ Translation of Lobo's Account of Abyssinia,” which Sir John Pringle bad lent me, it being then little known as one of his works. He said, “ Take no notice of it,” or “ don't talk of it.” He seemed to think it beneath him, though done at six-and-twenty, I said to him, “ Your style, Sir, is much improved since you tranlated this.” He answered with a sort of triumphant smile. “Sir, I hope it is.” On Wednesday, April 3, in the morning I found him very busy putting his books in order, and as they were generally very old ones, clouds of dust were flying around him .He had on a pair of large gloves such as hedgers use. His present appearance put me in mind of my uncle, Dr. Boswell's description of him, “ A robust genius, born to grapple with whole libraries." VOL. III. B |