to those who work, as the recompence of their labour, than when you give money merely in charity. Suppose the ancient luxury of a dish of peacocks' brains were to be revived, how many carcases would be left to the poor at a cheap rate! and as to the rout that is made about people who are ruined by extravagance, it is no matter to the nation that some individuals suffer. When so much general productive exertion is the consequence of luxury, the nation does not care though there are debtors in gaol: nay, they would not care though their creditors were there too."

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He, Dr. Goldsmith, and Boswell, dined at general Oglethorpe's. Goldsmith expatiated on the common topic, that the race of our people was degenerated, and that this was owing to luxury. JOHNSON. Sir, in the first place, I doubt the fact. I believe there are as many tall men in England now as ever there were. But, secondly, supposing the stature of our people to be diminished, that is not owing to luxury; for, sir, consider to how very small a proportion of our people luxury can reach, Our soldiery, surely, are not luxurious, who live on sixpence a day; and the same remark will apply to almost all the other classes. Luxury, so far as it reaches the poor, will do good to the race of people; it will strengthen and multiply them. Sir, no nation was ever hurt by luxury; for, as I said before, it can reach but to a very few. I admit that the great increase of commerce and manufactures hurts the military spirit of a people; because it produces a competition for something else than martial honours, a competition for riches. It also hurts the

bodies of the people; for you will observe, there is no man who works at any particular trade, but you may know him, from his appearance, to do so. One part or the other of his body being more used than the rest, he is in some degree deformed: but, sir, that is not luxury. A tailor sits cross-legged; but that is not luxury." GOLDSMITH. Come, you're just going to the same place by another road." JOHNSON. "Nay, sir, I say that is not luxury. Let us take a walk from Charing-cross to Whitechapel, through, I suppose, the greatest series of shops in the world: what is there in any of these shops, (if you except gin-shops) that can do any human being any harm?" GOLDSMITH." Well, sir, I'll accept your challenge. The very next shop to Northumberland-house is a pickle-shop." JOHNSON. "Well, sir: do we not know that my maid can, in one afternoon, make pickles sufficient to serve a whole family for a year? nay, that five pickle-shops can serve all the kingdom? besides, Sir, there is no harm done to any body by the making of pickles, or the eating of pickles."

"Desirous of calling Johuson forth to talk," says Boswell," and exercise his wit, though I should myself be the object of it, I resolutely ventured to undertake the defence of convivial indulgence in wine, though he was not to-night in the most genial humour. After urging the common plausible topics, I at last had recourse to the maxim, in vino veritas a man who is well warmed with wine will speak truth." JOHNSON. "Why, sir, that may be an argument for drinking, if you suppose men in general to be liars: but, sir, I would not keep

company with a fellow, who lies as long as he is sober, and whom you must make drunk before you can get a word of truth out of him."

He allowed indeed, that few people had intellectual resources sufficient to forego the pleasures of wine they could not otherwise contrive how to fill the interval between dinner and supper.

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Indeed, notwithstanding his remark on happiness above quoted, made at general Oglethorpe's, he was far from an advocate for wine. Accordingly, he often recommended to Boswell to drink water only: "for you are then sure not to get drunk; whereas, if you drink wine, you are never sure." Boswell said, drinking wine was a pleasure which he was unwilling to give up. JOHNSON. "Why, sir, there is no doubt that not to drink wine is a great deduction from life but it may be necessary." He however owned, that in his opinion, a free use of wine did not shorten life; and said, he would not give less for the life of a certain Scotch lord (whom he named), celebrated for hard drinking, than for that of a sober man. "But stay, (added he, with his usual intelligence and accuracy of inquiry) does it take much wine to make him drunk?" BOSWELL. "A great deal either of wine or strong punch." JOHNSON. "Then that is the worse." Probably he reasoned thus: "A fortress which soon surrenders has its walls less shattered than when a long and obstinate resistance is made."

He said, "Every man is to take existence on the terms on which it is given to him. To some men it is given on condition of not taking liberties, which other men may take without much harm. One may drink wine and be nothing the worse for it; ou an

other, wine may have effects so inflammatory, as to injure him both in body and mind, and, perhaps, make him commit something for which he may deserve to be hanged."

Another time, Boswell, finding him still persevering in his abstinence from wine, ventured to speak to him of it. JOHNSON. "Sir, I have no objection to a man's drinking wine, if he can do it in moderation. I found myself apt to go to excess in it, and therefore, after having been for some time without it, on account of illness, I thought it better not to return to it. Every man is to judge for himself, according to the effects which he experiences. One of the fathers tells us, he found fasting made him so peevish, that he did not practise it."

Though he often enlarged upon the evil of intoxication, he was by no means harsh and unforgiving to those who indulged in occasional excess in wine. One of his friends came to sup at a tavern with him and some other gentlemen, and too plainly discovered that he had drank too much at dinner. When one who loved mischief, thinking to produce a severe censure, asked Johnson, a few days afterwards, “Well, sir, what did your friend say to you, as an apology for being in such a situation?" Johnson answered, "Sir, he said all that a man should say he said he was sorry for it."

He gave a very judicious practical advice upon this subject: "A man who has been drinking wine at all freely should never go into a new company. With those who have partaken of wine with him, he may be pretty well in unison; but he will probably be offensive, or appear ridiculous, to other people."

"On Wednesday, July 6," says Boswell," he was engaged to sup with me at my lodgings in Downingstreet, Westminster: but on the preceding night my landlord having behaved very rudely to me and some company who were with me, I had resolved not to remain another night in his house. I was exceedingly uneasy at the awkward appearance I supposed I should make to Johnson and the other gentlemen whom I had invited, not being able to receive them at home, and being obliged to order supper at the Mitre. I went to Johnson in the morning, and talked of it as of a serious distress. He laughed, and said, ' Consider, Sir, how insignificant this will appear a twelvemonth hence.'-Were this consideration to be applied to most of the little vexatious incidents of life, by which our quiet is too often disturbed, it would prevent many painful sensations. I have tried it frequently with good effect. 'There is nothing,' continued he, in this mighty misfortune; nay, we shall be better at the Mitre.' I told him, that I had been at sir John Fielding's office, complaining of my landlord, and had been informed, that though I had taken my lodgings for a year, I might, upon proof of his bad behaviour, quit them when I pleased, without being under an obligation to pay rent for any longer time than while I possessed them. The fertility of Johnson's mind could show itself even upon so small a matter as this. 'Why, sir,' said he,' I suppose this must be the law, since you have been told so in Bow-street. But if your landlord could hold you to your bargain, and the lodgings should be yours for a year, you may certainly use them as you think fit. So, sir, you may quarter two life-guardsmen upon him; or

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