"But, surely, Sir, an historian has reflection?" JOHNSON. Why, yes, Sir; and so has a cat when she catches a mouse for her kitten: but she cannot write like [Beattie]; neither can [Robertson].” (1)

He said, "I am very unwilling to read the manuscripts of authors, and give them my opinion. If the authors who apply to me have money, I bid them boldly print without a name; if they have written in order to get money, I tell them to go to the booksellers and make the best bargain they can." BOSWELL. “But, Sir, if a bookseller should bring you a manuscript to look at?" JOHNSON. Why, Sir, I would desire the bookseller to take it away."

66

66

What is climate

I mentioned a friend of mine (2) who had resided long in Spain, and was unwilling to return to Britain. JOHNSON." Sir, he is attached to some woman." BOSWELL. "I rather believe, Sir, it is the fine climate which keeps him there." JOHNSON. Nay, Sir, how can you talk so? to happiness? Place me in the heart of Asia; should I not be exiled? What proportion does climate bear to the complex system of human life? You may advise me to go to live at Bologna to eat sausages. The sausages there are the best in the world; they lose much by being carried."

On Saturday, May 9., Mr. Dempster and I had agreed to dine by ourselves at the British Coffee

(1) The historian and the moralist, whose names Mr. Boswell left in blank, are Doctors Robertson and Beattie.

C.

(2) Probably Mr. Boswell's brother David. See post, April 29. 1780.-C.

house. Johnson, on whom I happened to call in the morning, said he would join us; which he did, and we spent a very agreeable day, though I recollect but little of what passed.

He said, "Walpole was a minister given by the King to the people: Pitt was a minister given by the people to the King, -as an adjunct."

"The misfortune of Goldsmith in conversation is this: he goes on without knowing how he is to get off. His genius is great, but his knowledge is small. As they say of a generous man, it is a pity he is not rich, we may say of Goldsmith, it is a pity he is not knowing. He would not keep his knowledge to himself."

Before leaving London this year, I consulted him upon a question purely of Scotch law. It was held of old, and continued for a long period, to be an established principle in that law, that whoever intermeddled with the effects of a person deceased, without the interposition of legal authority to guard against embezzlement, should be subjected to pay all the debts of the deceased, as having been guilty of what was technically called vicious intromission. The court of session had gradually relaxed the strictness of this principle, where the interference proved had been inconsiderable. In a case (1) which came before that court the preceding winter, I had laboured to persuade the judge to return to the ancient law. It was my own sincere opinion, that they ought to adhere to it; but I had exhausted all my powers of reasoning in vain. Johnson thought (1) Wilson against Smith and Armour

as I did; and, in order to assist me in my application to the Court for a revision and alteration of the judgment, he dictated to me the following Argument. [See Appendix, No. II.]

With such comprehension of mind, and such clearness of penetration, did he thus treat a subject altogether new to him, without any other preparation than my having stated to him the arguments which had been used on each side of the question. His intellectual powers appeared with peculiar lustre, when tried against those of a writer of such fame as Lord Kames, and that, too, in his Lordship's own department.

This masterly argument, after being prefaced and concluded with some sentences of my own, and garnished with the usual formularies, was actually printed and laid before the lords of session, but without success. My respected friend Lord Hailes, however, one of that honourable body, had critical sagacity enough to discover a more than ordinary hand in the petition. I told him Dr. Johnson had favoured me with his pen. His lordship, with wonderful acumen, pointed out exactly where his composition began, and where it ended. But, that I may do impartial justice, and conform to the great rule of courts, Suum cuique tribuito, I must add, that their lordships in general, though they were pleased to call this "a well-drawn paper," preferred the former very inferior petition, which I had written; thus confirming the truth of an observation made to me by one of their number, in a merry mood: "My dear Sir, give yourself no

trouble in the composition of the papers you present to us; for, indeed, it is casting pearls before swine." (1)

I renewed my solicitations that Dr. Johnson would this year accomplish his long-intended visit to Scotland.

LETTER 144. TO JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.

"August 13. 1772.

"DEAR SIR, The regret has not been little with which I have missed a journey so pregnant with pleasing expectations, as that in which I could promise myself not only the gratification of curiosity, both rational and fanciful, but the delight of seeing those whom I love and esteem. But such has been the course of things, that I could not come ; and such has been, I am afraid, the state of my body, that it would not well have seconded my inclination. My body, I think, grows better, and I refer my hopes to another year; for I am very sincere in my design to pay the visit, and take the ramble. In the mean time, do not omit any opportunity of keeping up a favourable opinion of me in the minds of any of my friends. Beattie's book (2) is, I believe, every day more liked; at least, I like it more, as I look more upon it.

"I am glad if you got credit by your cause; and am yet of opinion that our cause was good, and that the determination ought to have been in your favour. Poor Hastie [the Schoolmaster], I think, had but his deserts.

(1) The expression was coarse, but the meaning was correct: the facts and the law only ought to be considered by the judge the verbal decorations of style should be of no weight. It is probable that the judge who made use of this homely phrase was bantering Boswell on some pleading in which there was, perhaps, more ornament than substance.-C.

(2) " Essay on Truth," of which a third edition was published in 1772. .C.

"You promised to get me a little Pindar: you may add to it a little Anacreon.

"The leisure which I cannot enjoy, it will be a pleasure to hear that you employ upon the antiquities of the feudal establishment. The whole system of ancient tenures is gradually passing away; and I wish to have the knowledge of it preserved adequate and complete; for such an institution makes a very important part of the history of mankind. Do not forget a design so worthy of a scholar who studies the law of his country, and of a gentleman who may naturally be curious to know the condition of his own ancestors. I am, dear Sir, yours with great affection,

"SAM. JOHNSON."

LETTER 145. TO DR. JOHNSON.

66 Edinburgh, Dec. 25. 1772.

"MY DEAR SIR, - I was much disappointed that you did not come to Scotland last autumn. However, I must own that your letter prevents me from complaining; not only because I am sensible that the state of your health was but too good an excuse, but because you write in a strain which shews that you have agreeable views of the scheme which we have so long proposed.

"I communicated to Beattie what you said of his book in your last letter to me. He writes to me thus :— 'You judge very rightly in supposing that Dr. Johnson's favourable opinion of my book must give me great delight. Indeed, it is impossible for me to say how much I am gratified by it; for there is not a man upon earth whose good opinion I would be more ambitious to cultivate. His talents and his virtues I reverence more than any words can express. The extraordinary civilities (the paternal attentions I should rather say), and the many instructions I have