but little for a man to get, who does best that which so many endeavour to do. There is nothing, I think, in which the power of art is shown so much as in playing on the fiddle. In all other things we can do something at first. Any man will forge a bar of iron, if you give him a hammer; not so well as a smith, but tolerably. A man will saw a piece of wood, and make a box, though a clumsy one; but give him a fiddle and a fiddlestick, and he can do nothing."

On Monday, April 19., he called on me with Mrs. Williams, in Mr. Strahan's coach, and carried me out to dine with Mr. Elphinston, at his academy at Kensington. A printer having acquired a fortune sufficient to keep his coach, was a good topic for the credit of literature. Mrs. Williams said, that another printer, Mr. Hamilton (1), had not waited so long as Mr. Strahan, but had kept his coach several years sooner. JOHNSON. "He was in the right. Life is short. The sooner that a man begins to enjoy his wealth, the better."

Mr. Elphinston talked of a new book that was much admired, and asked Dr. Johnson if he had read it. JOHNSON. "I have looked into it." "What,” said Elphinston, "have you not read it through?" Johnson, offended at being thus pressed, and so obliged to own his cursory mode of reading, answered tartly, "No, Sir, do you read books through ?"

(1) The Hamiltons were respectable publishers for three generations.-C.

He this day again defended duelling, and put his argument upon what I have ever thought the most solid basis; that if public war be allowed to be consistent with morality, private war must be equally so. Indeed we may observe what strained arguments are used to reconcile war with the Christian religion. But, in my opinion, it is exceedingly clear that duelling having better reasons for its barbarous violence, is more justifiable than war in which thousands go forth without any cause of personal quarrel, and massacre each other.

On Wednesday, April 21., I dined with him at Mr. Thrale's. A gentleman attacked Garrick for being vain. JOHNSON. "No wonder, Sir, that he is vain; a man who is perpetually flattered in every mode that can be conceived. So many bellows have blown the fire, that one wonders he is not by this time become a cinder." BOSWELL. "And such bellows too! Lord Mansfield with his cheeks like to burst: Lord Chatham like an Æolus. (1) I have read such notes from them to him, as were enough to turn his head." JOHNSON. "True. When he whom every body else flatters, flatters me, I then am truly happy." MRS. THRALE. "The sentiment is

(1) Lord Chatham addressed to him the very pretty lines:

66

Leave, Garrick, leave the landscape, proudly gay,

Docks, forts, and navies, bright'ning all the bay;

To my plain roof repair, primeval seat!

Yet there no wonders your quick eye can meet,

Save should you deem it wonderful to find

Ambition cured, and an unpassion'd mind...
Come, then, immortal spirit of the stage,
Great nature's proxy, glass of every age,

Come, taste the simple life of patriarchs old,

Who, rich in rural peace, ne'er thought of pomp or gold," &c.— C.

in Congreve, I think." JOHNSON. "Yes, Madam,

6

in, The Way of the World :'

"If there's delight in love, 'tis when I see

That heart which others bleed for, bleed for me."

No, Sir, I should not be surprised though Garrick chained the ocean and lashed the winds." BOSWELL. "Should it not be, Sir, lashed the ocean and chained the winds?" JOHNSON. "No, Sir; recollect the original:

In Corum atque Eurum solitus sævire flagellis
Barbarus, Folio nunquam hoc in carcere passos,
Ipsum compedibus qui vinxerat Ennosigæum.'

This does very well, when both the winds and the sea are personified, and mentioned by their mythological names, as in Juvenal; but when they are mentioned in plain language, the application of the epithets suggested by me is the most obvious; and accordingly my friend himself, in his imitation of the passage which describes Xerxes, has

'The waves he lashes, and enchains the wind.' (1)

The modes of living in different countries, and the various views with which men travel in quest of new scenes, having been talked of, a learned gentleman who holds a considerable office in the law, expatiated on the happiness of a savage life; and mentioned an instance of an officer who had actually lived for some time in the wilds of America, of whom, when in that state, he quoted this reflection with an air of admir

(1) So also Butler, Hudibras, p. ii. c. i. v. 845. :
"A Persian Emperor whipt his grannam,
The sea, his mother Venus came on." M.

ation, as if it had been deeply philosophical: "Here am I, free and unrestrained, amidst the rude magnificence of Nature, with this Indian woman by my side, and this gun, with which I can procure food when I want it: what more can be desired for human happiness?" It did not require much sagacity to foresee that such a sentiment would not be permitted to pass without due animadversion. JOHNSON. "Do not allow yourself, Sir, to be imposed upon by such gross absurdity. It is sad stuff; it is brutish. If a bull could speak, he might as well exclaim,- Here am I with this cow and this grass; what being can enjoy greater felicity?"

We talked of the melancholy end of a gentleman(1) who had destroyed himself. JOHNSON." It was owing to imaginary difficulties in his affairs, which, had he talked of with any friend, would soon have vanished." BoSWELL. "Do you think, Sir, that all who commit suicide are mad?" JOHNSON. "Sir, they are often not universally disordered in their intellects, but one passion presses so upon them, that they yield to it, and commit suicide, as a passionate man will stab another." He added, "I have often thought, that after a man has taken the resolution to kill himself, it is not courage in him to do any thing, however desperate, because he has nothing to fear.” GOLDSMITH. "I don't see that." but, my dear Sir, why should one else sees?" GOLDSMITH.

you

JOHNSON. " Nay, not see what every "It is for fear of

(1) The gentleman here meant was, no doubt, Johnson's friend, William Fitzherbert, Esq., Member for Derby, who terminated his own existence in January, 1772.-C. 1835.

something that he has resolved to kill himself: and will not that timid disposition restrain him?" JOHNSON. "It does not signify that the fear of something made him resolve; it is upon the state of his mind, after the resolution is taken, that I argue. Suppose a man, either from fear, or pride, or conscience, or whatever motive, has resolved to kill himself; when once the resolution is taken, he has nothing to fear. He may then go and take the king of Prussia by the nose, at the head of his army. He cannot fear the rack, who is resolved to kill himself. When Eustace Budgel (1) was walking down to the Thames, determined to drown himself, he might, if he pleased, without any apprehension of danger, have turned aside, and first set fire to St. James's palace."

LETTER 152. TO DR. GOLDSMITH.

"April 23. 1773.

66 SIR,I beg that you will excuse my absence to the Club; I am going this evening to Oxford.

"I have another favour to beg. It is that I may be considered as proposing Mr. Boswell for a candidate of our society, and that he may be considered as regularly nominated. I am, Sir, your most humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON."

(1) A friend and relative of Addison's, who drowned himself [in 1737] to escape a prosecution on account of forging the will of Dr. Tindal, in which Budgel had provided himself with a legacy of 2000l. To this Pope alludes:

"Let Budgel charge low Grub Street on my quill,

And write whate'er he please-except my will." — C. ["Budgell, a rogue and rhymester, for no good, (Unless his case be much misunderstood) When teased with creditors' continual claims, To die like Cato, leapt into the Thames! And therefore be it lawful through the town For any bard to poison, hang, or drown."- BYRON.]