In his religious record of this year, we observe that he was better than usual, both in body and mind, and better satisfied with the regularity of his conduct. But he is still 'trying his ways' too rigorously. He charges himself with not rising early enough; yet he mentions what was surely a sufficient excuse for this, supposing it to be a duty seriously required, as he all his life appears to have thought it. 'One great hindrance is want of rest; my nocturnal complaints grow less troublesome towards morning; and I am tempted to repair the deficiencies of the night.' Alas! how hard would it be if this indulgence were to be imputed to a sick man as a crime. In his retrospect on the following EasterEve, he says, 'When I review the last year, I am able to recollect so little done, that shame and sorrow, though perhaps too weakly, come upon me.'

In 1772 he was altogether quiescent as an authour; but it will be found from the various evidences which I shall bring together that his mind was acute, lively, and vigorous.

"To JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.

'DEAR SIR,-That you are coming so soon to town I am very glad; and still more glad that you are coming as an advocate. I think nothing more likely to make your life pass happily away, than that consciousness of your own value, which eminence in your profession will certainly confer. If I can give you any collateral help, I hope you do not suspect that it will be wanting. My kindness for you has neither the merit of singular virtue, nor the reproach of singular prejudice. Whether to love you be right or wrong, I have many on my side: Mrs. Thrale loves you, and Mrs. Williams loves you, and what would have inclined me to love you, if I had been neutral before, you are a great favourite of Dr. Beattie.1

'Of Dr. Beattie I should have thought much, but that his lady puts him out of my head; she is a very lovely woman. 'The ejection which you come hither to oppose, appears

1 Boswell had given Beattie a letter of introduction to Johnson the preceding summer.-ED.

1772]

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183

very cruel, unreasonable, and oppressive. I should think there could not be much doubt of your success.

'My health grows better, yet I am not fully recovered. I believe it is held, that men do not recover very fast after threescore. I hope yet to see Beattie's College: and have not given up the western voyage. But however all this may be or not, let us try to make each other happy when we meet, and not refer our pleasure to distant times or distant places.

'How comes it that you tell me nothing of your lady? I hope to see her some time, and till then shall be glad to hear of her. I am, dear Sir, &c.

'March 15,

1772.'

'SAM. JOHNSON.'

On the 21st of March, I was happy to find myself again in my friend's study, and was glad to see my old acquaintance, Mr. Francis Barber, who was now returned home. Dr. Johnson received me with a hearty welcome; saying, 'I am glad you are come.'

I thanked him for showing civilities to Beattie. 'Sir, (said he,) I should thank you. We all love Beattie. Mrs. Thrale says, if ever she has another husband, she'll have Beattie. He sunk upon us that he was married; else we should have shewn his lady more civilities. She is a very fine woman. But how can you shew civilities to a nonentity? I did not think he had been married. Nay, I did not think about it one way or other; but he did not tell us of his lady till late.'

He then spoke of St. Kilda, the most remote of the Hebrides. I told him, I thought of buying it. JOHNSON. 'Pray do, Sir. We will go and pass a winter amid the blasts there. We shall have fine fish, and we will take some dried tongues with us, and some books. We will have a strong built vessel, and some Orkney men to navigate her. We must build a tolerable house: but we may carry with us a wooden house ready made, and requiring nothing but to be put up. Consider, Sir, by buying St. Kilda, you may keep the people from falling into worse hands. We must give them a clergyman, and he shall be one of Beattie's

LIFE OF DR. JOHNSON

choosing. He shall be educated at Marisch be your Lord Chancellor, or what you ple 'Are you serious, Sir, in advising me to buy if you should advise me to go to Japan, I do it.' JOHNSON. 'Why yes, Sir, I am seric 'Why then, I'll see what can be done.'

He was engaged to dine abroad, and aske to him in the evening at nine, which I acco

We drank tea with Mrs. Williams, who to second sight, which happened in Wales wher He listened to it very attentively, and sai glad to have some instances of that faculty cated. His elevated wish for more and mo spirit, in opposition to the groveling belief led him to a love of such mysterious dis again justly observed, that we could have the truth of supernatural appearances, un was told us which we could not know by o or something done which could not be done natural power; that Pharaoh in reason and such evidence from Moses; nay, that our Sa I had not done among them the works wh man did, they had not had sin.'

We talked of the Roman Catholick relig little difference there was in essential matter and it. JOHNSON. 'True, Sir; all denomina tians have really little difference in point of d they may differ widely in external forms. 1 digious difference between the external form Presbyterian churches in Scotland, and a ch yet the doctrine taught is essentially the sam

In the morning we had talked of old fam respect due to them. JOHNSON. 'Sir, you h that kind of respect, and are arguing for your supporting the principle, and am disintereste as I have no such right.' BoSWELL. 'Why, more incitement to a man to do well.' Jo