Johnson's own superlative powers of wit set him 1773. above any risk of such uneasiness. Garrick had re- Etat. 04. marked to me of him, a few days before," Rabelais and all other wits are nothing compared with him. You may be diverted by them; but Johnson gives you a forcible hug, and shakes laughter out of you, whether you will or no."

Goldsmith, however, was often very fortunate in his witty contests, even when he entered the lists with Johnson himself. Sir Joshua Reynolds was in company with them one day, when Goldsmith said, that he thought he could write a good fable, mentioned the simplicity which that kind of composition requires, and observed, that in most fables the animals introduced seldom talk in character. "For instance, (said he,) the fable of the little fishes, who saw birds fly over their heads, and envying them, petitioned Jupiter to be changed into birds. The skill (continued he,) consists in making them talk like little fishes." While he indulged himself in this fanciful reverie, he observed Johnson shaking his sides, and laughing. Upon which he smartly proceeded, "Why, Dr. Johnson, this is not so easy as you seem to think; for if you were to make little fishes talk, they would talk like wWHALES.'

Johnson, though remarkable for his great variety of composition, never exercised his talents in fable, except we allow his beautiful tale published in Mrs. Williams's Miscellanies to be of that species. I have however, found among his manuscript collections the following sketch of one:

"Glow-worm lying in the garden saw a candle

[It has already been observed, that one of his first Essays was

Etat. 64.

1773. in a neighbouring palace, and complained of the littleness of his own light ;-another observed-wait a little ;-soon dark,—have outlasted #^^ [many] of these glaring lights which are only brighter as they haste to nothing."

On Thursday, April 29, I dined with him at General Oglethorpe's, where were Sir Joshua Reynolds, Mr. Langton, Dr. Goldsmith, and Mr. Thrale. I was very desirous to get Dr. Johnson absolutely fixed in his resolution to go with me to the Hebrides this year; and I told him that I had received a letter from Dr. Robertson the historian, upon the subject, with which he was much pleased, and now talked in such a manner of his long intended tour, that I was satisfied he meant to fulfil his engagement.

The custom of eating dogs at Otaheite being mentioned, Goldsmith observed, that this was also a custom in China; that a dog-butcher is as common there as any other butcher; and that when he walks abroad all the dogs fall on him. JOHNSON. "That is not owing to his killing dogs, Sir. I remember a butcher at Lichfield, whom a dog that was in the house where I lived, always attacked. It is the smell of carnage which provokes this, let the animals he has killed be what they may." GOLDSMITH. "Yes there is a general abhorrence in animals at the signs of massacre. If you put a tub full of blood into a stable, the horses are like to go mad." JOHNSON. “I doubt that." GOLDSMITH." Nay, Sir, it is a fact well authenticated." THRALE. "You had better prove it before you put it into your book on natural history. You may do it in my stable if you will."

a Latin Poem on a glow-worm; but whether it be any where extant, has not been ascertained. M.]

it.

JOHNSON. " Nay, Sir, I would not have him prove
If he is content to take his information from others,
hé may get through his book with little trouble, and
without much endangering his reputation. But if
he makes experiments for so comprehensive a book
as his, there would be no end to them; his errone-
ous assertions would then fall upon himself; and he
might be blamed for not having made experiments
as to every particular."

66

The character of Mallet having been introduced, and spoken of slightingly by Goldsmith; JOHNSON. Why, Sir, Mallet had talents enough to keep his literary reputation alive as long as he himself lived; and that, let me tell you, is a good deal." GOLDSMITH. "But I cannot agree that it was so. His literary reputation was dead long before his natural death. I consider an authour's literary reputation to be alive only while his name will insure a good price for his copy from the booksellers. I will get you (to Johnson,) a hundred guineas for any thing whatever that you shall write, if you put your name to it."

Dr. Goldsmith's new play, " She Stoops to Conquer," being mentioned; JOHNSON. "I know of no comedy for many years that has so much exhilarated an audience, that has answered so much the great end of comedy-making an audience merry."

1773.

Etat. 64.

Goldsmith having said, that Garrick's compliment to the Queen, which he introduced into the play of The Chances,' which he had altered and revised this year, was mean and gross flattery ;-JOHNSON. "Why, Sir, I would not write, I would not give solemnly under my hand, a character beyond what I thought really true; but a speech on the stage, let

Etat. 64.

1773. it flatter ever so extravagantly, is formular. It has always been formular to flatter Kings and Queens; so much so, that even in our church-service we have our most religious King,' used indiscriminately, whoever is King. Nay, they even flatter themselves; we have been graciously pleased to grant.' -No modern flattery, however, is so gross as that of the Augustan age, where the Emperour was deified. ‹ Præsens Divus habebitur Augustus.' And as to meanness, (rising into warmth,) how is it mean in a player, a showman,-a fellow who exhibits himself for a shilling, to flatter his Queen? The attempt, indeed, was dangerous; for if it had missed, what became of Garrick, and what became of the Queen? As Sir William Temple says of a great General, it is necessary not only that his designs be formed in a masterly manner, but that they should be attended with success. Sir, it is right, at a time when the Royal Family is not generally liked, to let it be seen that the people like at least one of them." SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS. "I do not perceive why the profession of a player should be despised; for the great and ultimate end of all the employments of mankind is to produce amusement. Garrick pro

duces more amusement than any body." Boswell.
"You say, Dr. Johnson, that Garrick exhibits him-
self for a shilling. In this respect he is only on a
footing with a lawyer who exhibits himself for his
fee, and even will maintain any nonsense or absurdity,
if the case require it. Garrick refuses a play or a
part which he does not like: a lawyer never refuses."
JOHNSON. 66
Why, Sir, what does this prove? only
that a lawyer is worse. Boswell is now like Jack in
The Tale of a Tub,' who, when he is puzzled by

Ætat. 64.

an argument, hangs himself. He thinks I shall cut 1773. him down, but I'll let him hang." (laughing vociferously.) SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS. "Mr. Boswell thinks that the profession of a lawyer being unquestionably honourable, if he can show the profession of a player to be more honourable, he proves his argument."

On Friday, April 30, I dined with him at Mr. Beauclerk's, where were Lord Charlemont, Sir Joshua Reynolds, and some more members of the LITERARY CLUB, whom he had obligingly invited to meet me, as I was this evening to be ballotted for as candidate for admission into that distinguished society. Johnson had done me the honour to propose me, and Beauclerk was very zealous for me.

Goldsmith being mentioned; JOHNSON." It is amazing how little Goldsmith knows. He seldom comes where he is not more ignorant than any one else." SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS. "Yet there is no man whose company is more liked." JOHNSON. "To be sure, Sir. When people find a man of the most distinguished abilities as a writer, their inferiour while he is with them, it must be highly gratifying to them. What Goldsmith comically says of himself is very true, he always gets the better when he argues alone; meaning, that he is master of a subject in his study, and can write well upon it; but when he comes into company, grows confused, and unable to talk. Take him as a poet, his Traveller' is a very fine performance; ay, and so is his Deserted Village,' were it not sometimes too much the echo of his Traveller.' Whether, indeed, we take him as a poet, as a comick writer, or as an historian, he stands in the first class." BOSWELL. "An histo