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Etat. 64.

1773. nivi lectionem Conf. Fab. Burdonum.-Legi primum actum Troadum.-Legi Dissertationem Clerici postremam de Pent.—2 of Clark's Sermons.-L. Appolonii pugnum Betriciam.-L. centum versus Homeri." Let this serve as a specimen of what accessions of literature he was perpetually infusing into his mind, while he charged himself with idleness.

This year died Mrs. Salusbury, (mother of Mrs. Thrale,) a lady whom he appears to have esteemed much, and whose memory he honoured with an Epitaph.9

In a letter from Edinburgh, dated the 29th of May, I pressed him to persevere in his resolution to make this year the projected visit to the Hebrides, of which he and I had talked for many years, and which I was confident would afford us much entertainment.

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cr TO JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.

<< DEAR SIR,

"WHEN your letter came to me, I was so darkened by an inflammation in my eye that I could not for some time read it. I can now write without trouble, and can read large prints. My eye My eye is gradually growing stronger; and I hope will be able to take some delight in the survey of a Caledonian loch.

"Chambers is going a Judge, with six thousand a year, to Bengal. He and I shall come down together as far as Newcastle, and thence I shall easily get to Edinburgh. Let me know the exact time when Courts intermit. I must conform a little to

your

Mrs. Piozzi's Anecdotes of Johnson, p. 131.

Chambers's occasions, and he must conform a little
to mine. The time which you shall fix, must be the
common point to which we will come as near as we
can. Except this eye, I am very
well.

"Beattie is so caressed, and invited, and treated,
and liked, and flattered, by the great, that I can see
nothing of him. I am in great hope that he will
be well provided for, and then we will live upon him
as the Marischal College, without pity or modesty.
left the town without taking leave of
me, and is gone in deep dudgeon to
not this very childish? Where is now my legacy?

66

Is

"I hope your dear lady and her dear baby are both well. I shall see them too when I come; and I have that opinion of your choice, as to suspect that when I have seen Mrs. Boswell, I shall be less willing to go away. I am, dear Sir,

"Your affectionate humble servant,
"SAM. JOHNSON."

"Johnson's-court, Fleetstreet, July 5, 1773.

"Write to me as soon as you can. Chambers is

now at Oxford."

I again wrote to him, informing him that the Court of Session rose on the twelfth of August, hoping to see him before that time, and expressing, perhaps in too extravagant terms, my admiration of him, and my expectation of pleasure from our intended tour.

66 TO JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.

CC DEAR SIR,

"I SHALL set out from London on Friday the sixth of this month, and purpose not to loiter much

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1773.

Ætat, 64.

1773. by the way. Which day I shall be at Edinburgh, I Etat. 64. cannot exactly tell. I suppose I must drive to an inn, and send a porter to find you.

"I am afraid Beattie will not be at his College soon enough for us, and I shall be sorry to miss him; but there is no staying for the concurrence of all conveniences. We will do as well as we can. I am, Sir,

"Your most humble servant,

"August 3, 1773.

"SAM. JOHNSON."

TO THE SAME.

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DEAR SIR,

"Not being at Mr. Thrale's when your letter came, I had written the inclosed paper and sealed it; bringing it hither for a frank, I found your's. If any thing could repress my ardour, it would be such a letter as yours. To disappoint a friend is unpleasing: and he that forms expectations like yours, must be disappointed. Think only when you see me, that you see a man who loves you, and is proud and glad love him. I am, Sir,

that you

"August 3, 1773.

DEAR SIR,

"Your most affectionate,

"SAM. JOHNSON."

TO THE SAME.

Newcastle, Aug. 11, 1773.

"I CAME hither last night, and hope, but do not absolutely promise to be in Edinburgh on Saturday. Beattie will not come so soon. I am, Sir, "Your most humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON."

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TO THE SAME.

"MR. JOHNSON sends his compliments to Mr. Boswell, being just arrived at Boyd's."

"Saturday night."

His stay in Scotland was from the 18th of August, on which day he arrived, till the 22d of November, when he set out on his return to London; and I believe ninety-four days were never passed by any man in a more vigorous exertion.

He came by the way of Berwick upon Tweed to Edinburgh, where he remained a few days, and then went by St. Andrew, Aberdeen, Inverness, and Fort Augustus, to the Hebrides, to visit which was the principal object he had in view. He visited the isles of Sky, Rasay, Col, Mull, Inchkenneth, and Icolmkill. He travelled through Argyleshire by. Inverary, and from thence by Lochlomond and Dunbarton to Glasgow, then by Loudon to Auchinleck in Ayrshire, the seat of my family, and then by Hamilton, back to Edinburgh, where he again spent some time. He thus saw the four Universities of Scotland, its three principal cities, and as, much of the Highland and insular life as was sufficient for his philosophical contemplation. I had the pleasure of accompanying him during the whole of his journey. He was respectfully entertained by the great, the learned, and the elegant, wherever he went; nor was he less delighted with the hospitality which he experienced in humbler life.

His various adventures, and the force and vivacity of his mind, as exercised during this peregrination, upon innumerable topicks, have been faithfully, and to the best of my abilities, displayed in my "Journal

1773.

Etat. 64.

Etat. 64.

1773. of a Tour to the Hebrides," to which, as the publick has been pleased to honour it by a very extensive circulation, I beg leave to refer, as to a separate and remarkable portion of his life,' which may be there seen in detail, and which exhibits as striking a view of his powers in conversation, as his works do of his excellence in writing. Nor can I deny to myself the very flattering gratification of inserting here the character which my friend Mr. Courtenay has been pleased to give of that work:

"With Reynolds' pencil, vivid, bold, and true,
"So fervent Boswell gives him to our view:
"In every trait we see his mind expand;
"The master rises by the pupil's hand;
"We love the writer, praise his happy vein,
"Grac'd with the naiveté of the sage Montagne.
"Hence not alone are brighter parts display'd,
"But e'en the specks of character pourtray'd:
"We see the Rambler with fastidious smile
"Mark the lone tree, and note the heath-clad isle;
"But when th' heroick tale of Flora's charms,
"Deck'd in a kilt, he wields a chieftain's arms:
"The tuneful piper sounds a martial strain,
"And Samuel sings, The King shall have his ain."

[The authour was not a small gainer by this extraordinary Journey; for Dr. Johnson thus writes to Mrs. Thrale, Nov. 3, 1773: "Boswell will praise my resolution and perseverance, and I shall in return celebrate his good humour and perpetual cheerfulness. He has better faculties than I had imagined; more justness of discernment, and more fecundity of images. It is very convenient to travel with him; for there is no house where he is not received with kindness and respect." Let. 90, to Mrs. Thrale. M.]

2 ""

The celebrated Flora Macdonald, See Boswell's Tour.

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