hears it mentioned to her, as at the thing itself. I told her, ‘Madam, you are contented to hear every day said to you what the highest of mankind have died for, rather than bear.' You know, sir, the highest of mankind have died rather than bear to be told they had uttered a falsehood. Do talk to her of it; I am weary."-Boswell.

I mentioned Mr. Maclaurin's uneasiness on account of a degree of ridicule carelessly thrown on his deceased father in Goldsmith's "History of Animated Nature," in which that celebrated mathematician is represented as being subject to fits of yawning so violent as to render him incapable of proceeding in his lecture-a story altogether unfounded, but for the publication of which the law would give no reparation. This led us to agitate the question whether legal redress could be obtained even when a man's deceased relation was calumniated in a publication. Mr. Murray maintained there should be reparation, unless the author could justify himself by proving the fact. Johnson: "Sir, it is of so much more consequence that truth should be told than that individuals should not be made uneasy, that it is much better that the law does not restrain writing freely concerning the characters of the dead. Damages will be given to a man who is calumniated in his life-time, because he may be hurt in his worldly interest, or at least hurt in his mind; but the law does not regard that uneasiness which a man feels on having his ancestor calumniated. That is too nice. Let him deny what is said, and let the matter have a fair chance by discussion. But if a man could say nothing against a character but what he can prove, history could not be written; for a great deal is known of men of which proof cannot be brought. A minister may be notoriously known to take bribes, and yet you may not be able to prove it." Mr. Murray suggested that the author should be obliged to show some sort of evidence, though he would not require a strict legal proof; but Johnson firmly and resolutely opposed any

restraint whatever, as adverse to a free investigation of the characters of mankind.-Boswell.

Mr. Levett this day showed me Dr. Johnson's library, which was contained in two garrets over his chambers, where Lintot, son of the celebrated bookseller of that name, had formerly his warehouse. I found a number of good books, but very dusty, and in great confusion. The floor was strewed with manuscript leaves, in Johnson's own handwriting, which I beheld with a degree of veneration, supposing they, perhaps, might contain portions of the “Rambler,” or of "Rasselas." I observed an apparatus for chemical experiments, of which Johnson was all his life very fond. The place seemed to be very favorable for retirement and meditation. Johnson told me that he went up thither without mentioning it to his servant when he wanted to study, secure from interruption; for he would not allow his servant to say he was not at home when he really was. "A servant's strict regard for truth," said he, "must be weakened by such a practice. A philosopher may know that it is merely a form of denial; but few servants are such nice distinguishers. If I accustom a servant to tell a lie for me, have I not reason to apprehend that he will tell many lies for himself?"-Boswell.

Mr. Morgann and he had a dispute pretty late at night, in which Johnson would not give up, though he had the wrong side; and, in short, both kept the field. Next morning, when they met in the breakfast-room, Dr. Johnson accosted Mr. Morgann thus: "Sir, I have been thinking on our dispute last night. You were in the right."-Boswell.

Speaking of Dr. Campbell, at Rasay, he told us that he one day called on him, and they talked of "Tull's Husbandry." Dr. Campbell said something. Dr. Johnson began to dispute it. "Come," said Dr. Campbell, "we do not want

to get the better of one another: we want to increase each other's ideas." Dr. Johnson took it in good part, and the conversation then went on coolly and instructively. His candor in relating this anecdote does him much credit, and his conduct on that occasion proves how easily he could be persuaded to talk from a better motive than "for victory." -Boswell.

A lady once asked him how he came to define Pastern the knee of a horse. Instead of making an elaborate defence, as she expected, he at once answered, “Ignorance, madampure ignorance."-Boswell.

He had a kindness for the Irish nation, and thus generously expressed himself to a gentleman from that country on the subject of a union which artful politicians have often had in view: "Do not make a union with us, sir; we should unite with you only to rob you. We should have robbed the Scotch, if they had had anything of which we could have robbed them.”—Boswell.

On the morning of December 7th, 1784, only six days before his death, Dr. Johnson requested to see the editor of these anecdotes, from whom he had borrowed some of the early volumes of the "Gentleman's Magazine," with a professed intention to point out the pieces which he had written in that collection. The books lay on the table, with many leaves. doubled down, particularly those which contained his share in the Parliamentary Debates; and such was the goodness of Johnson's heart, that he solemnly declared that "the only part of his writings which then gave him any compunction was his account of the debates in the 'Magazine;' but that at the time he wrote them he did not think he was imposing on the world. The mode," he said, "was to fix upon a speaker's name, and then to conjure up an answer."-John Nichols.

Johnson told me that, as soon as he found that the speeches were thought genuine, he determined that he would write no more of them; "for he would not be accessory to the propagation of falsehood." And such was the tenderness of his conscience, that a short time before his death he expressed his regret for his having been the author of fictions which had passed for realities.-Boswell.

APOLOGIES.

I HAD slept ill. Dr. Johnson's anger had affected me much.* I considered that without any bad intention I might suddenly forfeit his friendship, and was impatient to see him this morning. I told him how uneasy he had made me by what he had said, and reminded him of his own remark at Aberdeen, upon old friendships being hastily broken off. He owned he had spoken to me in a passion; that he would not have done what he threatened; and that if he had he should have been ten times worse than I; that forming intimacies would indeed be "limning the water," were they liable to such sudden dissolution; and he added, "Let's think no more on't." Boswell: "Well, then, sir, I shall be easy; remember I am to have fair warning in case of any quarrel; you are never to spring a mine upon me; it was absurd in me to believe you." Johnson: “You deserved about as much as to believe me from night to morning."Boswell.

I must here mention an incident which shows how ready Johnson was to make amends for any little incivility. When I called upon him the morning after he had pressed me rather roughly to read louder, he said, "I was peevish yes

*Johnson had been furiously angry with him upon very slight grounds. See page 109.

terday; you must forgive me; when you are as old and as sick as I am, perhaps you may be peevish too." I have heard him make many apologies of this kind.-Hoole.

Miss Johnson, one of Sir Joshua's nieces, was dining one day at her uncle's with Dr. Johnson and a large party: the conversation happening to turn on music, Johnson spoke very contemptuously of that art, and added, "that no man of talent, or whose mind was capable of better things, ever would or could devote his time and attention to so idle and frivolous a pursuit." The young lady, who was very fond of music, whispered her next neighbor, "I wonder what Dr. Johnson thinks of King David." Johnson overheard her, and with great good-humor and complacency said, "Madam, I thank you; I stand rebuked before you, and promise that upon one subject at least you shall never hear me talk nonsense again."-Anonymous.

He and Mr. Langton and I went together to the Club, where we found Mr.. Burke, Mr. Garrick, and some other members, and among them our friend Goldsmith, who sat silently brooding over Johnson's reprimand to him after dinner. Johnson perceived this, and said aside to some of us, “I'll make Goldsmith forgive me;" and then called to him in a loud voice, "Dr. Goldsmith, something passed today where you and I dined;* I ask your pardon." Goldsmith answered placidly, "It must be much from you, sir, that I take ill." And so at once the difference was over, and they were on as easy terms as ever, and Goldsmith rattled away as usual.—Boswell.

I shall never forget with what regret he spoke of the rude reply he made to Dr. Barnard, on his saying that men never

*There had been a very stormy scene, and Johnson had said to Goldsmith, not wholly without cause, "Sir, you are impertinent."