Macleod，ofRasay，thathehadcommittedamistake，whichgavethatgentlemansomeuneasiness。Hewrotehimacourteousandkindletter，andinsertedinthenews-papersanadvertisement，correctingthemistake。
　　AstohisprejudiceagainsttheScotch，whichIalwaysascribedtothatnationalitywhichheobservedinTHEM，hesaidtothesamegentleman，’WhenIfindaScotchman，towhomanEnglishmanisasaScotchman，thatScotchmanshallbeasanEnglishmantome。’HisintimacywithmanygentlemenofScotland，andhisemployingsomanynativesofthatcountryashisamanuenses，provethathisprejudicewasnotvirulent；andIhavedepositedintheBritishMuseum，amongstotherpiecesofhiswriting，thefollowingnoteinanswertoonefromme，askingifhewouldmeetmeatdinnerattheMitre，thoughafriendofmine，aScotchman，wastobethere：——
　　’Mr。JohnsondoesnotseewhyMr。BoswellshouldsupposeaScotchmanlessacceptablethananyotherman。HewillbeattheMitre。’
　　Mymuch-valuedfriendDr。Barnard，nowBishopofKillaloc，havingonceexpressedtohimanapprehension，thatifheshouldvisitIrelandhemighttreatthepeopleofthatcountrymoreunfavourablythanhehaddonetheScotch，heanswered，withstrongpointeddouble-edgedwit，’Sir，youhavenoreasontobeafraidofme。TheIrisharenotinaconspiracytocheattheworldbyfalserepresentationsofthemeritsoftheircountrymen。No，Sir；theIrishareaFAIRPEOPLE；——theyneverspeakwellofoneanother。’
　　AllthemiserablecavillingsagainsthisJourney，innewspapers，magazines，andotherfugitivepublications，Icanspeakfromcertainknowledge，onlyfurnishedhimwithsport。Atlasttherecameoutascurrilousvolume，largerthanJohnson’sown，filledwithmalignantabuse，underaname，realorfictitious，ofsomelowmaninanobscurecornerofScotland，thoughsupposedtobetheworkofanotherScotchman，whohasfoundmeanstomakehimselfwellknownbothinScotlandandEngland。TheeffectwhichithaduponJohnsonwas，toproducethispleasantobservationtoMr。Seward，towhomhelentthebook：’Thisfellowmustbeablockhead。Theydon’tknowhowtogoabouttheirabuse。Whowillreadafive-
　　shillingbookagainstme？No，Sir，iftheyhadwit，theyshouldhavekeptpeltingmewithpamphlets。’
　　OnTuesday，March21，IarrivedinLondon；andonrepairingtoDr。
　　Johnson’sbeforedinner，foundhiminhisstudy，sittingwithMr。
　　PeterGarrick，theelderbrotherofDavid，stronglyresemblinghimincountenanceandvoice，butofmoresedateandplacidmanners。
　　Johnsoninformedme，that’thoughMr。Beauclerkwasingreatpain，itwashopedhewasnotindanger，andthathenowwishedtoconsultDr。HeberdentotrytheeffectofaNEWUNDERSTANDING。’
　　Bothatthisinterview，andintheeveningatMr。Thrale’swhereheandMr。PeterGarrickandImetagain，hewasvehementonthesubjectoftheOssiancontroversy；observing，’WedonotknowthatthereareanyancientErsemanuscripts；andwehavenootherreasontodisbelievethattherearemenwiththreeheads，butthatwedonotknowthatthereareanysuchmen。’Healsowasoutrageousuponhissuppositionthatmycountrymen’lovedScotlandbetterthantruth，’saying，’Allofthem，——naynotall，——butDROVESofthem，wouldcomeup，andattestanythingforthehonourofScotland。’
　　Healsoperseveredinhiswildallegation，thathequestionediftherewasatreebetweenEdinburghandtheEnglishborderolderthanhimself。Iassuredhimhewasmistaken，andsuggestedthattheproperpunishmentwouldbethatheshouldreceiveastripeateverytreeaboveahundredyearsold，thatwasfoundwithinthatspace。Helaughed，andsaid，’IbelieveImightsubmittoitforaBAUBEE!’
　　Thedoubtswhich，inmycorrespondencewithhim，IhadventuredtostateastothejusticeandwisdomoftheconductofGreat-BritaintowardstheAmericancolonies，whileIatthesametimerequestedthathewouldenablemetoinformmyselfuponthatmomentoussubject，hehadaltogetherdisregarded；andhadrecentlypublishedapamphlet，entitled，TaxationnoTyranny；ananswertotheResolutionsandAddressoftheAmericanCongress。
　　Hehadlongbeforeindulgedmostunfavourablesentimentsofourfellow-subjectsinAmerica。For，asearlyas1769，IwastoldbyDr。JohnCampbell，thathehadsaidofthem，’Sir，theyarearaceofconvicts，andoughttobethankfulforanythingweallowthemshortofhanging。’
　　OfthisperformanceIavoidedtotalkwithhim；forIhadnowformedaclearandsettledopinion，thatthepeopleofAmericawerewellwarrantedtoresistaclaimthattheirfellow-subjectsinthemother-countryshouldhavetheentirecommandoftheirfortunes，bytaxingthemwithouttheirownconsent；andtheextremeviolencewhichitbreathed，appearedtomesounsuitabletothemildnessofachristianphilosopher，andsodirectlyoppositetotheprinciplesofpeacewhichhehadsobeautifullyrecommendedinhispamphletrespectingFalkland’sIslands，thatIwassorrytoseehimappearinsounfavourablealight。
　　OnFriday，March24，ImethimattheLITERARYCLUB，wherewereMr。
　　Beauclerk，Mr。Langton，Mr。Colman，Dr。Percy，Mr。Vesey，SirCharlesBunbury，Dr。GeorgeFordyce，Mr。Steevens，andMr。CharlesFox。Beforehecamein，wetalkedofhisJourneytotheWesternIslands，andofhiscomingaway’willingtobelievethesecondsight，’whichseemedtoexcitesomeridicule。IwasthensoimpressedwiththetruthofmanyofthestoriesofitwhichIhadbeentold，thatIavowedmyconviction，saying，’HeisonlyWILLING
　　tobelieve：IDObelieve。Theevidenceisenoughforme，thoughnotforhisgreatmind。Whatwillnotfillaquartbottlewillfillapintbottle。Iamfilledwithbelief。’’Areyou？saidColman，thencorkitup。’
　　IfoundhisJourneythecommontopickofconversationinLondonatthistime，whereverIhappenedtobe。AtoneofLordMansfield’sformalSundayeveningconversations，strangelycalledLevees，hisLordshipaddressedme，’Wehaveallbeenreadingyourtravels，Mr。
　　Boswell。’Ianswered，’IwasbutthehumbleattendantofDr。
　　Johnson。’TheChiefJusticereplied，withthatairandmannerwhichnone，whoeversawandheardhim，canforget，’HespeaksillofnobodybutOssian。’
　　Johnsonwasinhighspiritsthiseveningattheclub，andtalkedwithgreatanimationandsuccess。HeattackedSwift，asheusedtodouponalloccasions。TheTaleofaTubissomuchsuperiourtohisotherwritings，thatonecanhardlybelievehewastheauthourofit：’thereisinitsuchavigourofmind，suchaswarmofthoughts，somuchofnature，andart，andlife。’IwonderedtohearhimsayofGulliver’sTravels，’Whenonceyouhavethoughtofbigmenandlittlemen，itisveryeasytodoalltherest。’I
　　endeavouredtomakeastandforSwift，andtriedtorousethosewhoweremuchmoreabletodefendhim；butinvain。Johnsonatlast，ofhisownaccord，allowedverygreatmerittotheinventoryofarticlesfoundinthepocketoftheManMountain，particularlythedescriptionofhiswatch，whichitwasconjecturedwashisGod；asheconsultedituponalloccasions。Heobserved，that’Swiftputhisnametobuttwothings，afterhehadanametoput，ThePlanfortheImprovementoftheEnglishLanguage，andthelastDrapier’sLetter。’
　　FromSwift，therewasaneasytransitiontoMr。ThomasSheridan——
　　JOHNSON。’SheridanisawonderfuladmirerofthetragedyofDouglas，andpresenteditsauthourwithagoldmedal。Someyearsago，atacoffee-houseinOxford，Icalledtohim，“Mr。Sheridan，Mr。Sheridan，howcameyoutogiveagoldmedaltoHome，forwritingthatfoolishplay？“Thisyousee，waswantonandinsolent；
　　butIMEANTtobewantonandinsolent。Amedalhasnovaluebutasastampofmerit。AndwasSheridantoassumetohimselftherightofgivingthatstamp？IfSheridanwasmagnificentenoughtobestowagoldmedalasanhonoraryrewardofdramatickexcellence，heshouldhaverequestedoneoftheUniversitiestochoosethepersononwhomitshouldbeconferred。Sheridanhadnorighttogiveastampofmerit：itwascounterfeitingApollo’scoin。’
　　OnMonday，March27，IbreakfastedwithhimatMrStrahan’s。Hetoldus，thathewasengagedtogothateveningtoMrs。Abington’sbenefit。’ShewasvisitingsomeladieswhomIwasvisiting，andbeggedthatIwouldcometoherbenefit。ItoldherIcouldnothear：butsheinsistedsomuchonmycoming，thatitwouldhavebeenbrutaltohaverefusedher。’Thiswasaspeechquitecharacteristical。Helovedtobringforwardhishavingbeeninthegaycirclesoflife；andhewas，perhaps，alittlevainofthesolicitationsofthiselegantandfashionableactress。Hetoldus，theplaywastobetheTheHypocrite，alteredfromCibber’sNonjuror，soastosatirizetheMethodists。’Idonotthinksaidhe，thecharacterofTheHypocritejustlyapplicabletotheMethodists，butitwasveryapplicabletotheNonjurors。’
　　Mr。Strahanhadtakenapoorboyfromthecountryasanapprentice，uponJohnson’srecommendation。Johnsonhavingenquiredafterhim，said，’Mr。Strahan，letmehavefiveguineasonaccount，andI’llgivethisboyone。Nayifamanrecommendsaboy，anddoesnothingforhim，itissadwork。Callhimdown。’
　　Ifollowedhimintothecourt-yard，behindMr。Strahan’shouse；andthereIhadaproofofwhatIhadheardhimprofess，thathetalkedaliketoall。’Somepeopletellyouthattheyletthemselvesdowntothecapacityoftheirhearers。Ineverdothat。Ispeakuniformly，inasintelligibleamannerasIcan。’
　　’Well，myboy，howdoyougoon？’——’Prettywell，Sir；buttheyareafraidIan’tstrongenoughforsomepartsofthebusiness。’
　　JOHNSON。’Why，Ishallbesorryforit；forwhenyouconsiderwithhowlittlementalpowerandcorporeallabouraprintercangetaguineaaweek，itisaverydesirableoccupationforyou。Doyouhear，——takeallthepainsyoucan；andifthisdoesnotdo，wemustthinkofsomeotherwayoflifeforyou。There’saguinea。’
　　Herewasoneofthemany，manyinstancesofhisactivebenevolence。
　　Atthesametime，theslowandsonoroussolemnitywithwhich，whilehebenthimselfdown，headdressedalittlethickshort-leggedboy，contrastedwiththeboy’saukwardnessandawe，couldnotbutexcitesomeludicrousemotions。
　　ImethimatDrury-laneplay-houseintheevening。SirJoshuaReynolds，atMrs。Abington’srequest，hadpromisedtobringabodyofwitstoherbenefit；andhavingsecuredfortyplacesinthefrontboxes，haddonemethehonourtoputmeinthegroup。
　　Johnsonsatontheseatdirectlybehindme；andashecouldneitherseenorhearatsuchadistancefromthestage，hewaswrappedupingraveabstraction，andseemedquiteacloud，amidstallthesunshineofglitterandgaiety。Iwonderedathispatienceinsittingoutaplayoffiveacts，andafarceoftwo。Hesaidverylittle；butaftertheprologuetoBonTonhadbeenspoken，whichhecouldhearprettywellfromthemoreslowanddistinctutterance，hetalkedofprologue-writing，andobserved，’DrydenhaswrittenprologuessuperiourtoanythatDavidGarrickhaswritten；butDavidGarrickhaswrittenmoregoodprologuesthanDrydenhasdone。