HereIshallrecordsomefragmentsofmyfriend’sconversationduringthisjaunt。
　　’Marriage，Sir，ismuchmorenecessarytoamanthantoawoman；
　　forheismuchlessabletosupplyhimselfwithdomestickcomforts。
　　Youwillrecollectmysayingtosomeladiestheotherday，thatI
　　hadoftenwonderedwhyyoungwomenshouldmarry，astheyhavesomuchmorefreedom，andsomuchmoreattentionpaidtothemwhileunmarried，thanwhenmarried。IindeeddidnotmentiontheSTRONG
　　reasonfortheirmarrying——theMECHANICALreason。’BOSWELL。’Why，thatISastrongone。Butdoesnotimaginationmakeitmuchmoreimportantthanitisinreality？Isitnot，toacertaindegree，adelusioninusaswellasinwomen？’JOHNSON。’Whyyes，Sir；butitisadelusionthatisalwaysbeginningagain。’BOSWELL。’I
　　don’tknowbutthereisuponthewholemoremiserythanhappinessproducedbythatpassion。’JOHNSON。’Idon’tthinkso，Sir。’
　　’Neverspeakofamaninhisownpresence。Itisalwaysindelicate，andmaybeoffensive。’
　　’Questioningisnotthemodeofconversationamonggentlemen。Itisassumingasuperiority，anditisparticularlywrongtoquestionamanconcerninghimself。Theremaybepartsofhisformerlifewhichhemaynotwishtobemadeknowntootherpersons，orevenbroughttohisownrecollection。’
　　’Amanshouldbecarefulnevertotelltalesofhimselftohisowndisadvantage。Peoplemaybeamusedandlaughatthetime，buttheywillberemembered，andbroughtoutagainsthimuponsomesubsequentoccasion。’
　　’Muchmaybedoneifamanputshiswholemindtoaparticularobject。Bydoingso，Nortonhasmadehimselfthegreatlawyerthatheisallowedtobe。’
　　OnTuesday，March26，therecameforusanequipageproperlysuitedtoawealthywell-beneficedclergyman；——Dr。Taylor’slargeroomypost-chaise，drawnbyfourstoutplumphorses，anddrivenbytwosteadyjollypostillions，whichconveyedustoAshbourne；whereI
　　foundmyfriend’sschoolfellowlivinguponanestablishmentperfectlycorrespondingwithhissubstantialcreditableequipage：
　　hishouse，garden，pleasure-grounds，table，inshorteverythinggood，andnoscantinessappearing。Everymanshouldformsuchaplanoflivingashecanexecutecompletely。Lethimnotdrawanoutlinewiderthanhecanfillup。Ihaveseenmanyskeletonsofshewandmagnificencewhichexciteatonceridiculeandpity。Dr。
　　Taylorhadagoodestateofhisown，andgoodprefermentinthechurch，beingaprebendaryofWestminster，andrectorofBosworth。
　　Hewasadiligentjusticeofthepeace，andpresidedoverthetownofAshbourne，totheinhabitantsofwhichIwastoldhewasveryliberal；andasaproofofthisitwasmentionedtome，hehadtheprecedingwinterdistributedtwohundredpoundsamongsuchofthemasstoodinneedofhisassistance。HehadconsequentlyaconsiderablepoliticalinterestinthecountyofDerby，whichheemployedtosupporttheDevonshirefamily；forthoughtheschoolfellowandfriendofJohnson，hewasaWhig。IcouldnotperceiveinhischaractermuchcongenialityofanysortwiththatofJohnson，who，however，saidtome，’Sir，hehasaverystrongunderstanding。’Hissize，andfigure，andcountenance，andmanner，werethatofaheartyEnglish’Squire，withtheparsonsuper-
　　induced：andItookparticularnoticeofhisupperservant，Mr。
　　Peters，adecentgraveman，inpurpleclothes，andalargewhitewig，likethebutlerormajordomoofaBishop。
　　Dr。JohnsonandDr。Taylormetwithgreatcordiality；andJohnsonsoongavehimthesamesadaccountoftheirschool-fellow，Congreve，thathehadgiventoMr。Hector；addingaremarkofsuchmomenttotherationalconductofamaninthedeclineoflife，thatitdeservestobeimprinteduponeverymind：’Thereisnothingagainstwhichanoldmanshouldbesomuchuponhisguardasputtinghimselftonurse。Innumerablehavebeenthemelancholyinstancesofmenoncedistinguishedforfirmness，resolution，andspirit，whointheirlatterdayshavebeengovernedlikechildren，byinterestedfemaleartifice。
　　Dr。TaylorcommendedaphysicianwhowasknowntohimandDr。
　　Johnson，andsaid，’Ifightmanybattlesforhim，asmanypeopleinthecountrydislikehim。’JOHNSON。’Butyoushouldconsider，Sir，thatbyeveryoneofyourvictoriesheisaloser；for，everymanofwhomyougetthebetter，willbeveryangry，andresolvenottoemployhim；whereasifpeoplegetthebetterofyouinargumentabouthim，they’llthink，“We’llsendforDr。******
　　nevertheless。“’Thiswasanobservationdeepandsureinhumannature。
　　Nextday，asDr。JohnsonhadacquaintedDr。TaylorofthereasonforhisreturningspeedilytoLondon，itwasresolvedthatweshouldsetoutafterdinner。AfewofDr。Taylor’sneighbourswerehisgueststhatday。
　　Dr。Johnsontalkedwithapprobationofonewhohadattainedtothestateofthephilosophicalwiseman，thatistohavenowantofanything。’Then，Sir，saidI，thesavageisawiseman。’’Sir，saidhe，Idonotmeansimplybeingwithout，——butnothavingawant。’Imaintained，againstthisproposition，thatitwasbettertohavefineclothes，forinstance，thannottofeelthewantofthem。JOHNSON。’No，Sir；fineclothesaregoodonlyastheysupplythewantofothermeansofprocuringrespect。WasCharlestheTwelfth，thinkyou，lessrespectedforhiscoarsebluecoatandblackstock？AndyoufindtheKingofPrussiadressesplain，becausethedignityofhischaracterissufficient。’Iherebroughtmyselfintoascrape，forIheedlesslysaid，’WouldnotYOU，Sir，bethebetterforvelvetandembroidery？’JOHNSON。
　　’Sir，youputanendtoallargumentwhenyouintroduceyouropponenthimself。Haveyounobettermanners？ThereisYOUR
　　WANT。’Iapologisedbysaying，Ihadmentionedhimasaninstanceofonewhowantedaslittleasanymanintheworld，andyet，perhaps，mightreceivesomeadditionallustrefromdress。
　　HavingleftAshbourneintheevening，westoppedtochangehorsesatDerby，andavailedourselvesofamomenttoenjoytheconversationofmycountryman，Dr。Butter，thenphysicianthere。
　　HewasingreatindignationbecauseLordMountstuart’sbillforaScotchmilitiahadbeenlost。Dr。Johnsonwasasviolentagainstit。’Iamglad，saidhe，thatParliamenthashadthespirittothrowitout。Youwantedtotakeadvantageofthetimidityofourscoundrels；’meaning，Isuppose，theministry。Itmaybeobserved，thatheusedtheepithetscoundrelverycommonlynotquiteinthesenseinwhichitisgenerallyunderstood，butasastrongtermofdisapprobation；aswhenheabruptlyansweredMrs。
　　Thrale，whohadaskedhimhowhedid，’Readytobecomeascoundrel，Madam；withalittlemorespoilingyouwill，Ithink，makemeacompleterascal：’hemeant，easytobecomeacapriciousandself-
　　indulgentvaletudinarian；acharacterforwhichIhaveheardhimexpressgreatdisgust。WelaythisnightatLoughborough。
　　OnThursday，March28，wepursuedourjourney。Hesaid，’Itiscommonlyaweakmanwhomarriesforlove。’Wethentalkedofmarryingwomenoffortune；andImentionedacommonremark，thatamanmaybe，uponthewhole，richerbymarryingawomanwithaverysmallportion，becauseawomanoffortunewillbeproportionallyexpensive；whereasawomanwhobringsnonewillbeverymoderateinexpenses。JOHNSON。’Dependuponit，Sir，thisisnottrue。A
　　womanoffortunebeingusedtothehandlingofmoney，spendsitjudiciously：butawomanwhogetsthecommandofmoneyforthefirsttimeuponhermarriage，hassuchagustinspendingit，thatshethrowsitawaywithgreatprofusion。’
　　Hepraisedtheladiesofthepresentage，insistingthattheyweremorefaithfultotheirhusbands，andmorevirtuousineveryrespect，thaninformertimes，becausetheirunderstandingswerebettercultivated。
　　AtLeicesterwereadinthenews-paperthatDr。Jameswasdead。I
　　thoughtthatthedeathofanoldschool-fellow，andonewithwhomhehadlivedagooddealinLondon，wouldhaveaffectedmyfellow-
　　travellermuch：butheonlysaid，Ah!poorJamy。’Afterwards，however，whenwewereinthechaise，hesaid，withmoretenderness，’SinceIsetoutonthisjaunt，Ihavelostanoldfriendandayoungone；——Dr。James，andpoorHarry。’MeaningMr。Thrale’sson。
　　IenjoyedtheluxuryofourapproachtoLondon，thatmetropoliswhichwebothlovedsomuch，forthehighandvariedintellectualpleasurewhichitfurnishes。Iexperiencedimmediatehappinesswhilewhirledalongwithsuchacompanion，andsaidtohim，’Sir，youobservedonedayatGeneralOglethorpe’s，thatamanisneverhappyforthepresent，butwhenheisdrunk。Willyounotadd，——orwhendrivingrapidlyinapost-chaise？’JOHNSON。’No，Sir，youaredrivingrapidlyFROMsomething，orTOsomething。’
　　Talkingofmelancholy，hesaid，’Somemen，andverythinkingmentoo，havenotthosevexingthoughts。SirJoshuaReynoldsisthesamealltheyearround。Beauclerk，exceptwhenillandinpain，isthesame。ButIbelievemostmenhavetheminthedegreeinwhichtheyarecapableofhavingthem。IfIwereinthecountry，andweredistressedbythatmalady，Iwouldforcemyselftotakeabook；andeverytimeIdiditIshouldfindittheeasier。
　　Melancholy，indeed，shouldbedivertedbyeverymeansbutdrinking。’
　　WestoppedatMessieursDillys，booksellersinthePoultry；fromwhencehehurriedaway，inahackneycoach，toMr。Thrale’s，intheBorough。Icalledathishouseintheevening，havingpromisedtoacquaintMrs。Williamsofhissafereturn；when，tomysurprize，I
　　foundhimsittingwithherattea，and，asIthought，notinaverygoodhumour：for，itseems，whenhehadgottoMr。Thrale’s，hefoundthecoachwasatthedoorwaitingtocarryMrs。andMissThrale，andSignorBaretti，theirItalianmaster，toBath。Thiswasnotshewingtheattentionwhichmighthavebeenexpectedtothe’Guide，Philosopher，andFriend，’theImlacwhohadhastenedfromthecountrytoconsoleadistressedmother，whoheunderstoodwasveryanxiousforhisreturn。Theyhad，Ifound，withoutceremony，proceededontheirintendedjourney。IwasgladtounderstandfromhimthatitwasstillresolvedthathistourtoItalywithMr。andMrs。Thraleshouldtakeplace，ofwhichhehadentertainedsomedoubt，onaccountofthelosswhichtheyhadsuffered；andhisdoubtsafterwardsprovedtobewell-founded。Heobserved，indeedveryjustly，that’theirlosswasanadditionalreasonfortheirgoingabroad；andifithadnotbeenfixedthatheshouldhavebeenoneoftheparty，hewouldforcethemout；buthewouldnotadvisethemunlesshisadvicewasasked，lesttheymightsuspectthatherecommendedwhathewishedonhisownaccount。’IwasnotpleasedthathisintimacywithMr。Thrale’sfamily，thoughitnodoubtcontributedmuchtohiscomfortandenjoyment，wasnotwithoutsomedegreeofrestraint：not，ashasbeengrosslysuggested，thatitwasrequiredofhimasatasktotalkfortheentertainmentofthemandtheircompany；butthathewasnotquiteathisease；which，however，mightpartlybeowingtohisownhonestpride——thatdignityofmindwhichisalwaysjealousofappearingtoocompliant。