Johnsonistodineathome。’——’Madam，saidI，hisrespectforyouissuch，thatIknowhewillnotleaveyouunlessyouabsolutelydesireit。Butasyouhavesomuchofhiscompany，Ihopeyouwillbegoodenoughtoforegoitforaday；asMr。Dillyisaveryworthyman，hasfrequentlyhadagreeablepartiesathishouseforDr。Johnson，andwillbevexediftheDoctorneglectshimto-day。
　　Andthen，Madam，bepleasedtoconsidermysituation；Icarriedthemessage，andIassuredMr。DillythatDr。Johnsonwastocome，andnodoubthehasmadeadinner，andinvitedacompany，andboastedofthehonourheexpectedtohave。IshallbequitedisgracediftheDoctorisnotthere。’Shegraduallysoftenedtomysolicitations，whichwerecertainlyasearnestasmostentreatiestoladiesuponanyoccasion，andwasgraciouslypleasedtoempowermetotellDr。Johnson，’Thatallthingsconsidered，shethoughtheshouldcertainlygo。’Iflewbacktohim，stillindust，andcarelessofwhatshouldbetheevent，’indifferentinhischoicetogoorstay；’butassoonasIhadannouncedtohimMrs。Williams’
　　consent，heroared，’Frank，acleanshirt，’andwasverysoondrest。WhenIhadhimfairlyseatedinahackney-coachwithme，I
　　exultedasmuchasafortune-hunterwhohasgotanheiressintoapost-chaisewithhimtosetoutforGretna-Green。
　　WhenweenteredMr。Dilly’sdrawingroom，hefoundhimselfinthemidstofacompanyhedidnotknow。Ikeptmyselfsnugandsilent，watchinghowhewouldconducthimself。IobservedhimwhisperingtoMr。Dilly，’Whoisthatgentleman，Sir？’——’Mr。ArthurLee。’——
　　JOHNSON。’Too，too，too，’underhisbreath，whichwasoneofhishabitualmutterings。Mr。ArthurLeecouldnotbutbeveryobnoxioustoJohnson，forhewasnotonlyaPATRIOTbutanAMERICAN。HewasafterwardsministerfromtheUnitedStatesatthecourtofMadrid。’Andwhoisthegentlemaninlace？’——’Mr。Wilkes，Sir。’Thisinformationconfoundedhimstillmore；hehadsomedifficultytorestrainhimself，andtakingupabook，satdownuponawindow-seatandread，oratleastkepthiseyeuponitintentlyforsometime，tillhecomposedhimself。Hisfeelings，Idaresay，wereaukwardenough。Buthenodoubtrecollectedhishavingratedmeforsupposingthathecouldbeatalldisconcertedbyanycompany，andhe，therefore，resolutelysethimselftobehavequiteasaneasymanoftheworld，whocouldadapthimselfatoncetothedispositionandmannersofthosewhomhemightchancetomeet。
　　Thecheeringsoundof’Dinnerisuponthetable，’dissolvedhisreverie，andweALLsatdownwithoutanysymptomofillhumour。
　　Therewerepresent，besideMr。Wilkes，andMr。ArthurLee，whowasanoldcompanionofminewhenhestudiedphysickatEdinburgh，Mr。
　　nowSirJohnMiller，Dr。Lettsom，andMr。Slaterthedruggist。
　　Mr。WilkesplacedhimselfnexttoDr。Johnson，andbehavedtohimwithsomuchattentionandpoliteness，thathegaineduponhiminsensibly。NomaneatmoreheartilythanJohnson，orlovedbetterwhatwasniceanddelicate。Mr。Wilkeswasveryassiduousinhelpinghimtosomefineveal。’Praygivemeleave，Sir：——Itisbetterhere——Alittleofthebrown——Somefat，Sir——Alittleofthestuffing——Somegravy——Letmehavethepleasureofgivingyousomebutter——Allowmetorecommendasqueezeofthisorange；——orthelemon，perhaps，mayhavemorezest。’——’Sir，Sir，Iamobligedtoyou，Sir，’criedJohnson，bowing，andturninghisheadtohimwithalookforsometimeof’surlyvirtue，’but，inashortwhile，ofcomplacency。
　　Footebeingmentioned，Johnsonsaid，’Heisnotagoodmimick。’
　　Oneofthecompanyadded，’AmerryAndrew，abuffoon。’JOHNSON。
　　’Buthehaswittoo，andisnotdeficientinideas，orinfertilityandvarietyofimagery，andnotemptyofreading；hehasknowledgeenoughtofilluphispart。Onespeciesofwithehasinaneminentdegree，thatofescape。Youdrivehimintoacornerwithbothhands；buthe’sgone，Sir，whenyouthinkyouhavegothim——
　　likeananimalthatjumpsoveryourhead。Thenhehasagreatrangeforwit；heneverletstruthstandbetweenhimandajest，andheissometimesmightycoarse。GarrickisundermanyrestraintsfromwhichFooteisfree。’WILKES。’Garrick’switismorelikeLordChesterfield’s。’JOHNSON。’ThefirsttimeIwasincompanywithFootewasatFitzherbert’s。Havingnogoodopinionofthefellow，Iwasresolvednottobepleased；anditisverydifficulttopleaseamanagainsthiswill。Iwentoneatingmydinnerprettysullenly，affectingnottomindhim。Butthedogwassoverycomical，thatIwasobligedtolaydownmyknifeandfork，throwmyselfbackuponmychair，andfairlylaughitout。No，Sir，hewasirresistible。Heupononeoccasionexperienced，inanextraordinarydegree，theefficacyofhispowersofentertaining。
　　Amongstthemanyandvariousmodeswhichhetriedofgettingmoney，hebecameapartnerwithasmall-beerbrewer，andhewastohaveashareoftheprofitsforprocuringcustomersamongsthisnumerousacquaintance。Fitzherbertwasonewhotookhissmall-beer；butitwassobadthattheservantsresolvednottodrinkit。Theywereatsomelosshowtonotifytheirresolution，beingafraidofoffendingtheirmaster，whotheyknewlikedFootemuchasacompanion。Atlasttheyfixeduponalittleblackboy，whowasratherafavourite，tobetheirdeputy，anddelivertheirremonstrance；andhavinginvestedhimwiththewholeauthorityofthekitchen，hewastoinformMr。Fitzherbert，inalltheirnames，uponacertainday，thattheywoulddrinkFoote’ssmall-beernolonger。OnthatdayFootehappenedtodineatFitzherbert’s，andthisboyservedattable；hewassodelightedwithFoote’sstories，andmerriment，andgrimace，thatwhenhewentdownstairs，hetoldthem，“ThisisthefinestmanIhaveeverseen。Iwillnotdeliveryourmessage。Iwilldrinkhissmall-beer。“’
　　SomebodyobservedthatGarrickcouldnothavedonethis。WILKES。
　　’Garrickwouldhavemadethesmall-beerstillsmaller。Heisnowleavingthestage；buthewillplayScruballhislife。’IknewthatJohnsonwouldletnobodyattackGarrickbuthimself，asGarrickoncesaidtome，andIhadheardhimpraisehisliberality；
　　sotobringouthiscommendationofhiscelebratedpupil，Isaid，loudly，’IhaveheardGarrickisliberal。’JOHNSON。’Yes，Sir，I
　　knowthatGarrickhasgivenawaymoremoneythananymaninEnglandthatIamacquaintedwith，andthatnotfromostentatiousviews。
　　Garrickwasverypoorwhenhebeganlife；sowhenhecametohavemoney，heprobablywasveryunskilfulingivingaway，andsavedwhenheshouldnot。ButGarrickbegantobeliberalassoonashecould；andIamofopinion，thereputationofavaricewhichhehashad，hasbeenveryluckyforhim，andpreventedhishavingmanyenemies。Youdespiseamanforavarice，butdonothatehim。
　　Garrickmighthavebeenmuchbetterattackedforlivingwithmoresplendourthanissuitabletoaplayer：iftheyhadhadthewittohaveassaultedhiminthatquarter，theymighthavegalledhimmore。Buttheyhavekeptclamouringabouthisavarice，whichhasrescuedhimfrommuchobloquyandenvy。’
　　PartFour
　　Talkingofthegreatdifficultyofobtainingauthentickinformationforbiography，Johnsontoldus，’WhenIwasayoungfellowIwantedtowritetheLifeofDryden，andinordertogetmaterials，I
　　appliedtotheonlytwopersonsthenalivewhohadseenhim；thesewereoldSwinney，andoldCibber。Swinney’sinformationwasnomorethanthis，“ThatatWill’scoffee-houseDrydenhadaparticularchairforhimself，whichwassetbythefireinwinter，andwasthencalledhiswinter-chair；andthatitwascarriedoutforhimtothebalconyinsummer，andwasthencalledhissummer-
　　chair。“Cibbercouldtellnomorebut“Thatherememberedhimadecentoldman，arbiterofcriticaldisputesatWill’s。“YouaretoconsiderthatCibberwasthenatagreatdistancefromDryden，hadperhapsonelegonlyintheroom，anddurstnotdrawintheother。’BOSWELL。’YetCibberwasamanofobservation？’JOHNSON。
　　’Ithinknot。’BOSWELL。’YouwillallowhisApologytobewelldone。’JOHNSON。’Verywelldone，tobesure，Sir。ThatbookisastrikingproofofthejusticeofPope’sremark：
　　“Eachmighthisseveralprovincewellcommand，Wouldallbutstooptowhattheyunderstand。“’
　　BOSWELL。’Andhisplaysaregood。’JOHNSON。’Yes；butthatwashistrade；l’espritducorps：hehadbeenallhislifeamongplayersandplay-writers。Iwonderedthathehadsolittletosayinconversation，forhehadkeptthebestcompany，andlearntallthatcanbegotbytheear。HeabusedPindartome，andthenshewedmeanOdeofhisown，withanabsurdcouplet，makingalinnetsoaronaneagle’swing。Itoldhimthatwhentheancientsmadeasimile，theyalwaysmadeitlikesomethingreal。’
　　Mr。Wilkesremarked，that’amongalltheboldflightsofShakspeare’simagination，theboldestwasmakingBirnamwoodmarchtoDunsinane；creatingawoodwherethereneverwasashrub；awoodinScotland!ha!ha!ha!’Andhealsoobserved，that’theclannishslaveryoftheHighlandsofScotlandwasthesingleexceptiontoMilton’sremarkof“TheMountainNymph，sweetLiberty，“beingworshippedinallhillycountries。’——’WhenIwasatInverarysaidhe，onavisittomyoldfriend，Archibald，DukeofArgyle，hisdependentscongratulatedmeonbeingsuchafavouriteofhisGrace。
　　Isaid，“Itisthen，gentlemen，truelyluckyforme；forifIhaddispleasedtheDuke，andhehadwishedit，thereisnotaCampbellamongyoubutwouldhavebeenreadytobringJohnWilkes’sheadtohiminacharger。Itwouldhavebeenonly“Offwithhishead!SomuchforAylesbury。“
　　IwasthenmemberforAylesbury。’
　　Mr。ArthurLeementionedsomeScotchwhohadtakenpossessionofabarrenpartofAmerica，andwonderedwhytheyshouldchooseit。
　　JOHNSON。’Why，Sir，allbarrennessiscomparative。TheSCOTCH
　　wouldnotknowittobebarren。’BOSWELL。’Come，come，heisflatteringtheEnglish。YouhavenowbeeninScotland，Sir，andsayifyoudidnotseemeatanddrinkenoughthere。’JOHNSON。
　　’Whyyes，Sir；meatanddrinkenoughtogivetheenhabitantssufficientstrengthtorunawayfromhome。’Allthesequickandlivelysalliesweresaidsportively，quiteinjest，andwithasmile，whichshowedthathemeantonlywit。UponthistopickheandMr。Wilkescouldperfectlyassimilate；herewasabondofunionbetweenthem，andIwasconsciousthatasbothofthemhadvisitedCaledonia，bothwerefullysatisfiedofthestrangenarrowignoranceofthosewhoimaginethatitisalandoffamine。Buttheyamusedthemselveswithperseveringintheoldjokes。WhenI
　　claimedasuperiorityforScotlandoverEnglandinonerespect，thatnomancanbearrestedthereforadebtmerelybecauseanotherswearsitagainsthim；buttheremustfirstbethejudgementofacourtoflawascertainingitsjustice；andthataseizureoftheperson，beforejudgementisobtained，cantakeplaceonly，ifhiscreditorshouldswearthatheisabouttoflyfromthecountry，or，asitistechnicallyexpressed，isinmeditationefugoe：WILKES。
　　’That，Ishouldthink，maybesafelyswornofalltheScotchnation。’JOHNSON。toMr。Wilkes，’Youmustknow，Sir，IlatelytookmyfriendBoswellandshewedhimgenuinecivilisedlifeinanEnglishprovincialtown。IturnedhimlooseatLichfield，mynativecity，thathemightseeforoncerealcivility：foryouknowhelivesamongsavagesinScotland，andamongrakesinLondon。’
　　WILKES。’Exceptwhenheiswithgrave，sober，decentpeoplelikeyouandme。’JOHNSON。smiling，’Andweashamedofhim。’
　　Theywerequitefrankandeasy。JohnsontoldthestoryofhisaskingMrs。Macaulaytoallowherfootmantositdownwiththem，toprovetheridiculousnessoftheargumentfortheequalityofmankind；andhesaidtomeafterwards，withanodofsatisfaction，’YousawMr。Wilkesacquiesced。’WilkestalkedwithallimaginablefreedomoftheludicroustitlegiventotheAttorney-General，DiabolusRegis；adding，’Ihavereasontoknowsomethingaboutthatofficer；forIwasprosecutedforalibel。’Johnson，whomanypeoplewouldhavesupposedmusthavebeenfuriouslyangryathearingthistalkedofsolightly，saidnotaword。Hewasnow，INDEED，’agood-humouredfellow。’
　　AfterdinnerwehadanaccessionofMrs。Knowles，theQuakerlady，wellknownforhervarioustalents，andofMr。AldermanLee。
　　Amidstsomepatriotickgroans，somebodyIthinktheAlderman
　　said，’PooroldEnglandislost。’JOHNSON。’Sir，itisnotsomuchtobelamentedthatOldEnglandislost，asthattheScotchhavefoundit。’WILKES。’HadLordButegovernedScotlandonly，I