Life of Samuel Johnson, Vol. I — Part 28

On Tuesday the 5th of July, I again visited Johnson.

He told me he had looked into the poems of a pretty voluminous writer, Mr. (now Dr. ) John Ogilvie, one of the Presbyterian ministers of Scotland, which had lately come out, but could find no thinking in them.

BOSWELL.

'Is there not imagination in them, Sir?'

JOHNSON.

'Why, Sir, there is in them what _was_ imagination, but it is no more imagination in _him_, than sound is sound in the echo.

And his diction too is not his own.

We have long ago seen _white-robed innocence_, and _flower-bespangled meads_.'

[Page 422: The immensity of London.

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1763. ] Talking of London, he observed, 'Sir, if you wish to have a just notion of the magnitude of this city, you must not be satisfied with seeing its great streets and squares, but must survey the innumerable little lanes and courts.

It is not in the showy evolutions of buildings, but in the multiplicity of human habitations which are crouded together, that the wonderful immensity of London consists.'

--I have often amused myself with thinking how different a place London is to different people.

They, whose narrow minds are contracted to the consideration of some one particular pursuit, view it only through that medium.

A politician thinks of it merely as the seat of government in its different departments; a grazier, as a vast market for cattle; a mercantile man, as a place where a prodigious deal of business is done upon 'Change; a dramatick enthusiast, as the grand scene of theatrical entertainments; a man of pleasure, as an assemblage of taverns, and the great emporium for ladies of easy virtue.

But the intellectual man is struck with it, as comprehending the whole of human life in all its variety, the contemplation of which is inexhaustible[1252].

[Page 423: Goldsmith's eagerness to shine.

Ætat 54. ] On Wednesday, July 6, he was engaged to sup with me at my lodgings in Downing-street, Westminster.

But on the preceding night my landlord having behaved very rudely to me and some company who were with me, I had resolved not to remain another night in his house.

I was exceedingly uneasy at the aukward appearance I supposed I should make to Johnson and the other gentlemen whom I had invited, not being able to receive them at home, and being obliged to order supper at the Mitre.

I went to Johnson in the morning, and talked of it as a serious distress.

He laughed, and said, 'Consider, Sir, how insignificant this will appear a twelvemonth hence.'

--Were this consideration to be applied to most of the little vexatious incidents of life, by which our quiet is too often disturbed, it would prevent many painful sensations.

I have tried it frequently, with good effect.

'There is nothing (continued he) in this mighty misfortune; nay, we shall be better at the Mitre.'

I told him that I had been at Sir John Fielding's office, complaining of my landlord, and had been informed, that though I had taken my lodgings for a year, I might, upon proof of his bad behaviour, quit them when I pleased, without being under an obligation to pay rent for any longer time than while I possessed them.

The fertility of Johnson's mind could shew itself even upon so small a matter as this.

'Why, Sir, (said he,) I suppose this must be the law, since you have been told so in Bow-street.

But, if your landlord could hold you to your bargain, and the lodgings should be yours for a year, you may certainly use them as you think fit.

So, Sir, you may quarter two life-guardsmen upon him; or you may send the greatest scoundrel you can find into your apartments; or you may say that you want to make some experiments in natural philosophy, and may burn a large quantity of assafoetida in his house.'

I had as my guests this evening at the Mitre tavern, Dr. Johnson, Dr. Goldsmith, Mr. Thomas Davies, Mr. Eccles, an Irish gentleman, for whose agreeable company I was obliged to Mr. Davies, and the Reverend Mr. John Ogilvie[1253], who was desirous of being in company with my illustrious friend, while I, in my turn, was proud to have the honour of shewing one of my countrymen upon what easy terms Johnson permitted me to live with him.

[Page 424: The lawfulness of rebellion.

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1763. ] Goldsmith, as usual, endeavoured, with too much eagerness, to _shine_[1254], and disputed very warmly with Johnson against the well-known maxim of the British constitution, 'the King can do no wrong;'

affirming, that 'what was morally false could not be politically true;

and as the King might, in the exercise of his regal power, command and cause the doing of what was wrong, it certainly might be said, in sense and in reason, that he could do wrong.'

JOHNSON.

'Sir, you are to consider, that in our constitution, according to its true principles, the King is the head; he is supreme; he is above every thing, and there is no power by which he can be tried.

Therefore, it is, Sir, that we hold the King can do no wrong; that whatever may happen to be wrong in government may not be above our reach, by being ascribed to Majesty[1255].

Redress is always to be had against oppression, by punishing the immediate agents.

The King, though he should command, cannot force a Judge to condemn a man unjustly; therefore it is the Judge whom we prosecute and punish.

Political institutions are formed upon the consideration of what will most frequently tend to the good of the whole, although now and then exceptions may occur.

Thus it is better in general that a nation should have a supreme legislative power, although it may at times be abused.

And then, Sir, there is this consideration, that _if the abuse be enormous, Nature will rise up, and claiming her original rights, overturn a corrupt political system_.'

I mark this animated sentence with peculiar pleasure, as a noble instance of that truly dignified spirit of freedom which ever glowed in his heart, though he was charged with slavish tenets by superficial observers; because he was at all times indignant against that false patriotism, that pretended love of freedom, that unruly restlessness, which is inconsistent with the stable authority of any good government[1256].

This generous sentiment, which he uttered with great fervour, struck me exceedingly, and stirred my blood to that pitch of fancied resistance, the possibility of which I am glad to keep in mind, but to which I trust I never shall be forced.

[Page 425: A Scotchman's noblest prospect.

Ætat 54. ] 'Great abilities (said he) are not requisite for an Historian; for in historical composition, all the greatest powers of the human mind are quiescent.

He has facts ready to his hand; so there is no exercise of invention.

Imagination is not required in any high degree; only about as much as is used in the lower kinds of poetry.

Some penetration, accuracy, and colouring will fit a man for the task, if he can give the application which is necessary[1257].'

'Bayle's _Dictionary_ is a very useful work for those to consult who love the biographical part of literature, which is what I love most.'

[1258] Talking of the eminent writers in Queen Anne's reign, he observed, 'I think Dr. Arbuthnot the first man among them[1259].

He was the most universal genius, being an excellent physician, a man of deep learning, and a man of much humour.

Mr. Addison was, to be sure, a great man; his learning was not profound; but his morality, his humour, and his elegance of writing, set him very high.'

Mr. Ogilvie was unlucky enough to choose for the topick of his conversation the praises of his native country.

He began with saying, that there was very rich land round Edinburgh.

Goldsmith, who had studied physick there, contradicted this, very untruly, with a sneering laugh[1260].

Disconcerted a little by this, Mr. Ogilvie then took new ground, where, I suppose, he thought himself perfectly safe; for he observed, that Scotland had a great many noble wild prospects.

JOHNSON.

'I believe, Sir, you have a great many.

Norway, too, has noble wild prospects; and Lapland is remarkable for prodigious noble wild prospects.

But, Sir, let me tell you, the noblest prospect which a Scotchman ever sees, is the high road that leads him to England[1261]!'

[Page 426: The influence of weather.

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1763. ] This unexpected and pointed sally produced a roar of applause.

After all, however, those, who admire the rude grandeur of Nature, cannot deny it to Caledonia.

On Saturday, July 9, I found Johnson surrounded with a numerous levee, but have not preserved any part of his conversation.

On the 14th we had another evening by ourselves at the Mitre.

It happening to be a very rainy night, I made some common-place observations on the relaxation of nerves and depression of spirits which such weather occasioned[1262];

adding, however, that it was good for the vegetable creation.

Johnson, who, as we have already seen[1263], denied that the temperature of the air had any influence on the human frame, answered, with a smile of ridicule, 'Why yes, Sir, it is good for vegetables, and for the animals who eat those vegetables, and for the animals who eat those animals.'

This observation of his aptly enough introduced a good supper; and I soon forgot, in Johnson's company, the influence of a moist atmosphere.

[Page 427: Boswell's father.

Ætat 54. ] Feeling myself now quite at ease as his companion, though I had all possible reverence for him, I expressed a regret that I could not be so easy with my father[1264], though he was not much older than Johnson, and certainly however respectable had not more learning and greater abilities to depress me.

I asked him the reason of this.

JOHNSON.

'Why, Sir, I am a man of the world.

I live in the world, and I take, in some degree, the colour of the world as it moves along.

Your father is a Judge in a remote part of the island, and all his notions are taken from the old world.

Besides, Sir, there must always be a struggle between a father and son, while one aims at power and the other at independence[1265].'

I said, I was afraid my father would force me to be a lawyer.

JOHNSON.

'Sir, you need not be afraid of his forcing you to be a laborious practising lawyer; that is not in his power.

For as the proverb says, "One man may lead a horse to the water, but twenty cannot make him drink."

He may be displeased that you are not what he wishes you to be; but that displeasure will not go far.

If he insists only on your having as much law as is necessary for a man of property, and then endeavours to get you into Parliament, he is quite in the right.'

He enlarged very convincingly upon the excellence of rhyme over blank verse in English poetry[1266].

I mentioned to him that Dr. Adam Smith, in his lectures upon composition, when I studied under him in the College of Glasgow, had maintained the same opinion strenuously, and I repeated some of his arguments.

JOHNSON.

'Sir, I was once in company with Smith, and we did not take to each other[1267]; but had I known that he loved rhyme as much as you tell me he does, I should have HUGGED him.'

[Page 428: The evidences of Christianity.

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1763. ] Talking of those who denied the truth of Christianity, he said, 'It is always easy to be on the negative side.

If a man were now to deny that there is salt upon the table, you could not reduce him to an absurdity.

Come, let us try this a little further.

I deny that Canada is taken, and I can support my denial by pretty good arguments.

The French are a much more numerous people than we; and it is not likely that they would allow us to take it.

"But the ministry have assured us, in all the formality of _The Gazette_, that it is taken."

--Very true.

But the ministry have put us to an enormous expence by the war in America, and it is their interest to persuade us that we have got something for our money.

--"But the fact is confirmed by thousands of men who were at the taking of it."

--Ay, but these men have still more interest in deceiving us.

They don't want that you should think the French have beat them, but that they have beat the French.

Now suppose you should go over and find that it is really taken, that would only satisfy yourself; for when you come home we will not believe you.

We will say, you have been bribed.

--Yet, Sir, notwithstanding all these plausible objections, we have no doubt that Canada is really ours.

Such is the weight of common testimony.

How much stronger are the evidences of the Christian religion!'

'Idleness is a disease which must be combated; but I would not advise a rigid adherence to a particular plan of study.

I myself have never persisted in any plan for two days together.

A man ought to read just as inclination leads him; for what he reads as a task will do him little good.

A young man should read five hours in a day, and so may acquire a great deal of knowledge[1268].'

[Page 429: Johnson's pension.

Ætat 54. ] To a man of vigorous intellect and arduous curiosity like his own, reading without a regular plan may be beneficial; though even such a man must submit to it, if he would attain a full understanding of any of the sciences.

To such a degree of unrestrained frankness had he now accustomed me, that in the course of this evening I talked of the numerous reflections which had been thrown out against him[1269] on account of his having accepted a pension from his present Majesty.

'Why, Sir, (said he, with a hearty laugh,) it is a mighty foolish noise that they make[1270].

I have accepted of a pension as a reward which has been thought due to my literary merit; and now that I have this pension, I am the same man in every respect that I have ever been[1271]; I retain the same principles.

It is true, that I cannot now curse (smiling) the House of Hanover; nor would it be decent for me to drink King James's health in the wine that King George gives me money to pay for.

But, Sir, I think that the pleasure of cursing the House of Hanover, and drinking King James's health, are amply overbalanced by three hundred pounds a year.'

[Page 430: Johnson's Jacobitism.

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1763. ] There was here, most certainly, an affectation of more Jacobitism than he really had; and indeed an intention of admitting, for the moment, in a much greater extent than it really existed, the charge of disaffection imputed to him by the world[1272], merely for the purpose of shewing how dexterously he could repel an attack, even though he were placed in the most disadvantageous position; for I have heard him declare, that if holding up his right hand would have secured victory at Culloden to Prince Charles's army, he was not sure he would have held it up; so little confidence had he in the right claimed by the house of Stuart, and so fearful was he of the consequences of another revolution on the throne of Great-Britain; and Mr. Topham Beauclerk assured me, he had heard him say this before he had his pension.

At another time he said to Mr. Langton, 'Nothing has ever offered, that has made it worth my while to consider the question fully.'

He, however, also said to the same gentleman, talking of King James the Second, 'It was become impossible for him to reign any longer in this country.'

[1273] He no doubt had an early attachment to the House of Stuart; but his zeal had cooled as his reason strengthened.

Indeed I heard him once say, that 'after the death of a violent Whig, with whom he used to contend with great eagerness, he felt his Toryism much abated.'

[1274] I suppose he meant Mr. Walmsley.

[1275] [Page 431: Whiggism.

Ætat 54. ] Yet there is no doubt that at earlier periods he was wont often to exercise both his pleasantry and ingenuity in talking Jacobitism.

My much respected friend, Dr. Douglas, now Bishop of Salisbury, has favoured me with the following admirable instance from his Lordship's own recollection.

One day when dining at old Mr. Langton's where Miss Roberts,[1276] his niece, was one of the company, Johnson, with his usual complacent attention to the fair sex, took her by the hand and said, 'My dear, I hope you are a Jacobite.'

Old Mr. Langton, who, though a high and steady Tory, was attached to the present Royal Family, seemed offended, and asked Johnson, with great warmth, what he could mean by putting such a question to his niece?

'Why, Sir, (said Johnson) I meant no offence to your niece, I meant her a great compliment.

A Jacobite, Sir, believes in the divine right of Kings.

He that believes in the divine right of Kings believes in a Divinity.

A Jacobite believes in the divine right of Bishops.

He that believes in the divine right of Bishops believes in the divine authority of the Christian religion.

Therefore, Sir, a Jacobite is neither an Atheist nor a Deist.

That cannot be said of a Whig; for _Whiggism is a negation of all principle_[1277].'

He advised me, when abroad, to be as much as I could with the Professors in the Universities, and with the Clergy; for from their conversation I might expect the best accounts of every thing in whatever country I should be, with the additional advantage of keeping my learning alive.

It will be observed, that when giving me advice as to my travels, Dr. Johnson did not dwell upon cities, and palaces, and pictures, and shows, and Arcadian scenes.

He was of Lord Essex's opinion, who advises his kinsman Roger Earl of Rutland, 'rather to go an hundred miles to speak with one wise man, than five miles to see a fair town[1278].'

[Page 432: Lord Hailes.

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1763. ] I described to him an impudent fellow[1279] from Scotland, who affected to be a savage, and railed at all established systems.

JOHNSON.

'There is nothing surprizing in this, Sir.

He wants to make himself conspicuous.

He would tumble in a hogstye, as long as you looked at him and called to him to come out.

But let him alone, never mind him, and he'll soon give it over.'

I added, that the same person maintained that there was no distinction between virtue and vice.

JOHNSON.

'Why, Sir, if the fellow does not think as he speaks, he is lying; and I see not what honour he can propose to himself from having the character of a lyar.

But if he does really think that there is no distinction between virtue and vice, why, Sir, when he leaves our houses let us count our spoons[1280].'

Sir David Dalrymple, now one of the Judges of Scotland by the title of Lord Hailes, had contributed much to increase my high opinion of Johnson, on account of his writings, long before I attained to a personal acquaintance with him; I, in return, had informed Johnson of Sir David's eminent character for learning and religion[1281]; and Johnson was so much pleased, that at one of our evening meetings he gave him for his toast.

I at this time kept up a very frequent correspondence with Sir David; and I read to Dr. Johnson to-night the following passage from the letter which I had last received from him:-- 'It gives me pleasure to think that you have obtained the friendship of Mr. Samuel Johnson.

He is one of the best moral writers which England has produced.

At the same time, I envy you the free and undisguised converse with such a man.

May I beg you to present my best respects to him, and to assure him of the veneration which I entertain for the authour of the _Rambler_ and of _Rasselas_?

Let me recommend this last work to you; with the _Rambler_ you certainly are acquainted.

In _Rasselas_ you will see a tender-hearted operator, who probes the wound only to heal it.

Swift, on the contrary, mangles human nature.

He cuts and slashes, as if he took pleasure in the operation, like the tyrant who said, _Ita feri ut se sentiat emori_[1282].'

[Page 433: Journal-keeping.

Ætat 54. ] Johnson seemed to be much gratified by this just and well-turned compliment.

He recommended to me to keep a journal of my life, full and unreserved[1283].

He said it would be a very good exercise, and would yield me great satisfaction when the particulars were faded from my remembrance.

I was uncommonly fortunate in having had a previous coincidence of opinion with him upon this subject, for I had kept such a journal for some time[1284]; and it was no small pleasure to me to have this to tell him, and to receive his approbation.

He counselled me to keep it private, and said I might surely have a friend who would burn it in case of my death.

From this habit I have been enabled to give the world so many anecdotes, which would otherwise have been lost to posterity.

I mentioned that I was afraid I put into my journal too many little incidents.

JOHNSON.

'There is nothing, Sir, too little for so little a creature as man.

It is by studying little things that we attain the great art of having as little misery and as much happiness as possible[1285].'

[Page 434: Sir Thomas Robinson.

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1763. ] Next morning Mr. Dempster happened to call on me, and was so much struck even with the imperfect account which I gave him of Dr. Johnson's conversation, that to his honour be it recorded, when I complained that drinking port and sitting up late with him affected my nerves for some time after, he said, 'One had better be palsied at eighteen than not keep company with such a man[1286].'

[Page 435: The King of Prussia.

Ætat 54. ] On Tuesday, July 18[1287], I found tall Sir Thomas Robinson[1288] sitting with Johnson.

Sir Thomas said, that the king of Prussia valued himself upon three things;--upon being a hero, a musician, and an authour.

JOHNSON.

'Pretty well, Sir, for one man.

As to his being an authour, I have not looked at his poetry; but his prose is poor stuff.

He writes just as you might suppose Voltaire's footboy to do, who has been his amanuensis.

He has such parts as the valet might have, and about as much of the colouring of the style as might be got by transcribing his works.'

When I was at Ferney, I repeated this to Voltaire, in order to reconcile him somewhat to Johnson, whom he, in affecting the English mode of expression, had previously characterised as 'a superstitious dog;' but after hearing such a criticism on Frederick the Great, with whom he was then on bad terms, he exclaimed, 'An honest fellow[1289]!'

But I think the criticism much too severe; for the _Memoirs of the House of Brandenburgh_ are written as well as many works of that kind.

His poetry, for the style of which he himself makes a frank apology, '_Jargonnant un François barbare_,' though fraught with pernicious ravings of infidelity, has, in many places, great animation, and in some a pathetick tenderness[1290].

Upon this contemptuous animadversion on the King of Prussia, I observed to Johnson, 'It would seem then, Sir, that much less parts are necessary to make a King, than to make an Authour; for the King of Prussia is confessedly the greatest King now in Europe, yet you think he makes a very poor figure as an Authour.'

[Page 436: Johnson's library.

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1763. ] Mr. Levet this day shewed 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[1291].

I found a number of good books, but very dusty and in great confusion[1292].

The floor was strewed with manuscript leaves, in Johnson's own hand-writing, 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 chymical experiments, of which Johnson was all his life very fond[1293].

The place seemed to be very favourable 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_.'

I am, however, satisfied that every servant, of any degree of intelligence, understands saying his master is not at home, not at all as the affirmation of a fact, but as customary words, intimating that his master wishes not to be seen; so that there can be no bad effect from it.

[Page 437: Copyright in books.

Ætat 54. ] Mr. Temple, now vicar of St. Gluvias, Cornwall[1294], who had been my intimate friend for many years, had at this time chambers in Farrar's-buildings, at the bottom of Inner Temple-lane, which he kindly lent me upon my quitting my lodgings, he being to return to Trinity Hall, Cambridge.

I found them particularly convenient for me, as they were so near Dr. Johnson's.