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"ONE MORE UNFORTUNATE.”

to teach?' Besides, Sir, what influence can Mr. Sheridan have upon the language of this great country, by his narrow exertions? Sir, it is burning a farthing candle at Dover, to show light at Calais."

Sheridan had been pensioned about a year before, and Johnson, hearing of it, had said, "What! have they given him a pension? Then it is time for me to give up mine." This pretty little speech had, of course, been carried to Sheridan, who never forgot the saying or forgave the man who made it.

As Johnson and Boswell were walking along the Strand that night, after leaving the Turk's Head, a woman of the town came up to them-making the usual overtures. "No, no, my girl," said Johnson; "it won't do." But that was all; no railing accusation, no harsh repulse, nothing but deep pity for the poor forlorn wretch and silent rejection of all her enticements. Was it that the moralist, looking with the eyes of a good man's heart and not those of a political economist's head, saw, in the miserable woman, not some shameless creature making market of her degradation, but rather

"One more unfortunate,
Weary of breath?"

But here is a grand practical proof of his humanity towards one of those poor wretches; so well authenticated that it cannot be called in question. Coming home late one night he found a woman lying in the street, so much exhausted that she could not walk. He took her on his back, carried her to his own house, had her wants attended to during a long illness, and, on her recovery, endeavoured to put her into a virtuous way of living. We shall not ask what this man's religious creed was, in the light of an act like that.

Towards the poor and the miserable Johnson was always especially indulgent. "What signifies," asks some one, "giving halfpence to common beggars? They only lay it out in gin and tobacco." "And why," Johnson replies, "should they be denied such sweeteners of their existence? Life is a pill which none of

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127

us can bear to swallow without gilding; yet for the poor we delight in stripping it still barer, and are not ashamed to show even visible displeasure if ever the bitter taste is taken from their mouths." And he practised his own precept; often giving all the money in his pocket to the poor, who were in the habit of watching him whenever he appeared in the streets. This was poor political economy, perhaps ; but it may pass for pretty good humanity.

"He hath a hand

Open as day for melting charity."

128

TRIP TO GREENWICH.

CHAPTER XIV.

TRIP TO GREENWICH-THE DOCTOR AT SUPPER-PARTING WITH BOSWELL.

(1763).

ON Saturday the two friends enjoyed a double pleasure: a sail on the Thames and the usual conversation by the way.

BOSWELL: "Do you think a knowledge of the Greek and Latin languages an essential requisite to a good education?"

JOHNSON: "Most certainly, Sir; for those who know them have a very great advantage over those who do not. Nay, Sir, it is wonderful what a difference learning makes upon people even in the common intercourse of life, which does not appear to be much connected with it."

BOSWELL: "And yet people go through the world very well and carry on the business of life to good advantage, without learning."

JOHNSON: "Why,Sir, that may be true in cases where learning cannot possibly be of any use; for instance, this boy rows us as well without learning as if he could sing the song of Orpheus to the Argonauts, who were the first sailors. What would you give, my lad, to know about the Argonauts?"

Boy: "I would give what I have." [The boy receives a double fare for his satisfactory answer.]

JOHNSON [turning to Boswell]: "Sir, a desire of knowledge is the natural feeling of mankind; and every human being whose mind is not debauched, will be willing to give all that he has to get knowledge."

They landed at the Old Swan, walked to Billingsgate, took boat again, and sailed smoothly down the Thames. It was a glorious

TRIP TO GREENWICH.

129

day; the river was crowded with ships lying at anchor; and the country on every side looked splendid in the light of the midday sun. Nature, except when working through men, was never a great force in either of our excursionists; but she must this day have slid into their souls and done her gentle work in her own grand silent way.

Preaching was mentioned, and the great success of the Methodists (a name only about thirty years old at that time) was alluded to.

JOHNSON: "Sir, it is owing to their expressing themselves in a plain and familiar manner, which is the only way to do good to the common people, and which clergymen of genius and learning ought to do from a principle of duty, when it is suited to their congregations; a practice for which they will be praised by men of sense. To insist against drunkenness as a crime, because it debases reason, the noblest faculty of man, would be of no service to the common people: but to tell them that they may die in a fit of drunkenness and show them how dreadful that would be, cannot fail to make a deep impression. Sir, when your Scotch clergy give up their homely manner, religion will soon decay in that country."

They now reached Greenwich, and Boswell there did his hero the honour of quoting with great enthusiasm four lines from "London" in its praise :

"On Thames's banks in silent thought we stood,
Where Greenwich smiles upon the silver flood:
Pleas'd with the seat which gave Eliza birth,

We kneel, and kiss the consecrated earth."

They did not kneel on this occasion; they contented themselves with a walk in Greenwich Park.

JOHNSON: "Is not this very fine?"

BOSWELL: "Yes, sir; but not equal to Fleet Street."

JOHNSON: "You are right, sir."

What would Wordsworth have said to such barefaced Philis

tinism?

к

130

BOSWELL AND MRS. WILLIAMS.

"One impulse from a vernal wood
May teach you more of man,

Of moral evil and of good,

Than all the sages can.

But we must learn to tolerate the most perfect opposites in the men whom we equally love and reverence.

Our friends returned to London late in the evening; Boswell shivering with cold, and getting, by way of cure and comfort, a sharp "Why do you shiver?" from the imperturbable Doctor, whom wind and weather never harmed.

This delightful holiday was closed in a truly characteristic fashion, at the Turk's Head. Men, manners, and books: these were Johnson's only true loves; to other fairs he could indeed pay a flying visit, but not even the Genius of Nature could keep him long away.

Next day, Sunday, Boswell told Johnson that he had been at a Quaker's meeting in the morning, and had heard a woman preach.

JOHNSON: "Sir, a woman's preaching is like a dog's walking on his hind legs. It is not done well; but you are surprised to find it done at all."

On Tuesday, August 2nd, Boswell had the desire of his heart at last, in being taken to Mrs. Williams's to drink tea. This night, tea, talk, and hostess were all sublime; but afterwards, when the novelty of the honour had a little worn off through frequent visits, he does not appear to have been quite so overjoyed. He used to fancy that Mrs. Williams put her fingers into the cups to discover if they were full; and he was squeamish enough to feel a sinking of the heart at the sight of such liberties taken with what was so soon to be a portion of himself. He was mistaken, however; the old lady only touched the outside of the cups, and by an extremely nice sense ascertained in that way if they were filled.

After tea he was shown his hero's favourite walk: a long narrow paved court in the neighbourhood, overshadowed by a few trees.