between the sexes.

JOHNSON. "Sir, there is no

trusting to that crazy piety."

I observed that it was strange how well Scotchmen were known to one another in their own country, though born in very distant counties; for we do not find that the gentlemen of neighbouring counties in England are mutually known to each other. Johnson, with his usual acuteness, at once saw and explained the reason of this: "Why, sir, you have Edinburgh, where the gentlemen from all your counties meet, and which is not so large but they are all known. There is no such common place of collection in England, except London, where from its great size, and diffusion, many of those who reside in contiguous counties of England may long remain unknown to each other."

On Tuesday, March 26, there came for us an equipage properly suited to a wealthy well-beneficed clergyinan: Dr. Taylor's large roomy post-chaise, drawn by four stout plump horses, and driven by two steady jolly postilions, which conveyed us to Ashbourne; where I found my friend's schoolfellow living upon an establishment perfectly corresponding with his substantial creditable equipage: his house, garden, pleasure-ground, table, in short every thing good, and no scantiness appearing. Every man should form such a plan of living as he can execute completely. Let him not draw an outline wider than he can fill up. I have seen many skeletons of show and magnificence which excite at once ridicule and pity. Dr. Taylor had a good estate of his own, and good preferment in the church, being a prebendary of Westminster, and rector of Bosworth. He was a diligent justice of the peace, and presided over the town of Ashbourne, to the inhabitants of which I was told he was very liberal; and as a proof of this

it was mentioned to me, he had the preceding winter distributed two hundred pounds among such of them as stood in need of his assistance. He had consequently a considerable political interest in the county of Derby, which he employed to support the Devonshire family; for though the schoolfellow and friend of Johnson, he was a whig." I could not perceive in his character much congeniality of any sort with that of Johnson, who, however, said to me, "Sir, he has a very strong understanding." His size, and figure, and countenance, and manner, were that of a hearty English squire, with the parson super-induced: and I took particular notice of his upper-servant, Mr.' Peters, a decent grave man, in purple clothes, and a large white wig, like the butler or major-domo of a bishop.

Dr. Johnson and Dr. Taylor met with great cordiality; and Johnson soon gave him the same sad account of their schoolfellow, Congreve, that he had given to Mr. Hector; adding a remark of such mo ment to the rational conduct of a man in the decline of life, that deserves to be imprinted upon every mind: "There is nothing against which an old man should be so much upon his guard as putting himself to nurse.' Innumerable have been the melancholy instances of men once distinguished for firmness, re solution, and spirit, who in their latter days have been! governed like children, by interested female artifice.

1

Dr. Taylor commended a physician who was known to him and Dr. Johnson, and said, "I fight? many battles for him, as many people in the country dislike him." JOHNSON. "But you should consider,ot sir, that by every one of your victories he is a loser ; for every man of whom you get the better will bel

[Dr. Butter, who afterwards came to practise in London, and attended Johnson in his last illness.-ED.]

it

very angry, and resolve not to employ him; whereas if people get the better of you in argument about him, they'll think, We'll send for Dr. [Butter] nevertheless.'" This was an observation deep and sure in human nature. 697 capa

1

Next day we talked of a book in which an eminent judge was arraigned before the bar of the publick, as having pronounced an unjust decision in a great cause. Dr. Johnson maintained that this publication would not give any uneasiness to the judge. "For," said he," either he acted honestly, or he meant to do injustice. If he acted honestly, his own consciousness will protect him; if he meant to do injustice, he will be glad to see the man who attacks him so much vexed."

Next day, as Dr. Johnson had acquainted Dr. Taylor of the reason for his returning speedily' to. London, it was resolved that we should set out after dinner. A few of Dr. Taylor's neighbours were his guests that day.

Dr. Johnson talked with approbation of one who' had attained to the state of the philosophical wise man, that is, to have no want of any thing. "Then, sir," said I, "the savage is a wise man." "Sir," said he, "I do not mean simply being without,-but not having a want." I maintained, against this proposition, that it was better to have fine clothes, for instance, than not to feel the want of them. SON. “No, sir; fine clothes are good only as they supply the want of other means of procuring respect. Was Charles the Twelfth, think you, less respected for his coarse blue coat and black stock? And you find the King of Prussia dresses plain, because the dignity of his character is sufficient." I here brought

JOHN

' [Andrew Stuart's “Letters to Lord Mansfield on the Douglas Cause."ED.]

ED.

myself into a scrape, for I heedlessly said, "Would not you, sir, be the better for velvet embroidery ?” JOHNSON. "Sir, you put an end to all argument when you introduce your opponent himself. Have you no better manners? There is your want1.” CI apologised by saying, I had mentioned him as an instance of one who wanted as little as any man in the world, and yet, perhaps, might receive some additional lustre from dress.

Having left Ashbourne in the evening, we stopped to change horses at Derby, and availed ourselves of a moment to enjoy the conversation of my countryman, Dr. Butter, then physician there. He was in great indignation because Lord Mountstuart's bill for a Scotch militia had been lost. Dr. Johnson was as violent against it. "I am glad," said he, "that parliament has had the spirit to throw it out. You wanted to take advantage of the timidity of our scoundrels" (meaning, I suppose, the ministry). It may be observed, that he used the epithet scoundrel, very commonly, not quite in the sense in which it is generally understood, but as a strong term of disapprobation2; as when he abruptly answered Mrs. Thrale, who had asked him how he did, " Ready to become a scoundrel, madam; with a little more spoiling you will, I think, make me a complete rascal 3;" he meant, easy to become a capricious and self-indulgent valetudinarian'; a character for which I have heard him express great disgust; [particularly when it connected itself in his mind with intellectual

3

[The want seems, on this occasion, to have been common to both.-ED.] 2["It is so very difficult," he said, on another occasion, to Mrs. Piozzi, "for a sick man not to be a scoundrel." It may be here observed, that scoundrel seems to have been a favourite word of his. In his Dictionary, he defined knave, a scoundrel; loon, a scoundrel; lout, a scoundrel; poltroon, a scoundrel; sneakup, a scoundrel; rascal, a scoundrel; and scoundrel itself he defines a mean rascal; a low petty villain.-ED.]

3 Anecdotes, p. 176.-BoswELL.

4 [See post, 16th Sept. 1777.-ED.]

apathy.] ["Nothing more certainly offended Dr. Piozzi, Johnson than the idea of a man's mental faculties

decaying by time. It is not true; sir,' would he say: what a man could once do, he would always do, unless, indeed, by dint of vicious indolence, and compliance with the nephews and nieces who crowd round an old fellow, and help to tuck him in, till he, contented with the exchange of fame for ease, e'en resolves to let them set the pillows at his back, and gives no farther proof of his existence than just to suck the jelly that prolongs it.""]

Johnson had with him upon this jaunt "Il Palmerino d'Inghilterra," a romance praised by Cervantes; but did not like it much. He said, he read it for the language, by way of preparation for his Italian expedition. We lay this night at Loughborough.

On Thursday, March 28, we pursued our journey. I mentioned that old Mr. Sheridan complained of the ingratitude of Mr. Wedderburne and General Fraser, who had been much obliged to him when they were young Scotchmen entering upon life in England. JOHNSON. " Why, sir, a man is very apt to complain of the ingratitude of those who have risen far above him. A man, when he gets into a higher sphere, into other habits of life, cannot keep up all his former connexions. Then, sir, those who knew him formerly upon a level with themselves may think that they ought still to be treated as on a level, which cannot be and an acquaintance in a former situation may bring out things which it would be very disagreeable to have mentioned before higher company, though, perhaps, every body knows of them." He placed this subject in a new light to me, and showed, that a man who has risen in the world must not be condemned too harshly, for being distant to former

p. 152.