Oxford.

The

first

BATRACHOMYOMA

CHIA2.

The Duke sent Mr. Thrale

partridges and fruit.

At night we came to Oxford.

imperfect copy of which was put up to public sale in 1812, when there was a competition amongst men eminent for learning, rank, and fortune; and, according to their estimation of its value, it was sold for the sum of one thousand and sixty pounds ten shillings. —App. 9.

The Battle of the Frogs and Mice. The first edition was printed by Laonicus Cretensis, 1486. This book consists of forty-one pages, small quarto, and the

verses are printed with red and black ink

alternately. A copy

was sold at Dr.

Askew's sale, 1775, for fourteen guineas.

4. Mr. Coulson was a senior Fellow of University College; in habit and appear

Beaconsfield.

Vansittart told me his dis

temper.

Afterwards we were at Burke's, where we heard of the dissolution

A

ance somewhat resembling Johnson himself, and was considered in his time as an Oxford character. He took his degree of A. M. April 12, 1746. After this visit, Dr. Johnson told Mrs. Thrale that he was the man designated in the Rambler, under the name of Gelidus the Philosopher. See App. 10.

Dr. Robert Vansittart, Fellow of All Souls, and Regius Professor of Law; uncle to the present Chancellor of the Exchequer.

of the Parliament. We went

home'.

< Mrs. Thrale says, " Dr. Johnson had always a very great personal regard and particular affection for Mr. Burke; and when at this time the general election broke up the delightful society in which we had spent some time at Beaconsfield, Dr. Johnson shook the hospitable master of the house kindly by the hand, and said, Farewell, my dear sir, and remember that I wish you all the success which ought to be wished you, which can possibly be wished you, by an honest man.""

London.

Bolt Court.

150

OPINIONS AND OBSERVATIONS,

BY DR. JOHNSON.

1. LIFE, to be worthy of a rational being, must be always in progression; we must always purpose to do more and better than in time past.

2. Of real evils the number is great; of possible evils there is no end.

3. The desire of fame not regulated, is as dangerous to virtue as that of money.

4. Flashy, light, and loud con