Library of English Classics

BOSWELL

A

London

Macmillan and Co., Limited
New York: The Macmillan Company

1900

THE LIFE

OF

SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL.D.

APRIL 17, being Good Friday, I waited on Johnson as usual. I observed at breakfast that although it was a part of his abstemious discipline on this most solemn fast, to take no milk in his tea, yet when Mrs. Desmoulins inadvertently poured it in, he did not reject it. I talked of the strange indecision of mind, and imbecility in the common occurrences of life, which we may observe in some people. JOHNSON: "Why, Sir, I am in the habit of getting others to do things for me." BOSWELL: "What, Sir! have you that weakness?" JOHNSON : Yes, Sir. But I always think afterwards I should have done better for myself."

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I told him that at a gentleman's house where there was thought to be such extravagance or bad management, that he was living much beyond his income, his lady had objected to the cutting of a pickled mango, and that I had taken an opportunity to ask the price of it, and found that it was only two shillings; so here was a very poor saving. JOHNSON: "Sir, that is the blundering economy of a narrow understanding. It is stopping one hole in a sieve."

I expressed some inclination to publish an account of my travels upon the continent of Europe, for which I had a variety of materials collected. JOHNSON: "I do not