he expresses himself thus: 'My god-son called on me lately. He is weary, and rationally weary, of a military life. If you can place him in some other state, I think you may increase his happiness, and secure his virtue. A soldier's time is passed in distress and dan. ger, or in idleness and corruption.' Such was his cool reflection in his study; but whenever he was warmed and animated by the presence of company, he, like other philosophers, whose minds are impregnated with poetical fancy, caught the common enthusiasm for splendid renown."

Boswell having mentioned lord Charles Hay, with whom he knew Dr. Johnson had been acquainted. JOHNSON. "I wrote something for Lord Charles; and I thought he had nothing to fear from a court-martial. I suffered a great loss when he died; he was a mighty pleasing man in conversa❤ tion, and a reading man. The character of a soldier is high. They who stand forth the foremost in danger for the community, have the respect of mankind. An officer is much more respected than any other man who has as little money. In a commercial country, money will always purchase respect : but you find, an officer who has, properly speaking, no money, is every where well received, and treated with attention. The character of a soldier always stands him in stead." BOSWELL." Yet, sir, I think that common soldiers are worse thought of than other men in the same rank of life; such as la bourers." JOHNSON. "Why sir, a common soldier is usually a very gross man, and any quality which procures respect may be overwhelmed by grossness. A man of learning may be so vicious, that you caunot respect him. A common soldier too generally.

eats more than he can pay for. But when a common soldier is civil in his quarters, his red coat procures him a degree of respect." The peculiar respect paid to the military character in France was mentioned. BOSWELL. "I should think, that where military men are so numerous, they would be less valued, as not being rare." JOHNSON. "Nay, sir, wherever a particular character or profession is high in the estimation of a people, those who are of it will be valued above other men. We value an Englishman high in this country, and yet Englishmen are not rare in it."

The following is one of the many sketches of character which was treasured in his mind, and which he was wont to produce quite unexpectedly in a very entertaining manner. "I lately received a letter from the East-Indies from a gentleman whom I formerly knew very well; he had returned from that country with a handsome fortune, as it was reckoned, before means were found to acquire those immense sums which have been brought from thence of late; he was a scholar, and an agreeable man, and lived very prettily in London, till his wife died. After her death, he took to dissipation and gaming, and lost all he had. One evening he lost a thousand pounds to a gentleman whose name I am sorry I have forgotten. Next morning he sent the gentle man five hundred pounds, with an apology that it was all he had in the world. The gentleman sent the money back to him, declaring he would not accept of it; and adding, that if Mr. *** had occasion for five hundred pounds more, he would lend it to him. He resolved to go out again to the East Indies, and make his fortune anew. He got a con

siderable appointment, and I had some intention of accompanying him. Had I thought then as I do now, I should have gone: but at that time I had objections to quitting England."

:

Boswell mentioned a new gaming-club, of which Mr. Beauclerk had given him an account, where the members played to a desperate extent. JOHNSON. "Depend upon it, sir, this is mere talk. Who is ruined by gaming? You will not find six instances in an age. There is a strange rout made about deep play whereas you have many more ruined by adventurous trade, and yet we do not hear such an outcry against it." THRALE. "There may be few people absolutely ruined by deep play; but very many are much hurt in their circumstances by it." JOHNSON. "Yes, sir, and so are very many by other kinds of expense." Boswell adds, "I had heard him talk once before in the same manner; and at Oxford he said, he wished he had learned to play at cards. The truth, however, is, that he loved to display his ingenuity in argument, and therefore would sometimes in conversation maintain opinions, which he was sensible were wrong, but in supporting which, his reasoning and wit would be most conspicuous. He would begin thus: Why, sir, as to the good or evil of card-playing-' 'Now,' said Garrick, he is thinking which side he shall take.' He appeared to have a pleasure in contradiction, especially when any opinion whatever was delivered with an air of confidence; so that there was hardly any topic, if not one of the great truths of religion and morality, that he might not have been incited to argue either for or against."

Johnson spoke of St. Kilda, the most remote of

the Hebrides. Boswell told him he thought of buying it. JOHNSON. "Pray do, sir. We will go and pass a winter amid the blasts there. We shall have fine fish, and we will take some dried tongues with us, and some books. We will have a strong built vessel, and some Orkney men to navigate her. We must build a tolerable house: but we may carry with us a wooden house ready made, and requiring nothing but to be put up. Consider, sir, by buying St. Kilda, you may keep the people from falling into worse hands. We must give them a clergyman, and he shall be one of Beattie's choosing. He shall be educated at Marischal college. I'll be your lord chancellor, or what you please." BOSWELL. "Are you serious, sir, in advising me to buy St. Kilda? for if you should advise me to go to Japan, I believe I should do it." JOHNSON." Why, yes, sir, I am serious." BOSWELL. "Why, then, I'll see what can be done."

Boswell told Dr. Johnson he had been talking of him to Mr. Dunning a few days before, and had said, that in his company we did not so much interchange conversation, as listen to him; and that Dunning observed, upon this, "One is always willing to listen to Dr. Johnson;" to which Boswell answered, "That is a great deal from you, sir."-" Yes, sir," said Johnson," a great deal indeed. Here is a man will. ing to listen, to whom the world is listening all the rest of the year." BOSWELL." I think, sir, it is right to tell one man of such a handsome thing which has been said of him by another. It tends to increase benevolence." JOHNSON. "Undoubtedly, it is right, sir."

"I told him," says Boswell, "that our friend

Goldsmith had complained to me, that he had come too late into the world, for that Pope and other poets had taken up the places in the temple of Fame; so that as but a few at any period can possess poetical reputation, a man of genius can now hardly acquire it. JOHNSON. That is one of the most sensible things I have ever heard of Goldsmith. It is difficult to get literary fame, and it is every day growing more difficult.'”

Boswell described to him an impudent fellow from Scotland, who affected to be a savage, and railed at all established systems. JOHNSON. "There is nothing surprising in this, sir. He wants to make himself conspicuous, He would tumble in a hog. sty, 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." BOSWELL. "The same person maintains that there is 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 liar. But if he does really think that there is no distinction be tween virtue and vice, why, sir, when he leaves our houses, let us count our spoons."

Having come from the Pantheon, Boswell said there was not half-a-guinea's worth of pleasure in seeing that place. JOHNSON. "But, sir, there is half-a-guinea's worth of inferiority to other people in not having seen it." BosWELL. "I doubt, sir, whether there are many happy people here." JOHN, SON. "Yes, sir, there are many happy people here. There are many people here who are watching hundreds, and who think hundreds are watching them."