mals are put to pain, but I do not wish him to desist. No, sir, I wish him to drive on.”

Yet the reverend Dr. Maxwell of Ireland, some time assistant preacher at the Temple, and for many years the social friend of Johnson, said of him, "His philosophy, though austere and solemn, was by no means morose and cynical, and never blunted the laudable sensibilities of his character, or exempted him from the influence of the tender passions. Want of tenderness, he always alleged, was want of parts, and was no less a proof of stupidity than of depravity."

Speaking of a certain prelate, who exerted himself very laudably in building churches and parsonage-houses; "however," "said he, "I do not find that he is esteemed a man of such professional learning, or a liberal patron of it; yet it is well where a man possesses any strong positive excellence. Few have all kinds of merit belonging to their character. We must not examine matters too deeply-No, sir, a fallible being will fail somewhere."

He observed, it was a most mortifying reflection for any man to consider what he had done, compared with what he might have done.

He also said, that so many objections might be made to every thing, that nothing could overcome them but the necessity of doing something. No man would be of any profession, as simply opposed to not being of it; but every one must do something.

On another occasion, however, he made the common remark on the unhappiness which men who

have led a busy life experience, when they retire in expectation of enjoying themselves at ease; and that they generally languish for want of their habitual occupation, and wish to return to it. He men. tioned as strong an instance of this as can well be imagined. "An eminent tallow-chandler in London, who had acquired a considerable fortune, gave up the trade in favour of his foreman, and went to live at a country-house near town. He soon grew weary, and paid frequent visits to his old shop, where he desired they might let him know their melting-days, and he would come and assist them; which he accordingly did. Here, sir, was a man, to whom the most disgusting circumstances in the business to which he had been used, was a relief from idleness."

He said, mankind have a strong attachment to the habitations to which they have been accustomed. "You see the inhabitants of Norway do not, with one consent, quit it, and go to some part of America, where there is a mild climate, and where they may have the same produce from land with the tenth part of labour. No, sir, their affection for their old dwellings, and the terror of a general change, keep them at home. Thus we see many of the finest spots in the world thinly inhabited, and many rugged spots well inhabited."

Boswell mentioned a friend of his who had re sided long in Spain, and was unwilling to return to Britain. JOHNSON. "Sir, he is attached to some woman." Boswell. "I rather believe, sir, it is the fine climate that keeps him there." JOHNSON. "Nay, sir, how can you talk so? What is climate to happiness? Place me in the heart of Asia,

should I not be exiled? What proportion does climate bear to the complete system of human life? You may advise me to go to live at Bologna to eat sausages. The sausages there are the best in the world; they lose much by being carried.”

He observed, a principal source of erroneous judgment was viewing things partially, and only on one side: as, for instance, fortune-hunters, when they contemplated the fortunes singly and separately, it was a dazzling and tempting object; but when they came to possess the wives and the fortunes together, they began to suspect they had not made quite so good a bargain.

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Boswell gave him an account of the excellent mimicry of a friend of his in Scotland; observing, at the same time, that some people thought it a very mean thing. JOHNSON. Why, sir, it is making a very mean use of man's powers. But to be a good mimic, requires great powers; great acuteness of observation, great retention of what is observed, and great pliancy of organs, to represent what is observed. I remember a lady of quality of this town, lady * * * * *, who was a wonderful mimic, and used to make me laugh immoderately. I have heard she is now gone mad." BOSWELL. "It is amazing how a mimic can not only give you the gestures and voice of a person whom he represents, but even what a person would say on any particular subject." JOHNSON. "Why, sir, you are to consider that the manner and some particular phrases of a person do much to impress you with an idea of him; and you are not sure that he would say what the mimic says in his character." BOSWELL. "I don't think Foote a good mimic, sir." JOHNSON.

"No, sir; his imitations are not like. He gives you something different from himself, but not the character which he means to assume. He goes out of himself, without going into other people. He cannot take off any person unless he is strongly marked, such as George Faulkner. He is like a painter who can draw the portrait of a man who has a wen upon his face, and who therefore is easily known. If a man hops upon one leg, Foote can hop upon one leg but he has not that nice discrimination which your friend seems to possess. Foote is, however, very entertaining with a kind of conversation between wit and buffoonery."

When Boswell told him he had been to see a 'person of the name of Johnson ride upon three horses, he said, "Such a man, sir, should be encouraged; for his performances show the extent of the human powers in one instance, and thus tend to raise our opinion of the faculty of man. He shows what may be attained by persevering application; so that every man may hope, that by giving as much application, although perhaps he may never ride three horses at a time, or dance upon a wire, yet he may be equally expert in whatever profession he has chosen to pursue."

On Sunday, April 19, being Easter-day, general Paoli and Boswell paid him a visit before dinner. They talked of the notion that blind persons can distinguish colours by their touch. JOHNSON. "Pro"fessor Saunderson mentions his having attempted to do it, but found he was aiming at an impossibllity to be sure a difference in the surface makes the difference of colours; but that difference is so fine, that it is not sensible to the touch." PAOLI,

:

"But jugglers and fraudulent gamesters know cards by the touch." JOHNSON. "The cards used by such persons must be less polished than ours commonly are."

They then talked of sounds. PAOLI. "There is no beauty in a simple sound, but only in an harmonious composition of sounds." BosWELL. "I must beg leave to differ from you, general. Surely there is beauty in the soft and sweet sound of a fine woman's voice." JOHNSON. "No, sir, if a serpent or a toad uttered it, you would think it ugly.” BOSWELL." So you would think, sir, if a beautiful tune were uttered by one of those animals." JOHNSON. No, sir, it would be admired. We have seen fine fiddlers whom we liked as little as toads." (laughing.)

A literary lady of large fortune was mentioned as one who did good to many, but by no means "by stealth;" and instead of " blushing to find it fame," acted evidently from vanity. JOHNSON. "I have seen no beings who do as much good from benevolence, as she does from whatever motive. If there are such under the earth, or in the clouds, I wish they would come up, or come down. What Soame Jenyns says upon this subject is not to be minded; he is a wit. No, sir, to act from pure benevolence is not possible for finite beings. Human benevolence is mingled with vanity, interest, or some other motive."

Of the difference between man and woman, he said, "Where there is no education, as in savage countries, men will have the upper hand of women. Bodily strength, no doubt, contributes to this; but it would be so, exclusive of that; for it is mind that