One day, at sir Joshua's table, when it was related, that Mrs. Montague, in an excess of compli ment to the author of a modern tragedy, had exclaimed, "I tremble for Shakspeare;" Johnson said, "When Shakspeare has got ***** for his rival, and Mrs. Montague for his defender, he is in a poor state indeed."

Speaking of Mr. Hanway, who published An Eight Days' Journey from London to Portsmouth, "Jonas," said he, "acquired some reputation by travelling abroad, but lost it all by travelling at home."

Somebody observing that the Scotch Highlanders, in the year 1745, had made surprising efforts, considering their numerous wants and disadvantages→→→ "Yes, sir," said he, "their wants were numerous; but you have not mentioned the greatest of them all the want of law."

Being asked by a young nobleman, what was become of the gallantry and military spirit of the old English nobility, he replied, "Why, my lord, I'll tell you what is become of it: it is gone into the city to look for a fortune."

Speaking of a dull tiresome fellow, whom he chanced to meet, he said, "That fellow seems to me to possess but one idea, and that is a wrong one."

A gentleman, having to some of the usual arguments for drinking, added this: "You know, sir, drinking drives away care, and makes us forget whatever is disagreeable: would not you allow a man to drink for that reason?" JOHNSON. "Yes, sir, if he sat next you."

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JOHNSON, I remember once being with Gold

smith in Westminster abbey. While we surveyed the Poets' Corner, I said to him, from Ovid,

Forsitan et nostrum nomen miscebitur istis.

F

When we got to Temple-bar, he stopped me, pointed to the heads upon it, and slyly whispered me,

Forsitan et nostrum nomen miscebitur istis." *

"At the Literary Club," says Boswell, "before Johnson came in, we talked of his Journey to the Western Islands, aud of his coming away willing to believe the second sight,' which seemed to excite some ridicule. I was then so impressed with the truth of many of the stories which I had been told, that I avowed my conviction, saying, 'He is only willing to believe I do believe: the evidence is enough for me, though not for his great mind. What will not fill a quart bottle will fill a pint bottle: I am filled with belief. Are you?' said Colman; then cork

it up.'"

Johnson having gone to Mrs. Abington's benefit, at supper, one of the company attempted, with too much forwardness, to rally him on his late appearance at the theatre; but had reason to repent of his temerity. “Why, sir, did you go to Mrs. Abington's benefit? Did you see?" JOHNSON. "No, sir." "Did you hear?" JOHNSON. " No, sir." "Why then, sir, did you go?" JOHNSON. “Because, sir, she is a favourite of the public;

• In allusion to Johnson's political principles, and per haps his own,

and when the public cares the thousandth part for you that it does for her, I will go to your benefit too."

Dr. Burney having remarked, that Mr. Garrick was beginning to look old, Johnson said, "Why, sir, you are not to wonder at that; no man's face has had more wear and tear."

Johnson censured Gwyn for taking down a church, which might have stood many years, and building a new one at a different place, for no other reason, but that there might be a direct road to a new bridge; and his expression was, "You are taking a church out of the way, that the people may go in a straight line to the bridge." GwWYN. "No, sir; I am putting the church in the way, that the people may not go out of the way." JOHNSON (with a hearty loud laugh of approbation.) "Speak no more: rest your colloquial fame upon this."

Being by no means pleased with their inn at Bristol, Boswell said, "Let us see now how we should describe it." Johnson was ready with his raillery. "Describe it, sir? Why, it was so bad, that Boswell wished to be in Scotland !"

received a visit from When she came into

In the autumn of 1783, he the celebrated Mrs. Siddons. the room, there happened to be no chair ready for her, which he observing, said, with a smile, “Madám, you, who so often occasion a want of seats to other people, will the more easily excuse the want of one yourself."

Dr. Johnson said to Miss Hannah More, who had expressed a wonder, that the poet who had written Paradise Lost, should write such poor sonnets

"Milton, madam, was a genius, that could cut a Colossus from a rock, but could not carve heads upon cherry-stones."

Boswell told him, that David Hume had made a short collection of Scotticisms. "I wonder," said Johnson," that he should find them."

No. X.

BULLS.

THERE had been an execution of two or three criminals at Oxford on a Monday. Soon afterwards, one day at dinner, Boswell was saying, that Mr. Swinton, the chaplain of the gaol, and also a frequent preacher before the university, a learned man, but often thoughtless and absent, preached the condemnation-sermon on repentance, before the convicts, on the preceding day, Sunday; and in the close, he told his audience, that he should give them the remainder of what he had to say on the subject the next Lord's Day. Upon which, oue of the company, a doctor of divinity, and a plain matter-of-fact man, by way of offering an apology for Mr. Swinton, gravely remarked, that he had probably preached the same sermon before the university. Yes, sir," says Johnson, "but the university were not to be hanged the next morning."

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Boswell mentioned, that Dr. Thomas Campbell had come from Ireland to London, principally to see Dr. Johnson: he seemed angry at this observation. DAVIES. "Why, sir, there came a man from Spain to see Livy, and Corelli came to England to

see Purcell, and when he heard he was dead, went directly back again to Italy." JOHNSON. "I should not wish to have been dead, to disappoint Campbell; but I should have wished to have been a hundred miles off." Boswell adds: "This was apparently perverse; and I do believe it was not his real way of thinking: he could not but like a man who came so far to see him. He laughed with some complacency, when I told him Campbell's odd expression to me concerning him, that having seen such a man, was a thing to talk of a century hence,' as if he could live so long."

Of the father of one of his friends, he observed, "He never clarified his notions by filtrating them through other minds: he had a canal upon his estate, where at one place the bank was too low'I dug the canal deeper,' said he."

He once in his life was known himself to have uttered what is called a bull. Sir Joshua Reynolds, when they were riding together in Devonshire, complained, that he had a very bad horse, for that even when going down hill he moved slowly step by step. "Ay," said Johnson," and when he goes up hill, he stands still.”

• Mr. Davies was here mistaken: Corelli never was in England.-Burney.