1768.

An effay, written by Mr. Deane, a divine of the Church of England, maintaining the future life of Etat. 59. brutes, by an explication of certain parts of the fcriptures, was mentioned, and the doctrine infifted on by a gentleman who feemed fond of curious fpeculation. Johnfon, who did not like to hear of any thing concerning a future ftate which was not authorised by the regular canons of orthodoxy, discouraged this talk; and being offended at its continuation, he watched an opportunity to give the gentleman a blow of reprehenfion. So, when the poor fpeculatift, with a ferious metaphyfical penfive face, addreffed him, "But really, Sir, when we fee a very fenfible dog, we don't know what to think of him." Johnfon, rolling with joy at the thought which beamed in his eye, turned quickly round, and replied, "True, Sir: and when we see a very foolish fellow, we don't know what to think of him." He then rofe up, strided to the fire, and stood for fome time laughing and exulting.

I told him that I had feveral times, when in Italy, feen the experiment of placing a fcorpion within a circle of burning coals; that it ran round and round in extreme pain; and finding no way to escape, retired to the centre, and, like a true Stoick philofopher, darted its fting into its head, and thus at once freed itself from its woes.

« This

must end 'em." I faid, this was a curious fact, as it fhewed deliberate fuicide in a reptile. Johnson would not admit the fact. He faid, Maupertuis*

was

I fhould think it impoffible not to wonder at the variety of Johnson's reading, however defultory it may have been. Who VOL. I.

LI

could

1768.

Etat. 59.

was of opinion that it does not kill itself, but dies of the heat; that it gets to the centre of the circle, as the coolest place; that its turning its tail in upon its head is merely a convulfion, and that it does not fting itself. He faid he would be satisfied if the great anatomist Morgagni, after diffecting a scorpion on which the experiment had been tried, fhould certify that its sting had penetrated into its head.

He feemed pleased to talk of natural philofophy. "That woodcocks, (faid he,) fly over to the northern countries, is proved, because they have been obferved at fea. Swallows certainly fleep all the winter. A number of them conglobulate together, by flying round and round, and then all in a heap throw themselves under water, and lye in the bed of a river." He told us, one of his first effays was a Latin poem upon the glow-worm. I am forry I did not ask where it was to be found.

Talking of the Ruffians and the Chinese, he advised me to read Bell's travels. I asked him whe

could have imagined that the High Church of England-man would be fo prompt in quoting Maupertuis, who, I am forry to think, ftands in the lift of those unfortunate mistaken men, who call themselves efprits forts. I have, however, a high respect for that Philofopher whom the Great Frederick of Fruffia loved and honoured, and addressed pathetically in one of his Poems,

There was in Maupertuis a vigour and yet a tenderness of sentiment, united with strong intelle&ual powers, and uncommon ardour of foul. Would he had been a Christian! I cannot help carneily venturing to hope that he is one now.

ther

ther I fhould read Du Halde's account of China. Why yes, (faid he) as one reads fuch a book; that is to fay, confult it."

He talked of the heinoufnefs of the crime of adultery, by which the peace of families was deftroyed. He faid, He faid, "Confufion of progeny conftitutes the effence of the crime; and therefore a woman who breaks her marriage vows is much more criminal than a man who does it. A man, to be fure, is criminal in the fight of GOD: but he does not do his wife a very material injury, if he does not infult her; if, for inftance, from mere wantonnefs of appetite, he steals privately to her chambermaid. Sir, a wife ought not greatly to resent this. I would not receive home a daughter who had run away from her husband on that account. A wife fhould study to reclaim her husband by more attention to pleafe him. Sir, a man will not, once in a hundred inftances, leave his wife and go to a harlot, if his wife has not been negligent of pleasing."

Here he difcovered that acute difcrimination, that folid judgement, and that knowledge of human nature, for which he was upon all occafions remarkable. Taking care to keep in view the moral and religious duty, as understood in our nation, he fhewed clearly from reafon and good fenfe, the greater degree of culpability in the one fex deviating from it than the other; and, at the fame time, inculcated a very useful leffon as to the way to keep him.

I asked him if it was not hard that one deviation from chastity fhould fo abfolutely ruin a young

1768.

Atat. 59.

woman. JOHNSON. "Why no, Sir; it is the
great principle which fhe is taught. When she has
given up
that principle, fhe has given up every no-
tion of female honour and virtue, which are all in-
cluded in chastity."

A gentleman talked to him of a lady whom he
greatly admired and wished to marry, but was afraid
of her fuperiority of talents.
"Sir, (faid he,) you
need not be afraid; marry her. Before a year
goes about, you'll find that reafon much weaker,
and that wit not fo bright." Yet the gentleman
may be juftified in his apprehenfion by one of Dr.
Johnfon's admirable fentences in his life of Waller:
"He doubtlefs praised many whom he would have
been afraid to marry; and, perhaps, married one
whom he would have been ashamed to praise.
Many qualities contribute to domeftick happiness,
upon which poetry has no colours to bestow; and
many airs and fallies may delight imagination,
which he who flatters them never can approve."

He praised Signor Baretti. "His account of Italy is a very entertaining book; and, Sir, I know no man who carries his head higher in converfation than Baretti. There are ftrong powers in his mind. He has not, indeed, many hooks; but with what hooks he has, he grapples very forcibly."

At this time I obferved upon the dial-plate of his watch a short Greek infcription, taken from the New Testament, Nu yap Exera, being the first words of our SAVIOUR'S folemn admonition to the improvement of that time which is allowed us to prepare for eternity; "the night cometh when no

man

man can work." He fome time afterwards laid

afide this dial-plate; and when I afked him the reafon, he faid, "It might do very well upon a clock which a man keeps in his clofet; but to have it upon his watch which he carries about with him, and which is often looked at by others, might be cenfured as oftentatious." Mr. Steevens is now poffeffed of the dial-plate infcribed as above.

He remained at Oxford a confiderable time; I was obliged to go to London, where I received his letter, which had been returned from Scotland.

To JAMES BOSWELL, Ef.

"MY DEAR BOSWELL,

"I HAVE omitted a long time to write to you, without knowing very well why. I could now tell why I fhould not write; for who would write to men who publish the letters of their friends, without their leave? Yet I write to you in fpite of my caution, to tell you that I fhall be glad to fee you, and that I wish you would empty your head of Corfica, which I think has filled it rather too long. But, at all events, I fhall be glad, very glad to see you. I am, Sir,

"Yours affectionately,

1768.

Etat. 59.

"I HAVE received your last letter, which,

though very short, and by no means complimentary,

L13

yet