Etat. 64. 173 felf, Mr. Langton obferved, that he was not like Addison, who was content with the fame of his writings, and did not aim alfo at excellency in converfation, for which he found himself unfit; and that he said to a lady, who complained of his having talked little in company, "Madam, I have but nine-pence in ready money, but I can draw for a thousand pounds." I obferved, that Goldsmith had a great deal of gold in his cabinet, but, not content with that, was always taking out his purse. JOHNSON. "Yes, Sir, and that fo often an empty purse!" Goldfmith's inceffant defire of being confpicuous in company, was the occafion of his fometimes appearing to fuch disadvantage as one should hardly have fuppofed poffible in a man of his genius. When his literary reputation had risen deservedly high, and his fociety was much courted, he became very jealous of the extraordinary attention which was every where paid to Johnson. One evening, in a circle of wits, he found fault with me for talking of Johnson as entitled to the honour of unquestionable fuperiority. "Sir, (faid he,) you are for making a monarchy of what fhould be a republick." He was still more mortified, when talking in a company with fluent vivacity, and, as he flattered himself, to the admiration of all who were prefent; a German who fat next him, and perceived Johnfon rolling himself, as if about to speak, fuddenly stopped him, faying, "Stay, ftay,-Toctor Shonfon is going to fay fomething." This was, no doubt, very provoking, especially to one fo irri table table as Goldsmith, who frequently mentioned it with ftrong expreffions of indignation. It may also be observed, that Goldfmith was fometimes content to be treated with an easy familiarity, but, upon occafions, would be confequen– tial and important. An inftance of this occurred in a small particular. Johnfon had a way of contracting the names of his friends; as Beauclerk, Beau; Bofwell, Bozzy; Langton, Lanky; Murphy, Mur; Sheridan, Sherry. I remember one day, when Tom Davies was telling that Dr. Johnfon faid, "We are all in labour for a name to Goldy's play," Goldsmith feemed displeased that fuch a liberty fhould be taken with his name, and faid, "I have often defired him not to call me Goldy." Tom was remarkably attentive to the moft minute circumstance about Johnfon. I recollect his telling me once, on my arrival in London, "Sir, our great friend has made an improvement on his appellation of old Mr. Sheridan. He calls him now Sherry derry." To the Reverend Mr. BAGSHAW, at Bromley*. "SIR, "I RETURN you my fincere thanks for your additions to my Dictionary; but the new edition has been published fome time, and therefore I cannot 2 The Reverend Thomas Bagshaw, M. A. who died on November 20, 1787, in the feventy-feventh year of his age, Chaplain of Bromley College, in Kent, and Rector of Southfleet. He 3773 Etat. 64. 1773. Etat. 64. cannot now make use of them. Whether I fhall ever revise it more, I know not. "Your most obliged "May 8, 1773. "And moft humble fervant, On Sunday, May 8, I dined with Johnson at Mr. Langton's, with Dr. Beattie and fome other company. He defcanted on the fubject of Literary Property. "There feems, (said he,) to be in authours a stronger right of property than that by occupancy; a metaphyfical right, a right, as it were, of creation, which fhould from its nature be perpetual; but the confent of nations is against it, and indeed reason and the interests of learning are against it; for were it to be perpetual, no book, however useful, could be univerfally diffused amongst mankind, fhould the proprietor take it into his head to reftrain its circulation. No book could have the advantage of being edited with notes, however neceffary to its elucidation, fhould the proprietor perverfely oppofe it. For the general good of the world, therefore, whatever valuable work has once been created by an authour, and He had refigned the cure of Bromley Parish fome time before his death. For this, and another letter from Dr. Johnson in 1784, to the fame truely respectable man, I am indebted to Dr. John Loveday, of the Commons, who has obligingly tranfcribed them for me from the originals in his poffeffion. 1773. iffued out by him, fhould be understood as no longer in his power, but as belonging to the pub- Etat. 64. lick; at the fame time the authour is entitled to an adequate reward. This he fhould have by an exclufive right to his work for a confiderable number of years." He attacked Lord Monboddo's strange speculation on the primitive state of human nature; obferving, Sir, it is all conjecture about a thing useless, even were it known to be true. Knowledge of all kinds is good. Conjecture, as to things useful, is good; but conjecture as to what it would be useless to know, fuch as whether men went upon all four, is very idle." On Monday, May 9, as I was to fet out on my return to Scotland next morning, I was defirous to fee as much of Dr. Johnfon as I could. But I first called on Goldsmith to take leave of him. The jealoufy and envy which, though poffeffed of many most amiable qualities, he frankly avowed, broke out violently at this interview. Upon another occafion, when Goldfinith confeffed himself to be of an envious difpofition, I contended with Johnson that we ought not to be angry with him, he was fo candid in owning it. "Nay, Sir, (faid Johnson,) we must be angry that a man has fuch a fuperabundance of an odious quality, that he cannot keep it within his own breaft, but it boils over." In my opinion, however, Goldfmith had not more of it than other people have, but only talked of it freely. He now seemed very angry that Johnson was going to be a traveller; faid, " he would be a dead 1773 Etat. 64. weight for me to carry, and that I should never be I dined with Dr. Johnfon at General Paoli's. as |