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1772.

flanders between the contending parties, and other difadvantages. It is enough to allow the people to Etat, 63. remonftrate against the nomination of a minifter for folid reasons." (I fuppofe he meant herefy or immorality.) He was engaged to dine abroad, and asked me to return to him in the evening, at nine, which I accordingly did.

We drank tea with Mrs. Williams, who told us a story of second fight, which happened in Wales where fhe was born.-He liftened to it very attentively, and faid he should be glad to have fome inftances of that faculty well authenticated. His elevated with for more and more evidence for fpirit, in oppofition to the groveling belief of materialism, led him to a love of fuch myfterious difquifitions. He again justly observed, that we could have no certainty of the truth of fupernatural appearances, unless fomething was told us which we could not know by ordinary means, or fomething done which could not be done but by fupernatural power; that Pharaoh in reason and justice required fuch evidence from Moses; nay, that our Saviour faid, "If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had fin." He had faid in the morning, that "Macaulay's History of St. Kilda," was very well written, except fome foppery about liberty and flavery. I mentioned to him that Macaulay told me, he was advised to leave out of his book the wonderful story that upon the approach of a ftranger all the inhabitants catch cold; but that it had been fo well authenticated, he determined to retain it. JOHNSON. "Sir, to leave things out of a book, merely

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1772. merely because people tell you they will not be believed, is meannefs, Macaulay acted with more magnanimity."

Etat. 63.

We talked of the Roman Catholick religion, and how little difference there was in effential matters between ours and it. JOHNSON. "True, Sir: al denominations of Chriftians have really little difference in point of doctrine, though they may differ widely in external forms. There is a prodigious difference between the external form of one of our Prefbyterian churches in Scotland, and a church in Italy; yet the doctrine taught is effentially the fame."

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I mentioned the petition to Parliament for removing the fubfcription to the Thirty-nine Articles. JOHNSON, "It was foon thrown out. Sir, they talk of not making boys at the Univerfitiy fubfcribe to what they do not understand; but they ought to confider, that our that our Univerfities were founded to bring up members for the Church of England, and we must not fupply our enemies with arms from our arfenal.. No, Sir, the meaning of fubfcribing is, not that they fully understand all the articles, but that they will adhere to the Church of England. Now take it in this way, and fuppofe. that they should only fubfcribe their adherence to the Church of England, there would be still the fame difficulty; for ftill the young men would be fubfcribing to what they do not understand. For if you fhould afk them, what do you mean by the Church of England? Do you know in what it differs from the Prefbyterian Church? from the Romish Church? from the Greek Church? from the Coptick Church? they could not tell you. So, Sir,

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Etat. 63.

it comes to the fame thing." BOSWELL. "But, 1772. would it not be fufficient to fubfcribe the Bible?" JOHNSON. "Why no, Sir; for all fects will fubscribe the Bible; nay, the Mahometans will fubfcribe the Bible, for the Mahometans acknowledge JESUS CHRIST, as well as Mofes, but maintain that GOD fent Mahomet as a ftill greater prophet than either."

I mentioned the motion to abolish the faft of the 30th of January. JOHNSON. "Why, Sir, I could have wished that it had been a temporary act, perhaps, to have expired with the century. I am against abolishing it; because that would be declaring it wrong to establish it; but I fhould have no objection to make an act, continuing it for another century, and then letting it expire."

He difapproved of the Royal Marriage Bill; "Becaufe (faid he) I would not have the people think that the validity of marriage depends on the will of man, or that the right of a King depends on the will of man. I should not have been against making the marriage of any of the royal family without the approbation of King and Parliament, highly criminal."

In the morning we had talked of old families, and the refpect due to them. JOHNSON, "Sir, you have a right to that kind of refpect, and are arguing for yourself. I am for fupporting the principle, and am difinterested in doing it, as I have no fuch right." BOSWELL. "Why, Sir, it is one more incitement to a man to do well." JOHNSON. "Yes, Sir, and it is a matter of opinion, very neceffary, to keep fociety together., What is it but opinion

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Etat. 63.

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1772. opinion, by which we have a refpect for authority, that prevents us, who are the rabble, from rifing up and pulling down you who are gentlemen from your places, and faying, We will be gentlemen in our turn?' Now, Sir, that refpect for authority is much more easily granted to a man whofe father has had it, than to an upftart, and fo Society is more easily supported." BOSWELL. "Perhaps, Sir, it might be done by the refpe&t belonging to office, as among the Romans, where the drefs, the toga, infpired reverence." JOHNSON. "Why, we know very little about the Romans. But, furely, it is much easier to refpect a man who has always had respect, than to refpect a man who we know was last year no better than ourselves, and will be no better next year. In republicks there is not a respect for authority, but a fear of power.' BOSWELL. "At prefent, Sir, I think riches feem to gain most respect." JOHNSON. "No, Sir, riches do not gain hearty refpect; they only procure external attention. A very rich man, from low beginnings, may buy his election in a borough; but, cæteris paribus, a man of family will be preferred. People will prefer a man for whose father their fathers have voted, though they should get no more money, or even lefs. That fhows that the respect for family is not merely fanciful, but has an actual operation. If gentlemen of family would allow the rich upftarts to spend their money profufely, which they are ready enough to do, and not vie with them in expence, the upstarts would foon be at an end, and the gentlemen would remain: but if the gentlemen will vie in expence

with the upftarts, which is very foolish, they must be ruined."

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Etat. 63.

I gave him an account of the excellent mimickry of a friend of mine in Scotland; obferving, at the fame time, that fome people thought it a very mean thing. JOHNSON. "Why, Sir, it is making a very mean use of a man's powers. But to be a good mimick, requires great powers; great acuteness of observation, great retention of what is obferved, and great pliancy of organs, to reprefent what is obferved. I remember a lady of quality in this town, Lady who was a wonderful mimick, and used to make me laugh immoderately. I have heard fhe is now gone mad." BOSWELL. "It is amazing how a mimick can not only give you the geftures and voice of a person whom he reprefents; but even what a perfon would say on any particular fubject," JOHNSON. "Why, Sir, you are to confider that the manner and fome particular phrases of a perfon do much to imprefs you with an idea of him, and you are not fure that he would fay what the mimick fays in his character." BOSWELL. "I don't think Foote a good mimick, Sir." JOHNSON." No, Sir; his imitations are not like. He gives you fomething different from himself, but not the character which he means to affume. himself, without going into other people. He cannot take off any perfon unless he is ftrongly marked, fuch 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 fafily known. If a man hops upon one leg, Foote

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