1773.

Etat. 64.

lishes his hiftory of the prefent age. A foreigner who attaches himself to a political party in this country, is in the worst state that can be imagined: he is looked upon as a mere intermeddler. A native may do it from intereft." BoSWELL. "Or principle." GOLDSMITH. "There are people who tell a hundred political lies every day, and are not hurt by it. Surely, then, one may tell truth with fafety." JOHNSON. "Why, Sir, in the first place, he who tells a hundred lies has difarmed the force of his lies. But befides; a man had rather have a hundred lies told of him, than one truth which he does not wifh fhould be told." GOLDSMITH." For my part, I'd tell truth, and fhame the devil." JOHNSON. "Yes, Sir; but the devil will be angry. I wish to fhame the devil as much as you do, but I should choose to be out of the reach of his claws." GOLDSMITH. "His claws can do you no harm, when you have the fhield of truth."

It having been obferved that there was little hofpitality in London; JOHNSON. " Nay, Sir, any man who has a name, or who has the power of pleafing, will be very generally invited in London. The man, Sterne, I have been told, has had engagements for three months." GOLDSMITH. "And a very dull fellow." JOHNSON. "Why, no, Sir."

Martinelli told us, that for several years he lived much with Charles Townfhend, and that he ventured to tell him he was a bad joker. JOHNSON. "Why, Sir, thus much I can fay upon the subject. One day he and a few more agreed to go

and

1773.

and dine in the country, and each of them was to bring a friend in his carriage with him. Charles Etat. 64. Townshend asked Fitzherbert to go with him, but told him, "You must find somebody to bring you back: I can only carry you there." Fitzherbert did not much like this arrangement. He however, confented, obferving farcaftically, It will do very well; for then the fame jokes will ferve you in returning as in going."

An eminent publick character being mentioned; -JOHNSON. "I remember being present when he fhewed himself to be fo corrupted, or at least something fo different from what I think right, as to maintain, that a member of parliament fhould go along with his party right or wrong. Now, Sir, this is fo remote from natiye virtue, from fcholaftick virtue, that a good man muft have undergone a great change before he can reconcile himself to fuch a doctrine. It is maintaining that you may lie to the publick; for you lie when you call that right which you think wrong, or the reverse. A friend of ours, who is too much an echo of that gentleman, obferved, that a man who does not ftick uniformly to a party, is only waiting to be bought. Why then, faid I, he is only waiting to be what that gentleman is already.”

We talked of the King's coming to fee Goldfmith's new play. I wish he would," faid Goldfmith; adding, however, with an affected indifference, "Not that it would do me the least good." JOHNSON. "Well then, Sir, let us fay it would do him good, (laughing.) No, Sir, this affectation will not pass;-it is mighty idle. In fuch a VOL. II.

G

state

$773.

Etat. 64.

ftate as ours, who would not wish to please the Chief Magiftrate?" GOLDSMITH. "I do wish to please him. I remember a line in Dryden,

And every poet is the monarch's friend.'

It ought to be reverfed." JOHNSON. "Nay, there are finer lines in Dryden on this fubject:

For colleges on bounteous King's depend, • And never rebel was to arts a friend."

General Paoli obferved, that fuccefsful rebels might. MARTINELLI." Happy rebellions." GOLDSMITH. "We have no fuch phrafe." GENERAL PAOLI, "But have you not the thing?" GOLDSMITH. "Yes; all our happy revolutions. They have hurt our conftitution, and will hurt it, till we mend it by another HAPPY REVOLUTION."-I never before discovered that my friend Goldsmith had fo much of the old prejudice in him.

General Paoli, talking of Goldsmith's new play, faid, "Il a fait un compliment très gracieux à une certaine grande dame;" meaning a Duchefs of the first rank,

I expreffed a doubt whether Goldsmith intended it, in order that I might hear the truth from himfelf. It, perhaps, was not quite fair to endeavour to bring him to a confeffion, as he might not wish to avow pofitively his taking part against the Court, He fmiled and hefitated. The General at once relieved him, by this beautiful image: "Monfieur Goldsmith eft comme la mer, qui jette des perles et beau

coup

coup d'autres belles chofes, fans s'en appercevoir." GOLDSMITH. "Très bien dit, et très élégamment."

1773.

Etat. 64.

A perfon was mentioned, who it was faid could take down in short hand the speeches in parliament with perfect exactness. JOHNSON. "Sir, it is impoffible. I remember one Angel, who came to me to write for him a Preface or Dedication to a book upon short hand, and he profeffed to write as fast as a man could speak. In order to try him, I took down a book, and read while he wrote; and I favoured him, for I read more deliberately than usual. I had proceeded but a very little way, when he begged I would defift, for he could not follow me." Hearing now for the first time of this Preface or Dedication, I faid, "What an expenfe, Sir, do you put us to in buying books, to which you have written Prefaces or Dedications." JOHNSON. "Why I have dedicated to the Royal Family all round; that is to fay, to the laft generation of the Royal Family." GOLDSMITH. "And perhaps, Sir, not one fentence of wit in a whole Dedication. JOHNSON. "Perhaps not, Sir." BOSWELL. "What then is the reafon for applying to a particular perfon to do that which any one may do as well?" JOHNSON. "Why, Sir, one man has greater readiness at doing it than another."

I spoke of Mr. Harris, of Salisbury, as being a very learned man, and in particular an eminent Grecian. JOHNSON. "I am not fure of that. His friends give him out as fuch, but I know not who of his friends are able to judge of it." GOLD"He is what is much better: he is a wor

SMITH.

1773. thy humane man." JOHNSON. "Nay, Sir, that is Etat. 64. not to the purpose of our argument: that will as

much prove that he can play upon the fiddle as well as Giardini, as that he is an eminent Grecian." GOLDSMITH." The greatest musical performers have but small emoluments. Giardini, I am told, does not get above seven hundred a year." JOHNSON. "That is indeed but little for a man to get, who does beft that which fo many endeavour to do. There is nothing, I think, in which the power of art is shown fo much as in playing on the fiddle. In all other things we can do fomething at first. Any man will forge a bar of iron, if you give him a hammer; not fo well as a fmith, but tolerably. A man will faw a piece of wood, and make a box, though a clumfy one; but give him a fiddle and a fiddle-stick, and he can do nothing."

On Monday, April 19, he called on me with Mrs. Williams, in Mr. Strahan's coach, and carried me out to dine with Mr. Elphinston, at his academy at Kenfington. A printer having acquired a fortune fufficient to keep his coach, was a good topick for the credit of literature. Mrs, Williams faid, that another printer, Mr. Hamilton, had not waited fo long as Mr. Strahan, but had kept his coach several years fooner. JOHNSON.

He was in the right. Life is fhort. The fooner that a man begins to enjoy his wealth the better."

Mr. Elphinston talked of a new book that was much admired, and afked Dr. Johnson if he had read it. JOHNSON. "I have looked into it." “What,