1773.

Etat. 64.

Goldfmith's putting himself against another, is like a man laying a hundred to one who cannot spare the hundred. It is not worth a man's while. A man fhould not lay a hundred to one, unless he can eafily fpare it, though he has a hundred chances for him he can get but a guinea, and he may lofe a hundred. Goldfmith is in this ftate. When he contends, if he gets the better, it is a very little addition to a man of his literary reputation: if ke does not get the better, he is miferably vexed.",

1

Johnson's own fuperlative powers of wit fet him above any risk of fuch uneafinefs. Garrick had remarked to me of him, a few days before, "Rabelais and all other wits are nothing compared with him. You may be diverted by them; but Johnfon gives you a forcible hug, and shakes laughter out of you, whether you will or no."

Goldsmith, however, was often very fortunate in his witty contests, even when he entered the lists with Johnson himself. Sir Joshua Reynolds was in company with them one day, when Goldsmith faid, that he thought he could write a good fable, mentioned the fimplicity which that kind of compofition requires, and obferved, that in most fables the animals introduced feldom talk in character. "For instance, (faid he,) the fable of the little fishes, who faw birds fly over their heads, and envying them, petitioned Jupiter to be changed into. birds. The fkill (continued he,) consists in making them talk like little fishes." While he indulged himself in this fanciful reverie, he observed Johnson fhaking his fides, and laughing. Upon which he fmartly proceeded, "Why, Dr. Johnson, this is

not

1773:

not fo eafy as you feem to think; for if you were to make little fishes talk, they would talk like Etat. 64

WHALES."

Johnson, though remarkable for his great variety of compofition, never exercifed his talents in fable, except we allow his beautiful tale published in Mrs. Williams's Mifcellanies to be of that species. I have, however, found among his manuscript collections the following sketch of one :

"Glow-worm lying in the garden faw a candle in a neighbouring palace,-and complained of the littleness of his own light;-another observedwait a little ;-foon dark,-have outlafted wor [many] of thefe glaring lights which are only brighter as they hafte to nothing."

On Thursday, April 29, I dined with him at General Oglethorpe's, where were Sir Joshua Reynolds, Mr. Langton, Dr. Goldsmith, and Mr. Thrale. I was very defirous to get Dr. Johnfon abfolutely fixed in his refolution to go with me to the Hebrides this year; and I told him that I had received a letter from Dr. Robertson the historian, upon the fubject, with which he was much pleased, and now talked in such a manner of his long-intended tour, that I was fatisfied he meant to fulfil his engagement.

The custom of eating dogs at Otaheite being mentioned, Goldsmith obferved, that this was also a custom in China; that a dog-butcher is as common there as any other butcher; and that when he walks abroad all the dogs fall on him. JOHNSON.. "That is not owing to his killing dogs, Sir. I remember a butcher at Lichfield, whom a dog that

was

1773.

Etat. 64.

was in the house where I lived, always attacked. It
is the smell of carnage which provokes this, let the
animals he has killed be what they may." GOLD-
SMITH. "Yes, there is a general abhorrence in
animals at the figns of maffacre. If you put a tub
full of blood into a ftable, the horfes are like to go
mad." JOHNSON. "I doubt that." GOLDSMITH.
"Nay, Sir, it is a fact well authenticated."
THRALE. " You had better prove it before
you put
it into your book on natural hiftory. You may
do it in my
ftable if you will." JOHNSON. "Nay,
Sir, I would not have him prove it. If he is con-
tent to take his information from others, he may
get through his book with little trouble, and
without much endangering his reputation. But
if he makes experiments for fo comprehensive a
book as his, there would be no end to them; his
erroneous affertions would then fall upon himself;
and he might be blamed for not having made ex-
periments as to every particular."

The character of Mallet having been introduced, and spoken of flightingly by Goldsmith; JOHNSON. "Why, Sir, Mallet had talents enough to keep his literary reputation alive as long as he himself lived; and that, let me tell you, is a good deal." GOLDSMITH. "But I cannot agree that it was fo. His literary reputation was dead long before his natural death. I confider an authour's literary reputation to be alive only while his name will enfure a good price for his copy from the bookfellers. I will get you (to Johnson,) a hundred guineas for any thing whatever that you shall write, if you put your name to it."

Dr.

Dr. Goldsmith's new play, "She stoops to conquer," being mentioned; JOHNSON. "I know of no comedy for many years that has fo much exhilarated an audience, that has answered fo much the great end of comedy-making an audience merry."

Goldsmith having faid, that Garrick's compliment to the Queen, which he introduced into the play of The Chances,' which he had altered and revised this year, was mean and grofs flattery ;JOHNSON. "Why, Sir, I would not write, I would not give folemnly under my hand, a character beyond what I thought really true; but a speech on the stage, let it flatter ever fo extravagantly, is formular. It has always been formular to flatter Kings and Queens; fo much fo, that even in our church-service we have our most religious King,' used indiscriminately, whoever is King. Nay, they even flatter themselves; we have been graciously pleased to grant.'-No modern flattery, however, is fo grofs as that of the Auguftan age, where the Emperour was deified. Præfens Divus habebitur Auguftus.' And as to meannefs, (rifing into warmth,) how is it mean in a player,-a fhowman, a fellow who exhibits himself for a fhilling, to flatter his Queen? The attempt, indeed, was dangerous; for if it had miffed, what became of Garrick, and what became of the Queen? As Sir William Temple fays of a great General, it is neceffary not only that his defigns be formed in a masterly manner, but that they should be attended with fuccefs. Sir, it is right, at a time when the Royal Family is not generally

1773

Ætat. 64,

1773.

liked, to let it be seen that the people like at least Atat. 64. one of them." SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS. "I do

not perceive why the profeffion of a player should be defpifed; for the great and ultimate end of all the employments of mankind is to produce amufement. Garrick produces more amusement than any body." BOSWELL. "You fay, Dr. Johnson, that Garrick exhibits himself for a fhilling. In this refpect he is only on a footing with a lawyer who exhibits himself for his fee, and even will maintain any nonfenfe or abfurdity, if the cafe requires it. Garrick refufes a play or a part which he does not like; a lawyer never refufes." JOHNSON. "Why, Sir, what does this prove? only that a lawyer is worse. Bofwell is now like Jack in 'The Tale of a Tub,' who, when he is puzzled by an argument, hangs himself. He thinks I fhall cut him down, but I'll let him hang." (laughing vociferously.) SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS. "Mr. Bofwell thinks that the profeffion of a lawyer being unquestionably honourable, if he can fhow the profeffion of a player to be more honourable, he proves his argument.

On Friday, April 30, I dined with him at Mr. Beauclerk's, where were Lord Charlemont, Sir Jofhúa Reynolds, and fome more members of the Literary Club, whom he had obligingly invited to meet me, as I was this evening to be ballotted for as candidate for admiffion into that diftinguished fociety. Johnfon had done me the honour to propofe me, and Beauclerk was very zealous for me.

Goldfmith being mentioned; JOHNSON, "It is amazing how little Goldfmith knows. He feldom