On Saturday, May 17, I saw him for a short time. Having mentioned that I had that morning been with old Mr. Sheridan {Thomas Sheridan, father of the playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan. – Editor}, he remembered their former intimacy with a cordial warmth, and said to me, 'Tell Mr. Sheridan, I shall be glad to see him, and shake hands with him.'
BOSWELL. 'It is to me very wonderful that resentment should be kept up so long.'
JOHNSON. 'Why, Sir, it is not altogether resentment that he does not visit me; it is partly falling out of the habit,— partly disgust, as one has at a drug that has made him sick. Besides, he knows that I laugh at his oratory.'
{Johnson had been quoted as saying, 'Sheridan's writings on elocution were a continual renovation of hope, and an unvaried succession of disappointments.' – Editor}
Another day I spoke of one of our friends, of whom he, as well as I, had a very high opinion. He expatiated in his praise; but added, 'Sir, he is a cursed Whig, a bottomless Whig, as they all are now.'
I mentioned my expectations from the interest of an eminent person then in power; adding, 'but I have no claim but the claim of friendship; however, some people will go a great way from that motive.'
JOHNSON. 'Sir, they will go all the way from that motive.'
A gentleman talked of retiring.
'Never think of that,' said Johnson.
The gentleman urged, 'I should then do no ill.'
JOHNSON. 'Nor no good either.'
On Monday, May 26, I found him at tea, and the celebrated Miss Burney {Fanny Burney, a young and popular novelist of the day – Editor}, the authour of Evelina and Cecilia, with him.
I asked if there would be any speakers in Parliament, if there were no places to be obtained.
JOHNSON. 'Yes, Sir. Why do you speak here? Either to instruct and entertain, which is a benevolent motive; or for distinction, which is a selfish motive.'
I mentioned Cecilia.
JOHNSON. (with an air of animated satisfaction) 'Sir, if you talk of Cecilia, talk on.'
I asked whether a man naturally virtuous, or one who has overcome wicked inclinations, is the best.
JOHNSON. 'Sir, to you, the man who has overcome wicked inclinations is not the best. He has more merit to himself: I would rather trust my money to a man who has no hands, and so a physical impossibility to steal, than to a man of the most honest principles. There is a witty satirical story of Foote. He had a small bust of Garrick placed upon his bureau, "You may be surprized (said he) that I allow him to be so near my gold;— but you will observe he has no hands."'
On Friday, May 29, being to set out for Scotland next morning, I passed a part of the day with him in more than usual earnestness; as his health was in a more precarious state than at any time when I had parted from him. He, however, was quick and lively, and critical as usual. I mentioned one who was a very learned man.
JOHNSON. 'Yes, Sir, he has a great deal of learning; but it never lies straight. There is never one idea by the side of another; 'tis all entangled: and then he drives it so aukwardly upon conversation.'
I stated to him an anxious thought, by which a sincere Christian might be disturbed, even when conscious of having lived a good life, so far as is consistent with human infirmity; he might fear that he should afterwards fall away, and be guilty of such crimes as would render all his former religion vain. Could there be, upon this aweful subject, such a thing as balancing of accounts? Suppose a man who has led a good life for seven years, commits an act of wickedness, and instantly dies; will his former good life have any effect in his favour?
JOHNSON. 'Sir, if a man has led a good life for seven years, and then is hurried by passion to do what is wrong, and is suddenly carried off, depend upon it he will have the reward of his seven years' good life; GOD will not take a catch of him. Upon this principle Richard Baxter believes that a Suicide may be saved. "If, (says he) it should be objected that what I maintain may encourage suicide, I answer, I am not to tell a lie to prevent it."'
BOSWELL. 'But does not the text say, "As the tree falls, so it must lie?"'
JOHNSON. 'Yes, Sir; as the tree falls: but,—( after a little pause)— that is meant as to the general state of the tree, not what is the effect of a sudden blast.'
In short, he interpreted the expression as referring to condition, not to position. The common notion, therefore, seems to be erroneous; and Shenstone's witty remark on Divines trying to give the tree a jerk upon a death-bed, to make it lie favourably, is not well founded.
He said, 'Get as much force of mind as you can. Live within your income. Always have something saved at the end of the year. Let your imports be more than your exports, and you'll never go far wrong.'
I assured him, that in the extensive and various range of his acquaintance there never had been any one who had a more sincere respect and affection for him than I had.
He said, 'I believe it, Sir. Were I in distress, there is no man to whom I should sooner come than to you. I should like to come and have a cottage in your park, toddle about, live mostly on milk, and be taken care of by Mrs. Boswell. She and I are good friends now; are we not?'
Talking of devotion, he said, 'Though it be true that "GOD dwelleth not in temples made with hands," yet in this state of being, our minds are more piously affected in places appropriated to divine worship, than in others. Some people have a particular room in their house, where they say their prayers; of which I do not disapprove, as it may animate their devotion.'
He embraced me, and gave me his blessing, as usual when I was leaving him for any length of time. I walked from his door to-day, with a fearful apprehension of what might happen before I returned.
(classix comix™ is made possible in part through the generous support of the Bob’s Bowery Bar Foundation for the Unremunerative Arts: “Yes, brrr – say, it’s really getting frigid out there! If the heat in your ‘pad’ is (like mine) seemingly stuck permanently in the low 50s Fahrenheit, why not follow my lead and enjoy the warmth – yes, physical but also spiritual – of Bob’s Bowery Bar? And, à propos, allow me to recommend Bob’s famous ‘hot spiced grog’, a delightful concoction of aged Royal Navy Rum, lapsang souchong tea, Bob’s Mom’s home-grown botanicals, jaggery, and crystallized ginger, served steaming in a pint-sized pewter mug! Bet you can’t drink just one!”
– Horace P. Sternwall, host and narrator of Bob’s Bowery Bar Presents Philip Morris Commander’s “Blanche Weinberg, Lady Psychiatrist”, broadcast live 8pm Sundays {EST} exclusively on the Dumont Television Network. This week’s play: “Love Song of the Bowery”, by Henry P. Shortfellow, starring Kitty Carlisle as “Dr. Blanche”, with special guest stars Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy.)
part 244
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