that question:"-" Sir, you talk the language of ignorance." On its being observed to him, that a certain gentleman had remained silent the whole evening in the midst of a very brilliant and learned society, "Sir (said he), the conversation overflowed and drowned him." His philosophy, though austere and solemn, was by no means morose and cynical, and never blunted the laudable sensibilities of his character, or exempted him from the influence of the tender passions. Want of tenderness, he always alledged, was want of parts, and was no less a proof of stupidity than depravity. Of Goldsmith he said, "He is so much afraid of being unnoticed, that he often talks merely lest you should forget that he is in company."B." Yes, he stands forward."-J."True, Sir; but if a man is to stand forward, he should wish to do it not in an awkward posture, not in rags, not so as that he shall only be exposed to ridicule."-B. "For my part, I like very well to hear honest Goldsmith talk away carelessly.”—J. "Why yes, Sir; but he should not like to hear himself." At another time he said, "Goldsmith should not be for ever attempting to shine in conversation: he has not temper for it; he is so much mortified when he fails. A game of jokes is composed partly of skill, partly of chance; a man may be beat at times by one who has not the tenth part of his wit. Now Goldsmith'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 should not lay a hundred to one, unless he can easily spare it, though he has a hundred chances for him; he can get but a guinea, and he may lose a hundred. Goldsmith is in this state. When he contends, if he gets the better, it is a very little addition to a man of his literary reputation; if he does not get the better, he is miserably vexed. The misfortune of Goldsmith in conversation is this: he goes on without knowing how he is to get off. His genius is great, but his knowledge is small. As they say of a generous man, it is a pity he is not rich; we may say of Goldsmish, it is a pity he is not knowing. He would not keep his knowledge to himself." Goldsmith said once to Dr. Johnson, that he wished for some additional members to the LITERARY CLUB, to give it an agreeable variety; "for (said he), there can now be nothing new among us: we have travelled over one another's minds." Johnson seemed a little angry, and said, 66 Sir, you have not travelled over my mind, I promise you." Sir Joshua Reynolds, however, thought Goldsmith right; observing that "when people have lived a great deal together, they know what each of them will say on every sub ject. A new understanding, therefore, is desirable; because though it may only furnish the same sense upon a question which would have been furnished by those with whom we are accustomed to live, yet this sense will have a different colouring; and colouring is of much effect in every thing else as well as in painting." Mr. Berrenger visited Johnson one day, and they talked of an evening society for conversation at a house in town, of which (says Mr. B.) we were all members, but of which Johnson said, "It will never do, Sir. There is nothing served about there, neither tea, nor coffee, nor lemonade, nor any thing whatever; and depend upon it, Sir, a man does not like to go to a place from whence he comes out exactly as he went in." Mr. B. endeavoured, for argument's sake, to maintain, that men of learning and talents might have very good intellectual society, without the aid of any little gratifications of the senses. Berrenger joined with Johnson, and said, that without these any meeting would be dull and insipid. He would therefore have all the slight refreshments; nay, it would not be amiss to have some cold meat and a bottle of wine upon a side-board. "Sir (said Johnson, with an air of triumph), Mr. Berrenger knows the world. Every body loves to have good things furnished to them without any trouble. I told Mrs. Thrale once, that as she did not choose to have card-tables, she should have a profusion of the best sweetmeats, and she would be sure to have company enough come to her* " One evening, in fine spirits, at the Essex-HeadClub, he said, "I dined yesterday at Mrs. Garrick's, with Mrs. Carter, Miss Hannah More, and Miss Fanny Burney. Three such women are not to be found; I know not where I could find a fourth, except Mrs. Lennox, who is superior to them all."-BOSWELL. "What! had you them all to yourself, Sir?"-JOHNSON. "I had them ‚all, as much as they were had; but it might have been better had there been more company there." -B. "Might not Mrs. Montagu have been a fourth?"-J. "Sir, Mrs. Montagu does not make a trade of her wit; but Mrs. Montagu is a very extraordinary woman, she has a constant stream of conversation, and it is always impregnated; it has always meaning."-B. " Mr. Burke has a constant stream of conversation.”—J. "Yes, Sir; if a man were to go by chance at the same time with Burke under a shed, to shun a shower, he would say this is an extraordinary man. If Burke should go into a stable to see his horse drest, the ostler would say we have had an "I agreed with my illustrious friend upon this subject (says his Biographer), for it has pleased God to make man a composite animal; and where there is nothing to refresh the body, 'the mind will languish." "Foote If extraordinary man here."-Boswell. was a man who never failed in conversation. he had gone into a stable—”—JOHNSON. "Sir, if he had gone into a stable, the ostler would have said, here has been a comical fellow; but he would not have respected him.-B. " And, Sir, the ostler would have answered him, would have given him as good as he brought, as the common saying is."-J. "Yes, Sir; and Foote would have answered the ostler." Mr. Boswell gave him an account of the excellent mimickry of a friend of his in Scotland; observing, at the same time, that some 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 observed, and great pliancy of organs, to represent what is observed. I remember a lady of quality in this town, who was a wonderful mimick, and used to make me laugh immoderately. I have heard she is now gone mad."-Boswell. "It is amazing how a mimick can not only give you the gestures and voice of a person whom he represents, but even what a person would say on any particular subject."-J. "Why, Sir, you are to consider that the manner and some particular phrases of a person do much to impress you with an idea of him, and you are not sure |