TheLifeofJohnsonisassuredlyagreat，averygreatwork。
Homerisnotmoredecidedlythefirstofheroicpoets，Shakspeareisnotmoredecidedlythefirstofdramatists，Demosthenesisnotmoredecidedlythefirstoforators，thanBoswellisthefirstofbiographers。Hehasnosecond。Hehasdistancedallhiscompetitorssodecidedlythatitisnotworthwhiletoplacethem。Eclipseisfirst，andtherestnowhere。
Wearenotsurethatthereisinthewholehistoryofthehumanintellectsostrangeaphaenomenonasthisbook。Manyofthegreatestmenthateverlivedhavewrittenbiography。Boswellwasoneofthesmallestmenthateverlived，andhehasbeatenthemall。Hewas，ifwearetogiveanycredittohisownaccountortotheunitedtestimonyofallwhoknewhim，amanofthemeanestandfeeblestintellect。JohnsondescribedhimasafellowwhohadmissedhisonlychanceofimmortalitybynothavingbeenalivewhentheDunciadwaswritten。Beauclerkusedhisnameasaproverbialexpressionforabore。Hewasthelaughing—stockofthewholeofthatbrilliantsocietywhichhasowedtohimthegreaterpartofitsfame。Hewasalwayslayinghimselfatthefeetofsomeeminentman，andbeggingtobespituponandtrampledupon。Hewasalwaysearningsomeridiculousnickname，andthen\"bindingitasacrownuntohim，\"notmerelyinmetaphor，butliterally。Heexhibitedhimself，attheShakspeareJubilee，toallthecrowdwhichfilledStratford—on—Avon，withaplacardroundhishatbearingtheinscriptionofCorsicaBoswell。
InhisTour，heproclaimedtoalltheworldthatatEdinburghhewasknownbytheappellationofPaoliBoswell。Servileandimpertinent，shallowandpedantic，abigotandasot，bloatedwithfamilypride，andeternallyblusteringaboutthedignityofaborngentleman，yetstoopingtobeatalebearer，aneavesdropper，acommonbuttinthetavernsofLondon，socurioustoknoweverybodywhowastalkedabout，that，ToryandHighChurchmanashewas，hemanoeuvred，wehavebeentold，foranintroductiontoTomPaine，sovainofthemostchildishdistinctions，thatwhenhehadbeentoCourt，hedrovetotheofficewherehisbookwasprintingwithoutchanginghisclothes，andsummonedalltheprinter’sdevilstoadmirehisnewrufflesandsword;suchwasthisman，andsuchhewascontentandproudtobe。Everythingwhichanothermanwouldhavehidden，everythingthepublicationofwhichwouldhavemadeanothermanhanghimself，wasmatterofgayandclamorousexultationtohisweakanddiseasedmind。Whatsillythingshesaid，whatbitterretortsheprovoked，howatoneplacehewastroubledwithevilpresentimentswhichcametonothing，howatanotherplace，onwakingfromadrunkendoze，hereadtheprayer—bookandtookahairofthedogthathadbittenhim，howhewenttoseemenhangedandcameawaymaudlin，howheaddedfivehundredpoundstothefortuneofoneofhisbabiesbecauseshewasnotscaredatJohnson’suglyface，howwasfrightenedoutofhiswitsatsea，andhowthesailorsquietedhimastheywouldhavequietedachild，howtipsyhewasatLadyCork’soneeveningandhowmuchhismerrimentannoyedtheladies，howimpertinenthewastotheDuchessofArgyllandwithwhatstatelycontemptsheputdownhisimpertinence，howColonelMacleodsneeredtohisfaceathisimpudentobtrusiveness，howhisfatherandtheverywifeofhisbosomlaughedandfrettedathisfooleries;allthesethingsheproclaimedtoalltheworld，asiftheyhadbeensubjectsforprideandostentatiousrejoicing。Allthecapricesofhistemper，alltheillusionsofhisvanity，allhishypochondriacwhimsies，allhiscastlesintheair，hedisplayedwithacoolself—
complacency，aperfectunconsciousnessthathewasmakingafoolofhimself，towhichitisimpossibletofindaparallelinthewholehistoryofmankind。Hehasusedmanypeopleill;butassuredlyhehasusednobodysoillashimself。
Thatsuchamanshouldhavewrittenoneofthebestbooksintheworldisstrangeenough。Butthisisnotall。Manypersonswhohaveconductedthemselvesfoolishlyinactivelife，andwhoseconversationhasindicatednosuperiorpowersofmind，haveleftusvaluableworks。Goldsmithwasveryjustlydescribedbyoneofhiscontemporariesasaninspiredidiot，andbyanotherasabeing\"Whowrotelikeanangel，andtalkedlikepoorPoll。\"
LaFontainewasinsocietyameresimpleton。HisblunderswouldnotcomeinamissamongthestoriesofHierocles。Butthesemenattainedliteraryeminenceinspiteoftheirweaknesses。Boswellattaineditbyreasonofhisweaknesses。Ifhehadnotbeenagreatfool，hewouldneverhavebeenagreatwriter。Withoutallthequalitieswhichmadehimthejestandthetormentofthoseamongwhomhelived，withouttheofficiousness，theinquisitiveness，theeffrontery，thetoad—eating，theinsensibilitytoallreproof，henevercouldhaveproducedsoexcellentabook。Hewasaslave，proudofhisservitude，aPaulPry，convincedthathisowncuriosityandgarrulitywerevirtues，anunsafecompanionwhoneverscrupledtorepaythemostliberalhospitalitybythebasestviolationofconfidence，amanwithoutdelicacy，withoutshame，withoutsenseenoughtoknowwhenhewashurtingthefeelingsofothersorwhenhewasexposinghimselftoderision;andbecausehewasallthis，hehas，inanimportantdepartmentofliterature，immeasurablysurpassedsuchwritersasTacitus，Clarendon，Alfieri，andhisownidolJohnson。
Ofthetalentswhichordinarilyraisementoeminenceaswriters，Boswellhadabsolutelynone。Thereisnotinallhisbooksasingleremarkofhisownonliterature，politics，religion，orsociety，whichisnoteithercommonplaceorabsurd。Hisdissertationsonhereditarygentility，ontheslave—trade，andontheentailingoflandedestates，mayserveasexamples。Tosaythatthesepassagesaresophisticalwouldbetopaythemanextravagantcompliment。Theyhavenopretencetoargument，oreventomeaning。Hehasreportedinnumerableobservationsmadebyhimselfinthecourseofconversation。Ofthoseobservationswedonotrememberonewhichisabovetheintellectualcapacityofaboyoffifteen。Hehasprintedmanyofhisownletters，andintheselettersheisalwaysrantingortwaddling。Logic，eloquence，wit，taste，allthosethingswhicharegenerallyconsideredasmakingabookvaluable，wereutterlywantingtohim。Hehad，indeed，aquickobservationandaretentivememory。
Thesequalities，ifhehadbeenamanofsenseandvirtuewouldscarcelyofthemselveshavesufficedtomakehimconspicuous;butbecausehewasadunce，aparasite，andacoxcomb，theyhavemadehimimmortal。
Thosepartsofhisbookwhich，consideredabstractedly，aremostutterlyworthless，aredelightfulwhenwereadthemasillustrationsofthecharacterofthewriter。Badinthemselves，theyaregooddramatically，likethenonsenseofjusticeShallow，theclippedEnglishofDr。Caius，orthemisplacedconsonantsofFluellen。Ofallconfessors，Boswellisthemostcandid。Othermenwhohavepretendedtolayopentheirownhearts，Rousseau，forexample，andLordByron，haveevidentlywrittenwithaconstantviewtoeffect，andaretobethenmostdistrustedwhentheyseemtobemostsincere。Thereisscarcelyanymanwhowouldnotratheraccusehimselfofgreatcrimesandofdarkandtempestuouspassionsthanproclaimallhislittlevanitiesandwildfancies。ItwouldbeeasiertofindapersonwhowouldavowactionslikethoseofCaesarBorgia，orDanton，thanonewhowouldpublishadaydreamlikethoseofAlnascharandMalvolio。
Thoseweaknesseswhichmostmenkeepcoveredupinthemostsecretplacesofthemind，nottobedisclosedtotheeyeoffriendshiporoflove，werepreciselytheweaknesseswhichBoswellparadedbeforealltheworld。Hewasperfectlyfrank，becausetheweaknessofhisunderstandingandthetumultofhisspiritspreventedhimfromknowingwhenhemadehimselfridiculous。HisbookresemblesnothingsomuchastheconversationoftheinmatesofthePalaceofTruth。
Hisfameisgreat;anditwill，wehavenodoubt，belasting;butitisfameofapeculiarkind，andindeedmarvellouslyresemblesinfamy。Weremembernoothercaseinwhichtheworldhasmadesogreatadistinctionbetweenabookanditsauthor。Ingeneral，thebookandtheauthorareconsideredasone。Toadmirethebookistoadmiretheauthor。ThecaseofBoswellisanexception，wethinktheonlyexception，tothisrule。Hisworkisuniversallyallowedtobeinteresting，instructive，eminentlyoriginal:yetithasbroughthimnothingbutcontempt。Alltheworldreadsit，alltheworlddelightsinit:yetwedonotrememberevertohavereadorevertohaveheardanyexpressionofrespectandadmirationforthemantowhomweowesomuchinstructionandamusement。Whileeditionaftereditionofhisbookwascomingforth，hisson，asMr。Crokertellsus，wasashamedofit，andhatedtohearitmentioned。Thisfeelingwasnaturalandreasonable。SirAlexandersawthatinproportiontothecelebrityofthework，wasthedegradationoftheauthor。Theveryeditorsofthisunfortunategentleman’sbookshaveforgottentheirallegiance，and，likethosePuritancasuistswhotookarmsbytheauthorityofthekingagainsthisperson，haveattackedthewriterwhiledoinghomagetothewritings。Mr。Croker，forexample，haspublishedtwothousandfivehundrednotesonthelifeofJohnson，andyetscarcelyevermentionsthebiographer，whoseperformancehehastakensuchpainstoillustrate，withoutsomeexpressionofcontempt。
Anill—naturedmanBoswellcertainlywasnot。Yetthemalignityofthemostmalignantsatiristcouldscarcelycutdeeperthanhisthoughtlessloquacity。Havinghimselfnosensibilitytoderisionandcontempt，hetookitforgrantedthatallotherswereequallycallous。Hewasnotashamedtoexhibithimselftothewholeworldasacommonspy，acommontattler，ahumblecompanionwithouttheexcuseofpoverty，andtotellahundredstoriesofhisownpertnessandfolly，andoftheinsultswhichhispertnessandfollybroughtuponhim。Itwasnaturalthatheshouldshowlittlediscretionincasesinwhichthefeelingsorthehonourofothersmightbeconcerned。Noman，surely，everpublishedsuchstoriesrespectingpersonswhomheprofessedtoloveandrevere。Hewouldinfalliblyhavemadehisheroascontemptibleashehasmadehimself，hadnothisheroreallypossessedsomemoralandintellectualqualitiesofaveryhighorder。ThebestproofthatJohnsonwasreallyanextraordinarymanisthathischaracter，insteadofbeingdegraded，has，onthewhole，beendecidedlyraisedbyaworkinwhichallhisvicesandweaknessesareexposedmoreunsparinglythantheyeverwereexposedbyChurchillorbyKenrick。
Johnsongrownold，Johnsoninthefulnessofhisfameandintheenjoymentofacompetentfortune，isbetterknowntousthananyothermaninhistory。Everythingabouthim，hiscoat，hiswig，hisfigure，hisface，hisscrofula，hisSt。Vitus’sdance，hisrollingwalk，hisblinkingeye，theoutwardsignswhichtooclearlymarkedhisapprobationofhisdinner，hisinsatiableappetiteforfish—sauceandveal—piewithplums，hisinextinguishablethirstfortea，histrickoftouchingthepostsashewalked，hismysteriouspracticeoftreasuringupscrapsoforange—peel，hismorningslumbers，hismidnightdisputations，hiscontortions，hismutterings，hisgruntings，hispuffings，hisvigorous，acute，andreadyeloquence，hissarcasticwit，hisvehemence，hisinsolence，hisfitsoftempestuousrage，hisqueerinmates，oldMr。LevettandblindMrs。Williams，thecatHodgeandthenegroFrank，allareasfamiliartousastheobjectsbywhichwehavebeensurroundedfromchildhood。
ButwehavenominuteinformationrespectingthoseyearsofJohnson’slifeduringwhichhischaracterandhismannersbecameimmutablyfixed。Weknowhim，notashewasknowntothemenofhisowngeneration，butashewasknowntomenwhosefatherhemighthavebeen。Thatcelebratedclubofwhichhewasthemostdistinguishedmembercontainedfewpersonswhocouldrememberatimewhenhisfamewasnotfullyestablishedandhishabitscompletelyformed。HehadmadehimselfanameinliteraturewhileReynoldsandtheWartonswerestillboys。HewasabouttwentyyearsolderthanBurke，Goldsmith，andGerardHamilton，aboutthirtyyearsolderthanGibbon，Beauclerk，andLangton，andaboutfortyyearsolderthanLordStowell，SirWilliamJones，andWindham。BoswellandMrs。Thrale，thetwowritersfromwhomwederivemostofourknowledgerespectinghim，neversawhimtilllongafterhewasfiftyyearsold，tillmostofhisgreatworkshadbecomeclassical，andtillthepensionbestowedonhimbytheCrownhadplacedhimabovepoverty。Ofthoseeminentmenwhowerehismostintimateassociatestowardsthecloseofhislife，theonlyone，asfarasweremember，whoknewhimduringthefirsttenortwelveyearsofhisresidenceinthecapital，wasDavidGarrick;anditdoesnotappearthat，duringthoseyears，DavidGarricksawmuchofhisfellow—townsman。
JohnsoncameuptoLondonpreciselyatthetimewhentheconditionofamanofletterswasmostmiserableanddegraded。Itwasadarknightbetweentwosunnydays。Theageofpatronagehadpassedaway。Theageofgeneralcuriosityandintelligencehadnotarrived。Thenumberofreadersisatpresentsogreatthatapopularauthormaysubsistincomfortandopulenceontheprofitsofhisworks。InthereignsofWilliamtheThird，ofAnne，andofGeorgetheFirst，evensuchmenasCongreveandAddisonwouldscarcelyhavebeenabletolivelikegentlemenbythemeresaleoftheirwritings。Butthedeficiencyofthenaturaldemandforliteraturewas，atthecloseoftheseventeenthandatthebeginningoftheeighteenthcentury，morethanmadeupbyartificialencouragement，byavastsystemofbountiesandpremiums。Therewas，perhaps，neveratimeatwhichtherewardsofliterarymeritweresosplendid，atwhichmenwhocouldwritewellfoundsucheasyadmittanceintothemostdistinguishedsociety，andtothehighesthonoursoftheState。Thechiefsofboththegreatpartiesintowhichthekingdomwasdivided，patronisedliteraturewithemulousmunificence。Congreve，whenhehadscarcelyattainedhismajority，wasrewardedforhisfirstcomedywithplaceswhichmadehimindependentforlife。Smith，thoughhisHippolytusandPhaedrafailed，wouldhavebeenconsoledwiththreehundredayearbutforhisownfolly。RowewasnotonlyPoetLaureate，butalsoland—surveyorofthecustomsintheportofLondon，clerkofthecounciltothePrinceofWales，andsecretaryofthePresentationstotheLordChancellor。
HugheswassecretarytotheCommissionsofthePeace。AmbrosePhilipswasjudgeofthePrerogativeCourtinIreland。LockewasCommissionerofAppealsandoftheBoardofTrade。NewtonwasMasteroftheMint。StepneyandPriorwereemployedinembassiesofhighdignityandimportance。Gay，whocommencedlifeasapprenticetoasilkmercer，becameasecretaryoflegationatfive—and—twenty。ItwastoapoemonthedeathofCharlestheSecond，andtotheCityandCountryMouse，thatMontagueowedhisintroductionintopubliclife，hisearldom，hisgarter，andhisAuditorshipoftheExchequer。Swift，butfortheunconquerableprejudiceofthequeen，wouldhavebeenabishop。Oxford，withhiswhitestaffinhishand，passedthroughthecrowdofhissuitorstowelcomeParnell，whenthatingeniouswriterdesertedtheWhigs。SteelewasacommissionerofstampsandamemberofParliament。ArthurMainwaringwasacommissionerofthecustoms，andauditoroftheimprest。TickellwassecretarytotheLordsJusticesofIreland。AddisonwasSecretaryofState。
Thisliberalpatronagewasbroughtintofashion，asitseems，bythemagnificentDorset，almosttheonlynobleversifierintheCourtofCharlestheSecondwhopossessedtalentsforcompositionwhichwereindependentoftheaidofacoronet。MontagueowedhiselevationtothefavourofDorset，andimitatedthroughthewholecourseofhislifetheliberalitytowhichhewashimselfsogreatlyindebted。TheToryleaders，HarleyandBolingbrokeinparticular，viedwiththechiefsoftheWhigpartyinzealfortheencouragementofletters。ButsoonaftertheaccessionoftheHouseofHanoverachangetookplace。Thesupremepowerpassedtoamanwhocaredlittleforpoetryoreloquence。TheimportanceoftheHouseofCommonswasconstantlyontheincrease。TheGovernmentwasunderthenecessityofbarteringforParliamentarysupportmuchofthatpatronagewhichhadbeenemployedinfosteringliterarymerit;andWalpolewasbynomeansinclinedtodivertanypartofthefundofcorruptiontopurposeswhichheconsideredasidle。Hehademinenttalentsforgovernmentsandfordebate。Buthehadpaidlittleattentiontobooks，andfeltlittlerespectforauthors。Oneofthecoarsejokesofhisfriend，SirCharlesHanburyWilliams，wasfarmorepleasingtohimthanThomson’sSeasonsorRichardson’sPamela。HehadobservedthatsomeofthedistinguishedwriterswhomthefavourofHalifaxhadturnedintostatesmenhadbeenmereincumbrancestotheirparty，dawdlersinofficeandmutesinParliament。
Duringthewholecourseofhisadministration，therefore，hescarcelybefriendedasinglemanofgenius。ThebestwritersoftheagegavealltheirsupporttotheOpposition，andcontributedtoexcitethatdiscontentwhich，afterplungingthenationintoafoolishandunjustwar，overthrewtheMinistertomakeroomformenlessableandequallyimmoral。TheOppositioncouldrewarditseulogistswithlittlemorethanpromisesandcaresses。St。
James’swouldgivenothing:LeicesterHousehadnothingtogive。
Thus，atthetimewhenJohnsoncommencedhisliterarycareer，awriterhadlittletohopefromthepatronageofpowerfulindividuals。Thepatronageofthepublicdidnotyetfurnishthemeansofcomfortablesubsistence。Thepricespaidbybooksellerstoauthorsweresolowthatamanofconsiderabletalentsandunremittingindustrycoulddolittlemorethanprovideforthedaywhichwaspassingoverhim。Theleankinehadeatenupthefatkine。Thethinandwitheredearshaddevouredthegoodears。
Theseasonofrichharvestwasover，andtheperiodoffaminehadbegun。AllthatissqualidandmiserablemightnowbesummedupinthewordPoet。Thatworddenotedacreaturedressedlikeascarecrow，familiarwithcomptersandspunging—houses，andperfectlyqualifiedtodecideonthecomparativemeritsoftheCommonSideintheKing’sBenchprisonandofMountScoundrelintheFleet。Eventhepoorestpitiedhim;andtheywellmightpityhim。Foriftheirconditionwasequallyabject，theiraspiringswerenotequallyhigh，northeirsenseofinsultequallyacute。
Tolodgeinagarretupfourpairofstairs，todineinacellaramongfootmenoutofplace，totranslatetenhoursadayforthewagesofaditcher，tobehuntedbybailiffsfromonehauntofbeggaryandpestilencetoanother，fromGrubStreettoSt。
George’sFields，andfromSt。George’sFieldstothealleysbehindSt。Martin’schurch，tosleeponabulkinJuneandamidsttheashesofaglass—houseinDecember，todieinanhospital，andtobeburiedinaparishvault，wasthefateofmorethanonewriterwho，ifhehadlivedthirtyyearsearlier，wouldhavebeenadmittedtothesittingsoftheKitcatortheScriblerusClub，wouldhavesatinParliament，andwouldhavebeenintrustedwithembassiestotheHighAllies;who，ifhehadlivedinourtime，wouldhavefoundencouragementscarcelylessmunificentinAlbemarleStreetorinPaternosterRow。
Aseveryclimatehasitspeculiardiseases，soeverywalkoflifehasitspeculiartemptations。Theliterarycharacter，assuredly，hasalwayshaditsshareoffaults，vanity，jealousy，morbidsensibility。Tothesefaultswerenowsuperaddedthefaultswhicharecommonlyfoundinmenwhoselivelihoodisprecarious，andwhoseprinciplesareexposedtothetrialofseveredistress。Allthevicesofthegamblerandofthebeggarwereblendedwiththoseoftheauthor。Theprizesinthewretchedlotteryofbook—
makingwerescarcelylessruinousthantheblanks。Ifgoodfortunecame，itcameinsuchamannerthatitwasalmostcertaintobeabused。Aftermonthsofstarvationanddespair，afullthirdnightorawell—receiveddedicationfilledthepocketofthelean，ragged，unwashedpoetwithguineas。HehastenedtoenjoythoseluxurieswiththeimagesofwhichhismindhadbeenhauntedwhilehewassleepingamidstthecindersandeatingpotatoesattheIrishordinaryinShoeLane。Aweekoftavernssoonqualifiedhimforanotheryearofnight—cellars。SuchwasthelifeofSavage，ofBoyse，andofacrowdofothers。Sometimesblazingingold—lacedhatsandwaistcoats;sometimeslyinginbedbecausetheircoatshadgonetopieces，orwearingpapercravatsbecausetheirlinenwasinpawn;sometimesdrinkingChampagneandTokaywithBettyCareless;sometimesstandingatthewindowofaneating—houseinPorridgeisland，tosnuffupthescentofwhattheycouldnotaffordtotaste;theyknewluxury;theyknewbeggary;buttheyneverknewcomfort。Thesemenwereirreclaimable。TheylookedonaregularandfrugallifewiththesameaversionwhichanoldgipsyoraMohawkhunterfeelsforastationaryabode，andfortherestraintsandsecuritiesofcivilisedcommunities。Theywereasuntameable，asmuchweddedtotheirdesolatefreedom，asthewildass。Theycouldnomorebebrokenintotheofficesofsocialmanthantheunicorncouldbetrainedtoserveandabidebythecrib。Itwaswelliftheydidnot，likebeastsofastillfiercerrace，tearthehandswhichministeredtotheirnecessities。Toassistthemwasimpossible;
andthemostbenevolentofmankindatlengthbecamewearyofgivingreliefwhichwasdissipatedwiththewildestprofusionassoonasithadbeenreceived。Ifasumwasbestowedonthewretchedadventurer，suchas，properlyhusbanded，mighthavesuppliedhimforsixmonths，itwasinstantlyspentinstrangefreaksofsensuality，and，beforeforty—eighthourshadelapsed，thepoetwasagainpesteringallhisacquaintancefortwopencetogetaplateofshinofbeefatasubterraneouscookshop。Ifhisfriendsgavehimanasylumintheirhouses，thosehouseswereforthwithturnedintobagniosandtaverns。Allorderwasdestroyed;allbusinesswassuspended。Themostgood—naturedhostbegantorepentofhiseagernesstoserveamanofgeniusindistresswhenheheardhisguestroaringforfreshpunchatfiveo’clockinthemorning。
Afeweminentwritersweremorefortunate。Popehadbeenraisedabovepovertybytheactivepatronagewhich，inhisyouth，boththegreatpoliticalpartieshadextendedtohisHomer。Younghadreceivedtheonlypensioneverbestowed，tothebestofourrecollection，bySirRobertWalpole，astherewardofmereliterarymerit。OneortwoofthemanypoetswhoattachedthemselvestotheOpposition，ThomsoninparticularandMallet，obtained，aftermuchseveresuffering，themeansofsubsistencefromtheirpoliticalfriends。Richardson，likeamanofsense，kepthisshop;andhisshopkepthim，whichhisnovels，admirableastheyare，wouldscarcelyhavedone，Butnothingcouldbemoredeplorablethanthestateevenoftheablestmen，whoatthattimedependedforsubsistenceontheirwritings。Johnson，Collins，Fielding，andThomson，werecertainlyfourofthemostdistinguishedpersonsthatEnglandproducedduringtheeighteenthcentury。Itiswellknownthattheywereallfourarrestedfordebt。IntocalamitiesanddifficultiessuchastheseJohnsonplungedinhistwenty—eighthyear。Fromthattime，tillhewasthreeorfourandfifty，wehavelittleinformationrespectinghim;little，wemean，comparedwiththefullandaccurateinformationwhichwepossessrespectinghisproceedingsandhabitstowardsthecloseofhislife。Heemergedatlengthfromcock—loftsandsixpennyordinariesintothesocietyofthepolishedandtheopulent。Hisfamewasestablished。Apensionsufficientforhiswantshadbeenconferredonhim:andhecameforthtoastonishagenerationwithwhichhehadalmostaslittleincommonaswithFrenchmenorSpaniards。
Inhisearlyyearshehadoccasionallyseenthegreat;buthehadseenthemasabeggar。Henowcameamongthemasacompanion。Thedemandforamusementandinstructionhad，duringthecourseoftwentyyears，beengraduallyincreasing。Thepriceofliterarylabourhadrisen;andthoserisingmenofletterswithwhomJohnsonwashenceforthtoassociate，wereforthemostpartpersonswidelydifferentfromthosewhohadwalkedaboutwithhimallnightinthestreetsforwantofalodging。Burke，Robertson，theWartons，Gray，Mason，Gibbon，AdamSmith，Beattie，SirWilliamJones，Goldsmith，andChurchill，werethemostdistinguishedwritersofwhatmaybecalledthesecondgenerationoftheJohnsonianage。OfthesemenChurchillwastheonlyoneinwhomwecantracethestrongerlineamentsofthatcharacterwhich，whenJohnsonfirstcameuptoLondon，wascommonamongauthors。Oftherest，scarcelyanyhadfeltthepressureofseverepoverty。Almostallhadbeenearlyadmittedintothemostrespectablesocietyonanequalfooting。TheyweremenofquiteadifferentspeciesfromthedependantsofCurllandOsborne。
Johnsoncameamongthemthesolitaryspecimenofapastage，thelastsurvivorofthegenuineraceofGrubStreethacks;thelastofthatgenerationofauthorswhoseabjectmiseryandwhosedissolutemannershadfurnishedinexhaustiblemattertothesatiricalgeniusofPope。Fromnaturehehadreceivedanuncouthfigure，adiseasedconstitution，andanirritabletemper。Themannerinwhichtheearlieryearsofhismanhoodhadbeenpassedhadgiventohisdemeanour，andeventohismoralcharacter，somepeculiaritiesappallingtothecivilisedbeingswhowerethecompanionsofhisoldage。Theperverseirregularityofhishours，theslovenlinessofhisperson，hisfitsofstrenuousexertion，interruptedbylongintervalsofsluggishness，hisstrangeabstinence，andhisequallystrangevoracity，hisactivebenevolence，contrastedwiththeconstantrudenessandtheoccasionalferocityofhismannersinsociety，madehim，intheopinionofthosewithwhomhelivedduringthelasttwentyyearsofhislife，acompleteoriginal。Anoriginalhewas，undoubtedly，insomerespects。Butifwepossessedfullinformationconcerningthosewhosharedhisearlyhardships，weshouldprobablyfindthatwhatwecallhissingularitiesofmannerwere，forthemostpart，failingswhichhehadincommonwiththeclasstowhichhebelonged。HeateatStreathamParkashehadbeenusedtoeatbehindthescreenatSt。John’sGate，whenhewasashamedtoshowhisraggedclothes。Heateasitwasnaturalthatamanshouldeat，who，duringagreatpartofhislife，hadpassedthemorningindoubtwhetherheshouldhavefoodfortheafternoon。Thehabitsofhisearlylifehadaccustomedhimtobearprivationwithfortitude，butnottotastepleasurewithmoderation。Hecouldfast;but，whenhedidnotfast，hetorehisdinnerlikeafamishedwolf，withtheveinsswellingonhisforehead，andtheperspirationrunningdownhischeeks。Hescarcelyevertookwine。Butwhenhedrankit，hedrankitgreedilyandinlargetumblers。Thesewere，infact，mitigatedsymptomsofthatsamemoraldiseasewhichragedwithsuchdeadlymalignityinhisfriendsSavageandBoyse。Theroughnessandviolencewhichheshowedinsocietyweretobeexpectedfromamanwhosetemper，notnaturallygentle，hadbeenlongtriedbythebitterestcalamities，bythewantofmeat，offire，andofclothes，bytheimportunityofcreditors，bytheinsolenceofbooksellers，bythederisionoffools，bytheinsincerityofpatrons，bythatbreadwhichisthebitterestofallfood，bythosestairswhicharethemosttoilsomeofallpaths，bythatdeferredhopewhichmakestheheartsick。Throughallthesethingstheill—dressed，coarse，ungainlypedanthadstruggledmanfullyuptoeminenceandcommand。Itwasnaturalthat，intheexerciseofhispower，heshouldbe\"eoimmitior，quiatoleraverat，\"that，thoughhisheartwasundoubtedlygenerousandhumane，hisdemeanourinsocietyshouldbeharshanddespotic。
Forseveredistresshehadsympathy，andnotonlysympathy，butmunificentrelief。Butforthesufferingwhichaharshwordinflictsuponadelicatemindhehadnopity;foritwasakindofsufferingwhichhecouldscarcelyconceive。Hewouldcarryhomeonhisshouldersasickandstarvinggirlfromthestreets。
Heturnedhishouseintoaplaceofrefugeforacrowdofwretchedoldcreatureswhocouldfindnootherasylum;norcouldalltheirpeevishnessandingratitudewearyouthisbenevolence。
Butthepangsofwoundedvanityseemedtohimridiculous:andhescarcelyfeltsufficientcompassionevenforthepangsofwoundedaffection。Hehadseenandfeltsomuchofsharpmisery，thathewasnotaffectedbypaltryvexations;andheseemedtothinkthateverybodyoughttobeasmuchhardenedtothosevexationsashimself。HewasangrywithBoswellforcomplainingofaheadache，withMrs。Thraleforgrumblingaboutthedustontheroad，orthesmellofthekitchen。Thesewere，inhisphrase，\"foppishlamentations，\"whichpeopleoughttobeashamedtoutterinaworldsofullofsinandsorrow。GoldsmithcryingbecauseTheGood—naturedManhadfailed，inspiredhimwithnopity。Thoughhisownhealthwasnotgood，hedetestedanddespisedvaletudinarians。Pecuniarylosses，unlesstheyreducedtheloserabsolutelytobeggary，movedhimverylittle。Peoplewhoseheartshadbeensoftenedbyprosperitymightweep，hesaid，forsuchevents;butallthatcouldbeexpectedofaplainmanwasnottolaugh。HewasnotmuchmovedevenbythespectacleofLadyTavistockdyingofabrokenheartforthelossofherlord。Suchgriefheconsideredasaluxuryreservedfortheidleandthewealthy。Awasherwoman，leftawidowwithninesmallchildren，wouldnothavesobbedherselftodeath。
Apersonwhotroubledhimselfsolittleaboutsmallorsentimentalgrievanceswasnotlikelytobeveryattentivetothefeelingsofothersintheordinaryintercourseofsociety。Hecouldnotunderstandhowasarcasmorareprimandcouldmakeanymanreallyunhappy。\"Mydeardoctor，\"saidhetoGoldsmith，\"whatharmdoesitdotoamantocallhimHolofernes？\"\"Pooh，ma’am，\"
heexclaimed，toMrs。Carter，\"whoistheworseforbeingtalkedofuncharitably？\"Politenesshasbeenwelldefinedasbenevolenceinsmallthings。Johnsonwasimpolite，notbecausehewantedbenevolence，butbecausesmallthingsappearedsmallertohimthantopeoplewhohadneverknownwhatitwastoliveforfourpencehalfpennyaday。
Thecharacteristicpeculiarityofhisintellectwastheunionofgreatpowerswithlowprejudices。Ifwejudgedofhimbythebestpartsofhismind，weshouldplacehimalmostashighashewasplacedbytheidolatryofBoswell;ifbytheworstpartsofhismind，weshouldplacehimevenbelowBoswellhimself。Wherehewasnotundertheinfluenceofsomestrangescruple，orsomedomineeringpassion，whichpreventedhimfromboldlyandfairlyinvestigatingasubject，hewasawaryandacutereasoner，alittletoomuchinclinedtoscepticism，andalittletoofondofparadox。Nomanwaslesslikelytobeimposeduponbyfallaciesinargument，orbyexaggeratedstatementsoffact。Butif，whilehewasbeatingdownsophismsandexposingfalsetestimony，somechildishprejudices，suchaswouldexcitelaughterinawell—
managednursery，cameacrosshim，hewassmittenasifbyenchantment。Hisminddwindledawayunderthespellfromgiganticelevationtodwarfishlittleness。ThosewhohadlatelybeenadmiringitsamplitudeanditsforcewerenowasmuchastonishedatitsstrangenarrownessandfeeblenessasthefishermanintheArabiantale，whenhesawtheGenie，whosestaturehadovershadowedthewholeseacoast，andwhosemightseemedequaltoacontestwitharmies，contracthimselftothedimensionsofhissmallprison，andlietherethehelplessslaveofthecharmofSolomon。
Johnsonwasinthehabitofsiftingwithextremeseveritytheevidenceforallstorieswhichweremerelyodd。Butwhentheywerenotonlyoddbutmiraculous，hisseverityrelaxed。Hebegantobecredulouspreciselyatthepointwherethemostcredulouspeoplebegintobesceptical。Itiscurioustoobserve，bothinhiswritingsandinhisconversation，thecontrastbetweenthedisdainfulmannerinwhichherejectsunauthenticatedanecdotes，evenwhentheyareconsistentwiththegenerallawsofnature，andtherespectfulmannerinwhichhementionsthewildeststoriesrelatingtotheinvisibleworld。Amanwhotoldhimofawater—spout，orameteoricstone，generallyhadtheliedirectgivenhimforhispains。Amanwhotoldhimofapredictionoradreamwonderfullyaccomplishedwassureofacourteoushearing。
\"Johnson，\"observedHogarth，\"likeKingDavid，saysinhishastethatallmenareliars。\"\"Hisincredulity，\"saysMrs。Thrale，\"amountedalmosttodisease。\"Shetellsushowhebrowbeatagentleman，whogavehimanaccountofahurricaneintheWestIndies，andapoorQuakerwhorelatedsomestrangecircumstanceaboutthered—hotballsfiredatthesiegeofGibraltar。\"Itisnotso。Itcannotbetrue。Don’ttellthatstoryagain。Youcannotthinkhowpoorafigureyoumakeintellingit。\"Heoncesaid，half—testingly，wesuppose，thatforsixmonthsherefusedtocreditthefactoftheearthquakeatLisbon，andthathestillbelievedtheextentofthecalamitytobegreatlyexaggerated。
YetherelatedwithagravefacehowoldMr。CaveofSt。John’sGatesawaghost，andhowthisghostwassomethingofashadowybeing。Hewenthimselfonaghost—hunttoCockLane，andwasangrywithJohnWesleyfornotfollowingupanotherscentofthesamekindwithproperspiritandperseverance。HerejectstheCelticgenealogiesandpoemswithouttheleasthesitation;
yethedeclareshimselfwillingtobelievethestoriesofthesecondsight。IfhehadexaminedtheclaimsoftheHighlandseerswithhalftheseveritywithwhichhesiftedtheevidenceforthegenuinenessofFingal，hewould，wesuspect，havecomeawayfromScotlandwithamindfullymadeup。InhisLivesofthePoets，wefindthatheisunwillingtogivecredittotheaccountsofLordRoscommon’searlyproficiencyinhisstudies:buthetellswithgreatsolemnityanabsurdromanceaboutsomeintelligencepreternaturallyimpressedonthemindofthatnobleman。Heavowshimselftobeingreatdoubtaboutthetruthofthestory，andendsbywarninghisreadersnotwhollytoslightsuchimpressions。
Manyofhissentimentsonreligioussubjectsareworthyofaliberalandenlargedmind。Hecoulddiscernclearlyenoughthefollyandmeannessofallbigotryexcepthisown。WhenhespokeofthescruplesofthePuritans，hespokelikeapersonwhohadreallyobtainedaninsightintothedivinephilosophyoftheNewTestament，andwhoconsideredChristianityasanobleschemeofgovernment，tendingtopromotethehappinessandtoelevatethemoralnatureofman。Thehorrorwhichthesectariesfeltforcards，Christmasale，plum—porridge，mince—pies，anddancing—
bears，excitedhiscontempt。Totheargumentsurgedbysomeveryworthypeopleagainstshowydressherepliedwithadmirablesenseandspirit，\"Letusnotbefound，whenourMastercallsus，strippingthelaceoffourwaistcoats，butthespiritofcontentionfromoursoulsandtongues。Alas！sir，amanwhocannotgettoheaveninagreencoatwillnotfindhiswaythitherthesoonerinagreyone。\"YethewashimselfunderthetyrannyofscruplesasunreasonableasthoseofHudibrasorRalpho，andcarriedhiszealforceremoniesandforecclesiasticaldignitiestolengthsaltogetherinconsistentwithreasonorwithChristiancharity。HehasgravelynoteddowninhisdiarythatheoncecommittedthesinofdrinkingcoffeeonGoodFriday。InScotland，hethoughtithisdutytopassseveralmonthswithoutjoininginpublicworship，solelybecausetheministersofthekirkhadnotbeenordainedbybishops。Hismodeofestimatingthepietyofhisneighbourswassomewhatsingular。
\"Campbell，\"saidhe，\"isagoodman，apiousman。Iamafraidhehasnotbeenintheinsideofachurchformanyyears:butheneverpassesachurchwithoutpullingoffhishat;thisshowshehasgoodprinciples。\"SpainandSicilymustsurelycontainmanypiousrobbersandwell—principledassassins。JohnsoncouldeasilyseethataRoundheadwhonamedallhischildrenafterSolomon’ssingers，andtalkedintheHouseofCommonsaboutseekingtheLord，mightbeanunprincipledvillain，whosereligiousmummeriesonlyaggravatedhisguilt。Butamanwhotookoffhishatwhenhepassedachurchepiscopallyconsecratedmustbeagoodman，apiousman，amanofgoodprinciples。Johnsoncouldeasilyseethatthosepersonswholookedonadanceoralacedwaistcoatassinful，deemedmostignoblyoftheattributesofGodandoftheendsofrevelation。Butwithwhatastormofinvectivehewouldhaveoverwhelmedanymanwhohadblamedhimforcelebratingtheredemptionofmankindwithsugarlessteaandbutterlessbuns。
Nobodyspokemorecontemptuouslyofthecantofpatriotism。
Nobodysawmoreclearlytheerrorofthosewhoregardedliberty，notasameans，butasanend，andwhoproposedtothemselves，astheobjectoftheirpursuit，theprosperityoftheState:asdistinctfromtheprosperityoftheindividualswhocomposetheState。Hiscalmandsettledopinionseemstohavebeenthatformsofgovernmenthavelittleornoinfluenceonthehappinessofsociety。Thisopinion，erroneousasitis，oughtatleasttohavepreservedhimfromallintemperanceonpoliticalquestions。Itdidnot，however，preservehimfromthelowest，fiercest，andmostabsurdextravagancesofpartyspirit，fromrantswhich，ineverythingbutthediction，resembledthoseofSquireWestern。Hewas，asapolitician，halficeandhalffire。OnthesideofhisintellecthewasamerePococurante，fartooapatheticaboutpublicaffairs，fartooscepticalastothegoodoreviltendencyofanyformofpolity。Hispassions，onthecontrary，wereviolenteventoslayingagainstallwholeanedtoWhiggishprinciples。Thewell—knownlineswhichheinsertedinGoldsmith’sTravellerexpresswhatseemstohavebeenhisdeliberatejudgment:
Howsmall，ofallthathumanheartsendure，Thatpartwhichkingsorlawscancauseorcure！
HehadpreviouslyputexpressionsverysimilarintothemouthofRasselas。ItisamusingtocontrastthesepassageswiththetorrentsofravingabusewhichhepouredforthagainsttheLongParliamentandtheAmericanCongress。InoneoftheconversationsreportedbyBoswellthisinconsistencydisplaysitselfinthemostludicrousmanner。
\"SirAdamFerguson，\"saysBoswell，\"suggestedthatluxurycorruptsapeople，anddestroysthespiritofliberty。JOHNSON:
’Sir，thatisallvisionary。Iwouldnotgivehalfaguineatoliveunderoneformofgovernmentratherthananother。Itisofnomomenttothehappinessofanindividual。Sir，thedangeroftheabuseofpowerisnothingtoaprivateman。WhatFrenchmanispreventedpassinghislifeashepleases？’SIRADAM:’But，sir，intheBritishconstitutionitissurelyofimportancetokeepupaspiritinthepeople，soastopreserveabalanceagainsttheCrown。’JOHNSON:’Sir，IperceiveyouareavileWhig。WhyallthischildishjealousyofthepoweroftheCrown？TheCrownhasnotpowerenough。’\"
Oneoftheoldphilosophers，LordBacontellsus，usedtosaythatlifeanddeathwerejustthesametohim。\"Why，then，\"saidanobjector，\"doyounotkillyourself？\"Thephilosopheranswered，\"Becauseitisjustthesame。\"Ifthedifferencebetweentwoformsofgovernmentbenotworthhalfaguinea，itisnoteasytoseehowWhiggismcanbevilerthanToryism，orhowtheCrowncanhavetoolittlepower。Ifthehappinessofindividualsisnotaffectedbypoliticalabuses，zealforlibertyisdoubtlessridiculous。Butzealformonarchymustheequallyso。Nopersoncouldhavebeenmorequick—sightedthanJohnsontosuchacontradictionasthisinthelogicofanantagonist。
ThejudgmentswhichJohnsonpassedonbookswere，inhisowntime，regardedwithsuperstitiousveneration，and，inourtime，aregenerallytreatedwithindiscriminatecontempt。Theyarethejudgmentsofastrongbutenslavedunderstanding。Themindofthecriticwashedgedroundbyanuninterruptedfenceofprejudicesandsuperstitions。Withinhisnarrowlimits，hedisplayedavigourandanactivitywhichoughttohaveenabledhimtoclearthebarrierthatconfinedhim。
Howitchancedthatamanwhoreasonedonhispremisessoably，shouldassumehispremisessofoolishly，isoneofthegreatmysteriesofhumannature。Thesameinconsistencymaybeobservedintheschoolmenofthemiddleages。Thosewritersshowsomuchacutenessandforceofmindinarguingontheirwretcheddata，thatamodernreaderisperpetuallyatalosstocomprehendhowsuchmindscamebysuchdata。Notaflawinthesuperstructureofthetheorywhichtheyarerearingescapestheirvigilance。Yettheyareblindtotheobviousunsoundnessofthefoundation。Itisthesamewithsomeeminentlawyers。Theirlegalargumentsareintellectualprodigies，aboundingwiththehappiestanalogiesandthemostrefineddistinctions。Theprinciplesoftheirarbitrarysciencebeingonceadmitted，thestatute—bookandthereportsbeingonceassumedasthefoundationsofreasoning，thesemenmustbeallowedtobeperfectmastersoflogic。Butifaquestionarisesastothepostulatesonwhichtheirwholesystemrests，iftheyarecalledupontovindicatethefundamentalmaximsofthatsystemwhichtheyhavepassedtheirlivesinstudying，theseverymenoftentalkthelanguageofsavagesorofchildren。Thosewhohavelistenedtoamanofthisclassinhisowncourt，andwhohavewitnessedtheskillwithwhichheanalysesanddigestsavastmassofevidence，orreconcilesacrowdofprecedentswhichatfirstsightseemcontradictory，scarcelyknowhimagainwhen，afewhourslater，theyhearhimspeakingontheothersideofWestminsterHallinhiscapacityoflegislator。Theycanscarcelybelievethatthepaltryquirkswhicharefaintlyheardthroughastormofcoughing，andwhichdonotimposeontheplainestcountrygentleman，canproceedfromthesamesharpandvigorousintellectwhichhadexcitedtheiradmirationunderthesameroof，andonthesameday。
Johnsondecidedliteraryquestionslikealawyer，notlikealegislator。Heneverexaminedfoundationswhereapointwasalreadyruled。Hiswholecodeofcriticismrestedonpureassumption，forwhichhesometimesquotedaprecedentoranauthority，butrarelytroubledhimselftogiveareasondrawnfromthenatureofthings。Hetookitforgrantedthatthekindofpoetrywhichflourishedinhisowntime，whichhehadbeenaccustomedtohearpraisedfromhischildhood，andwhichhehadhimselfwrittenwithsuccess，wasthebestkindofpoetry。Inhisbiographicalworkhehasrepeatedlylaiditdownasanundeniablepropositionthatduringthelatterpartoftheseventeenthcentury，andtheearlierpartoftheeighteenth，Englishpoetryhadbeeninaconstantprogressofimprovement。Waller，Denham，Dryden，andPope，hadbeen，accordingtohim，thegreatreformers。Hejudgedofallworksoftheimaginationbythestandardestablishedamonghisowncontemporaries。ThoughheallowedHomertohavebeenagreatermanthanVirgil，heseemstohavethoughttheAeneidagreaterpoemthantheIliad。Indeed，hewellmighthavethoughtso;forhepreferredPope’sIliadtoHomer’s。Hepronouncedthat，afterHoole’stranslationofTasso，Fairfax’swouldhardlybereprinted。HecouldseenomeritinourfineoldEnglishballads，andalwaysspokewiththemostprovokingcontemptofPercy’sfondnessforthem。Ofthegreatoriginalworksofimaginationwhichappearedduringhistime，Richardson’snovelsaloneexcitedhisadmiration。HecouldseelittleornomeritinTomJones，inGulliver’sTravels，orinTristramShandy。ToThomson’sCastleofIndolencehevouchsafedonlyalineofcoldcommendation，ofcommendationmuchcolderthanwhathehasbestowedontheCreationofthatportentousbore，SirRichardBlackmore。Graywas，inhisdialect，abarrenrascal。Churchillwasablockhead。ThecontemptwhichhefeltforthetrashofMacphersonwasindeedjust;butitwas，wesuspect，justbychance。HedespisedtheFingalfortheveryreasonwhichledmanymenofgeniustoadmireit。Hedespisedit，notbecauseitwasessentiallycommonplace，butbecauseithadasuperficialairoforiginality。
Hewasundoubtedlyanexcellentjudgeofcompositionsfashionedonhisownprinciples。Butwhenadeeperphilosophywasrequired，whenheundertooktopronouncejudgmentontheworksofthosegreatmindswhich\"yieldhomageonlytoeternallaws，\"hisfailurewasignominious。HecriticisedPope’sEpitaphsexcellently。ButhisobservationsonShakspeare’splaysandMilton’spoemsseemtousforthemostpartaswretchedasiftheyhadbeenwrittenbyRymerhimself，whomwetaketohavebeentheworstcriticthateverlived。
SomeofJohnson’swhimsonliterarysubjectscanbecomparedonlytothatstrangenervousfeelingwhichmadehimuneasyifhehadnottouchedeverypostbetweentheMitretavernandhisownlodgings。HispreferenceofLatinepitaphstoEnglishepitaphsisaninstance。AnEnglishepitaph，hesaid，woulddisgraceSmollett。HedeclaredthathewouldnotpollutethewallsofWestminsterAbbeywithanEnglishepitaphonGoldsmith。WhatreasontherecanbeforcelebratingaBritishwriterinLatin，whichtherewasnotforcoveringtheRomanarchesoftriumphwithGreekinscriptions，orforcommemoratingthedeedsoftheheroesofThermopylaeinEgyptianhieroglyphics，weareutterlyunabletoimagine。
Onmenandmanners，atleastonthemenandmannersofaparticularplaceandaparticularage，Johnsonhadcertainlylookedwithamostobservantanddiscriminatingeye。Hisremarksontheeducationofchildren，onmarriage，ontheeconomyoffamilies，ontherulesofsociety，arealwaysstriking，andgenerallysound。Inhiswritings，indeed，theknowledgeoflifewhichhepossessedinaneminentdegreeisveryimperfectlyexhibited。Likethoseunfortunatechiefsofthemiddleageswhoweresuffocatedbytheirownchain—mailandclothofgold，hismaximsperishunderthatloadofwordswhichwasdesignedfortheirdefenceandtheirornament。Butitisclearfromtheremainsofhisconversation，thathehadmoreofthathomelywisdomwhichnothingbutexperienceandobservationcangivethananywritersincethetimeofSwift。
Ifhehadbeencontenttowriteashetalked，hemighthaveleftbooksonthepracticalartoflivingsuperiortotheDirectionstoServants。Yetevenhisremarksonsociety，likehisremarksonliterature，indicateamindatleastasremarkablefornarrownessasforstrength。Hewasnomasterofthegreatscienceofhumannature。Hehadstudied，notthegenusman，butthespeciesLondoner。NobodywaseversothoroughlyconversantwithalltheformsoflifeandofalltheshadesofmoralandintellectualcharacterwhichweretobeseenfromIslingtontotheThames，andfromHydeParkCornertoMile—EndGreen。Buthisphilosophystoppedatthefirstturnpike—gate。OftherurallifeofEnglandheknewnothing;andhetookitforgrantedthateverybodywholivedinthecountrywaseitherstupidormiserable。\"Countrygentlemen，\"saidhe，\"mustbeunhappy;fortheyhavenotenoughtokeeptheirlivesinmotion;\"asifallthosepeculiarhabitsandassociationswhichmadeFleetStreetandCharingCrossthefinestviewsintheworldtohimselfhadbeenessentialpartsofhumannature。Ofremotecountriesandpasttimeshetalkedwithwildandignorantpresumption。\"TheAtheniansoftheageofDemosthenes，\"hesaidtoMrs。Thrale，\"wereapeopleofbrutes，abarbarouspeople。\"InconversationwithSirAdamFergusonheusedsimilarlanguage。\"TheboastedAthenians，\"hesaid，\"werebarbarians。Themassofeverypeoplemustbebarbarouswherethereisnoprinting。\"Thefactwasthis:hesawthataLondonerwhocouldnotreadwasaverystupidandbrutalfellow:hesawthatgreatrefinementoftasteandactivityofintellectwererarelyfoundinaLondonerwhohadnotreadmuch;and，becauseitwasbymeansofbooksthatpeopleacquiredalmostalltheirknowledgeinthesocietywithwhichhewasacquainted，heconcluded，indefianceofthestrongestandclearestevidence，thatthehumanmindcanbecultivatedbymeansofbooksalone。AnAtheniancitizenmightpossessveryfewvolumes;andthelargestlibrarytowhichhehadaccessmightbemuchlessvaluablethanJohnson’sbookcaseinBoltCourt。ButtheAthenianmightpasseverymorninginconversationwithSocrates，andmighthearPericlesspeakfourorfivetimeseverymonth。HesawtheplaysofSophoclesandAristophanes;hewalkedamidstthefriezesofPhidiasandthepaintingsofZeuxis:heknewbyheartthechorusesofAeschylus:heheardtherhapsodistatthecornerofthestreetsrecitingtheShieldofAchillesortheDeathofArgus:hewasalegislator，conversantwithhighquestionsofalliance，revenue，andwar:hewasasoldier，trainedunderaliberalandgenerousdiscipline:hewasajudgecompelledeverydaytoweightheeffectofoppositearguments。Thesethingswereinthemselvesaneducation，aneducationeminentlyfitted，not，indeed，toformexactorprofoundthinkers，buttogivequicknesstotheperceptions，delicacytothetaste，fluencytotheexpression，andpolitenesstothemanners。Allthiswasoverlooked。
AnAthenianwhodidnotimprovehismindbyreadingwas，inJohnson’sopinion，muchsuchapersonasaCockneywhomadehismark，muchsuchapersonasblackFrankbeforehewenttoschool，andfarinferiortoaparishclerkoraprinter’sdevil。
Johnson’sfriendshaveallowedthathecarriedtoaridiculousextremehisunjustcontemptforforeigners。HepronouncedtheFrenchtobeaverysillypeople，muchbehindus，stupid，ignorantcreatures。AndthisjudgmentheformedafterhavingbeenatParisaboutamonth，duringwhichhewouldnottalkFrench，forfearofgivingthenativesanadvantageoverhiminconversation。Hepronouncedthem，also，tobeanindelicatepeople，becauseaFrenchfootmantouchedthesugarwithhisfingers。Thatingeniousandamusingtraveller，M。Simond，hasdefendedhiscountrymenverysuccessfullyagainstJohnson’saccusations，andhaspointedoutsomeEnglishpracticeswhich，toanimpartialspectator，wouldseematleastasinconsistentwithphysicalcleanlinessandsocialdecorumasthosewhichJohnsonsobitterlyreprehended。Tothesage，asBoswelllovestocallhim，itneveroccurredtodoubtthattheremustbesomethingeternallyandimmutablygoodintheusagestowhichhehadbeenaccustomed。
Infact，Johnson’sremarksonsocietybeyondthebillsofmortality，aregenerallyofmuchthesamekindwiththoseofhonestTomDawson，theEnglishfootmaninDr。Moore’sZeluco。
\"SupposetheKingofFrancehasnosons，butonlyadaughter，then，whenthekingdies，thisheredaughter，accordingtothattherelaw，cannotbemadequeen，butthenextnearrelative，providedheisaman，ismadeking，andnotthelastking’sdaughter，which，tobesure，isveryunjust。TheFrenchfootguardsaredressedinblue，andallthemarchingregimentsinwhite，whichhasaveryfoolishappearanceforsoldiers;andasforblueregimentals，itisonlyfitforthebluehorseortheartillery。\"
Johnson’svisittotheHebridesintroducedhimtoastateofsocietycompletelynewtohim;andasalutarysuspicionofhisowndeficienciesseemsonthatoccasiontohavecrossedhismindforthefirsttime。Heconfessed，inthelastparagraphofhisjourney，thathisthoughtsonnationalmannerswerethethoughtsofonewhohadseenbutlittle，ofonewhohadpassedhistimealmostwhollyincities。Thisfeeling，however，soonpassedaway。