suppose，bywayoftryingmydisposition，’Isnotthisveryfine？’
HavingnoexquisiterelishofthebeautiesofNature，andbeingmoredelightedwith’thebusyhumofmen，’Ianswered，’Yes，Sir；
butnotequaltoFleet-street。’JOHNSON。’Youareright，Sir。’
Iamawarethatmanyofmyreadersmaycensuremywantoftaste。
Letme，however，sheltermyselfundertheauthorityofaveryfashionableBaronetinthebrilliantworld，who，onhisattentionbeingcalledtothefragranceofaMayeveninginthecountry，observed，’Thismaybeverywell；but，formypart，Ipreferthesmellofaflambeauattheplayhouse。’
WestaidsolongatGreenwich，thatoursailuptheriver，inourreturntoLondon，wasbynomeanssopleasantasinthemorning；
forthenightairwassocoldthatitmademeshiver。Iwasthemoresensibleofitfromhavingsatupallthenightbefore，recollectingandwritinginmyjournalwhatIthoughtworthyofpreservation；anexertion，which，duringthefirstpartofmyacquaintancewithJohnson，Ifrequentlymade。Irememberhavingsatupfournightsinoneweek，withoutbeingmuchincommodedinthedaytime。
Johnson，whoserobustframewasnotintheleastaffectedbythecold，scoldedme，asifmyshiveringhadbeenapaltryeffeminacy，saying，’Whydoyoushiver？’SirWilliamScott，oftheCommons，toldme，thatwhenhecomplainedofahead-acheinthepost-chaise，astheyweretravellingtogethertoScotland，Johnsontreatedhiminthesamemanner：
’Atyourage，Sir，Ihadnohead-ache。’
WeconcludedthedayattheTurk’sHeadcoffee-houseverysocially。
HewaspleasedtolistentoaparticularaccountwhichIgavehimofmyfamily，andofitshereditaryestate，astotheextentandpopulationofwhichheaskedquestions，andmadecalculations；
recommending，atthesametime，aliberalkindnesstothetenantry，aspeopleoverwhomtheproprietorwasplacedbyProvidence。Hetookdelightinhearingmydescriptionoftheromantickseatofmyancestors。’Imustbethere，Sir，saidheandwewillliveintheoldcastle；andifthereisnotaroominitremaining，wewillbuildone。’Iwashighlyflattered，butcouldscarcelyindulgeahopethatAuchinleckwouldindeedbehonouredbyhispresence，andcelebratedbyadescription，asitafterwardswas，inhisJourneytotheWesternIslands。
AfterwehadagaintalkedofmysettingoutforHolland，hesaid，’ImustseetheeoutofEngland；IwillaccompanyyoutoHarwich。’
IcouldnotfindwordstoexpresswhatIfeltuponthisunexpectedandverygreatmarkofhisaffectionateregard。
Nextday，Sunday，July31，ItoldhimIhadbeenthatmorningatameetingofthepeoplecalledQuakers，whereIhadheardawomanpreach。JOHNSON。’Sir，awoman’spreachingislikeadog’swalkingonhishinderlegs。Itisnotdonewell；butyouaresurprizedtofinditdoneatall。’
OnTuesday，August2thedayofmydeparturefromLondonhavingbeenfixedforthe5th，Dr。JohnsondidmethehonourtopassapartofthemorningwithmeatmyChambers。Hesaid，that’healwaysfeltaninclinationtodonothing。’Iobserved，thatitwasstrangetothinkthatthemostindolentmaninBritainhadwrittenthemostlaboriouswork，TheEnglishDictionary。
Ihadnowmadegoodmytitletobeaprivilegedman，andwascarriedbyhimintheeveningtodrinkteawithMissWilliams，whom，thoughunderthemisfortuneofhavinglosthersight，Ifoundtobeagreeableinconversation；forshehadavarietyofliterature，andexpressedherselfwell；butherpeculiarvaluewastheintimacyinwhichshehadlonglivedwithJohnson，bywhichshewaswellacquaintedwithhishabits，andknewhowtoleadhimontotalk。
Afterteahecarriedmetowhathecalledhiswalk，whichwasalongnarrowpavedcourtintheneighbourhood，overshadowedbysometrees。Therewesaunteredaconsiderabletime；andIcomplainedtohimthatmyloveofLondonandofhiscompanywassuch，thatI
shrunkalmostfromthethoughtofgoingaway，eventotravel，whichisgenerallysomuchdesiredbyyoungmen。Herousedmebymanlyandspiritedconversation。Headvisedme，whensettledinanyplaceabroad，tostudywithaneagernessafterknowledge，andtoapplytoGreekanhoureveryday；andwhenIwasmovingabout，toreaddiligentlythegreatbookofmankind。
OnWednesday，August3，wehadourlastsocialeveningattheTurk’sHeadcoffee-house，beforemysettingoutforforeignparts。
Ihadthemisfortune，beforeweparted，toirritatehimunintentionally。Imentionedtohimhowcommonitwasintheworldtotellabsurdstoriesofhim，andtoascribetohimverystrangesayings。JOHNSON。’Whatdotheymakemesay，Sir？’BOSWELL。
’Why，Sir，asaninstanceverystrangeindeed，laughingheartilyasIspoke，DavidHumetoldme，yousaidthatyouwouldstandbeforeabatteryofcannon，torestoretheConvocationtoitsfullpowers。’LittledidIapprehendthathehadactuallysaidthis：
butIwassoonconvincedofmyerrour；for，withadeterminedlook，hethunderedout’AndwouldInot，Sir？ShallthePresbyterianKIRKofScotlandhaveitsGeneralAssembly，andtheChurchofEnglandbedenieditsConvocation？’HewaswalkingupanddowntheroomwhileItoldhimtheanecdote；butwhenheutteredthisexplosionofhigh-churchzeal，hehadcomeclosetomychair，andhiseyesflashedwithindignation。Ibowedtothestorm，anddivertedtheforceofit，byleadinghimtoexpatiateontheinfluencewhichreligionderivedfrommaintainingthechurchwithgreatexternalrespectability。
OnFriday，August5，wesetoutearlyinthemorningintheHarwichstagecoach。Afatelderlygentlewoman，andayoungDutchman，seemedthemostinclinedamongustoconversation。Attheinnwherewedined，thegentlewomansaidthatshehaddoneherbesttoeducateherchildren；andparticularly，thatshehadneversufferedthemtobeamomentidle。JOHNSON。’Iwish，madam，youwouldeducatemetoo；forIhavebeenanidlefellowallmylife。’’Iamsure，Sir，saidsheyouhavenotbeenidle。’JOHNSON。’Nay，Madam，itisverytrue；andthatgentlemantherepointingtome，
hasbeenidle。HewasidleatEdinburgh。HisfathersenthimtoGlasgow，wherehecontinuedtobeidle。HethencametoLondon，wherehehasbeenveryidle；andnowheisgoingtoUtrecht，wherehewillbeasidleasever。Iaskedhimprivatelyhowhecouldexposemeso。JOHNSON。’Poh，poh!saidhetheyknewnothingaboutyou，andwillthinkofitnomore。’IntheafternoonthegentlewomantalkedviolentlyagainsttheRomanCatholicks，andofthehorroursoftheInquisition。Totheutterastonishmentofallthepassengersbutmyself，whoknewthathecouldtalkuponanysideofaquestion，hedefendedtheInquisition，andmaintained，that’falsedoctrineshouldbecheckedonitsfirstappearance；
thatthecivilpowershouldunitewiththechurchinpunishingthosewhodaredtoattacktheestablishedreligion，andthatsuchonlywerepunishedbytheInquisition。’HehadinhispocketPomponiusMeladesituOrbis，inwhichhereadoccasionally，andseemedveryintentuponancientgeography。Thoughbynomeansniggardly，hisattentiontowhatwasgenerallyrightwassominute，thathavingobservedatoneofthestagesthatIostentatiouslygaveashillingtothecoachman，whenthecustomwasforeachpassengertogiveonlysix-pence，hetookmeasideandscoldedme，sayingthatwhatIhaddonewouldmakethecoachmandissatisfiedwithalltherestofthepassengers，whogavehimnomorethanhisdue。Thiswasajustreprimand；forinwhateverwayamanmayindulgehisgenerosityorhisvanityinspendinghismoney，forthesakeofothersheoughtnottoraisethepriceofanyarticleforwhichthereisaconstantdemand。
Atsupperthisnight*hetalkedofgoodeatingwithuncommonsatisfaction。’Somepeoplesaidhe，haveafoolishwayofnotminding，orpretendingnottomind，whattheyeat。Formypart，I
mindmybellyverystudiously，andverycarefully；forIlookuponit，thathewhodoesnotmindhisbellywillhardlymindanythingelse。’HenowappearedtomeJeanBullphilosophe，andhewas，forthemoment，notonlyseriousbutvehement。YetIhaveheardhim，uponotheroccasions，talkwithgreatcontemptofpeoplewhowereanxioustogratifytheirpalates；andthe206thnumberofhisRamblerisamasterlyessayagainstgulosity。Hispractice，indeed，Imustacknowledge，maybeconsideredascastingthebalanceofhisdifferentopinionsuponthissubject；forIneverknewanymanwhorelishedgoodeatingmorethanhedid。Whenattable，hewastotallyabsorbedinthebusinessofthemoment；hislooksseemedrivettedtohisplate；norwouldhe，unlesswheninveryhighcompany，sayoneword，orevenpaytheleastattentiontowhatwassaidbyothers，tillhehadsatisfiedhisappetite，whichwassofierce，andindulgedwithsuchintenseness，thatwhileintheactofeating，theveinsofhisforeheadswelled，andgenerallyastrongperspirationwasvisible。Tothosewhosesensationsweredelicate，thiscouldnotbutbedisgusting；anditwasdoubtlessnotverysuitabletothecharacterofaphilosopher，whoshouldbedistinguishedbyself-command。Butitmustbeowned，thatJohnson，thoughhecouldberigidlyABSTEMIOUS，wasnotaTEMPERATEmaneitherineatingordrinking。Hecouldrefrain，buthecouldnotusemoderately。Hetoldme，thathehadfastedtwodayswithoutinconvenience，andthathehadneverbeenhungrybutonce。Theywhobeheldwithwonderhowmuchheeatuponalloccasionswhenhisdinnerwastohistaste，couldnoteasilyconceivewhathemusthavemeantbyhunger；andnotonlywasheremarkablefortheextraordinaryquantitywhichheeat，buthewas，oraffectedtobe，amanofverynicediscernmentinthescienceofcookery。Heusedtodescantcriticallyonthedisheswhichhadbeenattablewherehehaddinedorsupped，andtorecollectveryminutelywhathehadliked。Iremember，whenhewasinScotland，hispraising’Gordon’spalates，’adishofpalatesattheHonourableAlexanderGordon’s
withawarmthofexpressionwhichmighthavedonehonourtomoreimportantsubjects。’AsforMaclaurin’simitationofaMADEDISH，itwasawretchedattempt。’Heaboutthesametimewassomuchdispleasedwiththeperformancesofanobleman’sFrenchcook，thatheexclaimedwithvehemence，’I’dthrowsucharascalintotheriver，andhethenproceededtoalarmaladyatwhosehousehewastosup，bythefollowingmanifestoofhisskill：’I，Madam，wholiveatavarietyofgoodtables，amamuchbetterjudgeofcookery，thananypersonwhohasaverytolerablecook，butlivesmuchathome；forhispalateisgraduallyadaptedtothetasteofhiscook；whereas，Madam，intryingbyawiderrange，Icanmoreexquisitelyjudge。’Wheninvitedtodine，evenwithanintimatefriend，hewasnotpleasedifsomethingbetterthanaplaindinnerwasnotpreparedforhim。Ihaveheardhimsayonsuchanoccasion，’Thiswasagooddinnerenough，tobesure；butitwasnotadinnertoASKamanto。’Ontheotherhand，hewaswonttoexpress，withgreatglee，hissatisfactionwhenhehadbeenentertainedquitetohismind。OnedaywhenwehaddinedwithhisneighbourandlandlordinBolt-court，Mr。Allen，theprinter，whoseoldhousekeeperhadstudiedhistasteineverything，hepronouncedthiseulogy：’Sir，wecouldnothavehadabetterdinnerhadtherebeenaSynodofCooks。’