WewenttoeveningprayersatSt。Clement’s，atseven，andthenparted。
　　OnSunday，April20，beingEaster-day，afterattendingsolemnserviceatSt。Paul’s，IcametoDr。Johnson，andfoundMr。Lowe，thepainter，sittingwithhim。Mr。LowementionedthegreatnumberofnewbuildingsoflateinLondon，yetthatDr。Johnsonhadobserved，thatthenumberofinhabitantswasnotincreased。
　　JOHNSON。Why，Sir，thebillsofmortalityprovethatnomorepeopledienowthanformerly；soitisplainnomorelive。Theregisterofbirthsprovesnothing，fornotonetenthofthepeopleofLondonarebornthere。’BOSWELL。’Ibelieve，Sir，agreatmanyofthechildrenborninLondondieearly。’JOHNSON。’Why，yes，Sir。’BOSWELL。’Butthosewhodolive，areasstoutandstrongpeopleasany：Dr。Pricesays，theymustbenaturallystrongertogetthrough。’JOHNSON。’Thatissystem，Sir。Agreattravellerobserves，thatitissaidtherearenoweakordeformedpeopleamongtheIndians；buthewithmuchsagacityassignsthereasonofthis，whichis，thatthehardshipoftheirlifeashuntersandfishersdoesnotallowweakordiseasedchildrentogrowup。NowhadIbeenanIndian，Imusthavediedearly；myeyeswouldnothaveservedmetogetfood。Iindeednowcouldfish，givemeEnglishtackle；buthadIbeenanIndianImusthavestarved，ortheywouldhaveknockedmeonthehead，whentheysawIcoulddonothing。’BOSWELL。’Perhapstheywouldhavetakencareofyou：wearetoldtheyarefondoforatory，youwouldhavetalkedtothem。’
　　JOHNSON。Nay，Sir，Ishouldnothavelivedlongenoughtobefittotalk；IshouldhavebeendeadbeforeIwastenyearsold。
　　Dependuponit，Sir，asavage，whenheishungry，willnotcarryaboutwithhimaloobyofnineyearsold，whocannothelphimself。
　　Theyhavenoaffection，Sir。’BOSWELL。’Ibelievenaturalaffection，ofwhichwehearsomuch，isverysmall。’JOHNSON。
　　’Sir，naturalaffectionisnothing：butaffectionfromprincipleandestablisheddutyissometimeswonderfullystrong。’LOWE。’A
　　hen，Sir，willfeedherchickensinpreferencetoherself。’
　　JOHNSON。’Butwedon’tknowthatthehenishungry；letthehenbefairlyhungry，andI’llwarrantshe’llpeckthecornherself。A
　　cock，Ibelieve，willfeedhensinsteadofhimself；butwedon’tknowthatthecockishungry。’BOSWELL。’Andthat，Sir，isnotfromaffectionbutgallantry。ButsomeoftheIndianshaveaffection。’JOHNSON。’Sir，thattheyhelpsomeoftheirchildrenisplain；forsomeofthemlive，whichtheycouldnotdowithoutbeinghelped。’
　　Idinedwithhim；thecompanywere，Mrs。Williams，Mrs。Desmoulins，andMr。Lowe。Heseemednottobewell，talkedlittle，grewdrowsysoonafterdinner，andretired，uponwhichIwentaway。
　　HavingnextdaygonetoMr。Burke’sseatinthecountry，fromwhenceIwasrecalledbyanexpress，thatanearrelationofminehadkilledhisantagonistinaduel，andwashimselfdangerouslywounded，IsawlittleofDr。JohnsontillMonday，April28，whenI
　　spentaconsiderablepartofthedaywithhim，andintroducedthesubject，whichthenchieflyoccupiedmymind。JOHNSON。’Idonotsee，Sir，thatfightingisabsolutelyforbiddeninScripture；Iseerevengeforbidden，butnotself-defence。’BOSWELL。’TheQuakerssayitis；“Untohimthatsmiteththeeononecheek，offerhimalsotheother。“’JOHNSON。’Butstay，Sir；thetextismeantonlytohavetheeffectofmoderatingpassion；itisplainthatwearenottotakeitinaliteralsense。Weseethisfromthecontext，wherethereareotherrecommendations，whichIwarrantyoutheQuakerwillnottakeliterally；as，forinstance，“Fromhimthatwouldborrowofthee，turnthounotaway。“Letamanwhosecreditisbad，cometoaQuaker，andsay，“Well，Sir，lendmeahundredpounds；“he’llfindhimasunwillingasanyotherman。No，Sir，amanmayshootthemanwhoinvadeshischaracter，ashemayshoothimwhoattemptstobreakintohishouse。*Soin1745，myfriend，TomGumming，theQuaker，said，hewouldnotfight，buthewoulddriveanammunitioncart；andweknowthattheQuakershavesentflannelwaistcoatstooursoldiers，toenablethemtofightbetter。’BOSWELL。’Whenamanistheaggressor，andbyill-usageforcesonaduelinwhichheiskilled，havewenotlittlegroundtohopethatheisgoneintoastateofhappiness？’JOHNSON。
　　’Sir，wearenottojudgedeterminatelyofthestateinwhichamanleavesthislife。Hemayinamomenthaverepentedeffectually，anditispossiblemayhavebeenacceptedbyGOD。’
　　*IthinkitnecessarytocautionmyreadersagainstconcludingthatinthisoranyotherconversationofDr。Johnson，theyhavehisseriousanddeliberateopiniononthesubjectofduelling。InmyJournalofaTourtotheHebrides，3rdedit。p。386[p。366，Oct。24]，itappearsthathemadethisfrankconfession：——’Nobodyattimes，talksmorelaxlythanIdo；’and，ib。，p。231[Sept。19，1773]，’Hefairlyownedhecouldnotexplaintherationalityofduelling。’Wemay，therefore，infer，thathecouldnotthinkthatjustifiable，whichseemssoinconsistentwiththespiritoftheGospel——BOSWELL。
　　UponbeingtoldthatoldMr。Sheridan，indignantattheneglectofhisoratoricalplans，hadthreatenedtogotoAmerica；JOHNSON。’I
　　hopehewillgotoAmerica。’BOSWELL。’TheAmericansdon’twantoratory。’JOHNSON。’ButwecanwantSheridan。’
　　OnMonday，April29，Ifoundhimathomeintheforenoon，andMr。
　　Sewardwithhim。Horacehavingbeenmentioned；BOSWELL。’Thereisagreatdealofthinkinginhisworks。Onefindstherealmosteverythingbutreligion。’SEWARD。’Hespeaksofhisreturningtoit，inhisOdeParcusDeorumcultoretinfrequens。’JOHNSON。
　　’Sir，hewasnotinearnest：thiswasmerelypoetical。’BOSWELL。
　　’Thereare，Iamafraid，manypeoplewhohavenoreligionatall。’
　　SEWARD。’Andsensiblepeopletoo。’JOHNSON。’Why，Sir，notsensibleinthatrespect。Theremustbeeitheranaturaloramoralstupidity，ifonelivesinatotalneglectofsoveryimportantaconcern。SEWARD。’Iwonderthatthereshouldbepeoplewithoutreligion。’JOHNSON。’Sir，youneednotwonderatthis，whenyouconsiderhowlargeaproportionofalmosteveryman’slifeispassedwithoutthinkingofit。Imyselfwasforsomeyearstotallyregardlessofreligion。Ithaddroppedoutofmymind。Itwasatanearlypartofmylife。Sicknessbroughtitback，andIhopeIhaveneverlostitsince。’BOSWELL。’MydearSir，whatamanmustyouhavebeenwithoutreligion!Whyyoumusthavegoneondrinking，andswearing，and——’JOHNSONwithasmile，’Idrankenoughandsworeenough，tobesure。’SEWARD。
　　’Oneshouldthinkthatsicknessandtheviewofdeathwouldmakemoremenreligious。’JOHNSON。’Sir，theydonotknowhowtogoaboutit：theyhavenotthefirstnotion。Amanwhohasneverhadreligionbefore，nomoregrowsreligiouswhenheissick，thanamanwhohasneverlearntfigurescancountwhenhehasneedofcalculation。’
　　ImentionedDr。Johnson’sexcellentdistinctionbetweenlibertyofconscienceandlibertyofteaching。JOHNSON。’Consider，Sir；ifyouhavechildrenwhomyouwishtoeducateintheprinciplesoftheChurchofEngland，andtherecomesaQuakerwhotriestopervertthemtohisprinciples，youwoulddriveawaytheQuaker。Youwouldnottrusttothepredominationofright，whichyoubelieveisinyouropinions；youwouldkeepwrongoutoftheirheads。NowthevulgararethechildrenoftheState。IfanyoneattemptstoteachthemdoctrinescontrarytowhattheStateapproves，themagistratemayandoughttorestrainhim。’SEWARD。’Wouldyourestrainprivateconversation，Sir？’JOHNSON。’Why，Sir，itisdifficulttosaywhereprivateconversationbegins，andwhereitends。IfwethreeshoulddiscusseventhegreatquestionconcerningtheexistenceofaSupremeBeingbyourselves，weshouldnotberestrained；forthatwouldbetoputanendtoallimprovement。
　　Butifweshoulddiscussitinthepresenceoftenboarding-schoolgirls，andasmanyboys，Ithinkthemagistratewoulddowelltoputusinthestocks，tofinishthedebatethere。’
　　’Howfalsesaidhe，isallthis，tosaythatinancienttimeslearningwasnotadisgracetoaPeerasitisnow。InancienttimesaPeerwasasignorantasanyoneelse。Hewouldhavebeenangrytohaveitthoughthecouldwritehisname。Meninancienttimesdaredtostandforthwithadegreeofignorancewithwhichnobodywoulddarenowtostandforth。IamalwaysangrywhenI
　　hearancienttimespraisedattheexpenceofmoderntimes。Thereisnowagreatdealmorelearningintheworldthantherewasformerly；foritisuniversallydiffused。Youhave，perhaps，nomanwhoknowsasmuchGreekandLatinasBentley；nomanwhoknowsasmuchmathematicksasNewton：butyouhavemanymoremenwhoknowGreekandLatin，andwhoknowmathematicks。’
　　OnThursday，May1，IvisitedhimintheeveningalongwithyoungMr。Burke。Hesaid，’Itisstrangethatthereshouldbesolittlereadingintheworld，andsomuchwriting。Peopleingeneraldonotwillinglyread，iftheycanhaveanythingelsetoamusethem。
　　Theremustbeanexternalimpulse；emulation，orvanity，oravarice。Theprogresswhichtheunderstandingmakesthroughabook，hasmorepainthanpleasureinit。Languageisscanty，andinadequatetoexpressthenicegradationsandmixturesofourfeelings。Nomanreadsabookofsciencefrompureinclination。
　　Thebooksthatwedoreadwithpleasurearelightcompositions，whichcontainaquicksuccessionofevents。However，IhavethisyearreadallVirgilthrough。IreadabookoftheAeneideverynight，soitwasdoneintwelvenights，andIhadgreatdelightinit。TheGeorgicksdidnotgivemesomuchpleasure，exceptthefourthbook。TheEcloguesIhavealmostallbyheart。IdonotthinkthestoryoftheAeneidinteresting。IlikethestoryoftheOdysseymuchbetter；andthisnotonaccountofthewonderfulthingswhichitcontains；fortherearewonderfulthingsenoughintheAeneid；——theshipsoftheTrojansturnedtosea-nymphs，——thetreeatPolydorus’stombdroppingblood。ThestoryoftheOdysseyisinteresting，asagreatpartofitisdomestick。Ithasbeensaid，thereispleasureinwriting，particularlyinwritingverses。
　　Iallowyoumayhavepleasurefromwriting，afteritisover，ifyouhavewrittenwell；butyoudon’tgowillinglytoitagain。I
　　knowwhenIhavebeenwritingverses，Ihaverunmyfingerdownthemargin，toseehowmanyIhadmade，andhowfewIhadtomake。’
　　Heseemedtobeinaveryplacidhumour，andalthoughIhavenonoteoftheparticularsofyoungMr。Burke’sconversation，itisbutjusticetomentioningeneral，thatitwassuchthatDr。
　　Johnsonsaidtomeafterwards，’Hedidverywellindeed；Ihaveamindtotellhisfather。’
　　IhavenominuteofanyinterviewwithJohnsontillThursday，May15，whenIfindwhatfollows：——BOSWELL。’IwishmuchtobeinParliament，Sir。’JOHNSON。’Why，Sir，unlessyoucomeresolvedtosupportanyadministration，youwouldbetheworseforbeinginParliament，becauseyouwouldbeobligedtolivemoreexpensively。’
　　BOSWELL。’Perhaps，Sir，IshouldbethelesshappyforbeinginParliament。Ineverwouldsellmyvote，andIshouldbevexedifthingswentwrong。’JOHNSON。’That’scant，Sir。Itwouldnotvexyoumoreinthehouse，thaninthegallery：publickaffairsvexnoman。’BOSWELL。’Havenottheyvexedyourselfalittle，Sir？Havenotyoubeenvexedbyalltheturbulenceofthisreign，andbythatabsurdvoteofthehouseofCommons，“ThattheinfluenceoftheCrownhasincreased，isincreasing，andoughttobediminished？“’
　　Johnson。’Sir，Ihaveneversleptanhourless，noreatanouncelessmeat。Iwouldhaveknockedthefactiousdogsonthehead，tobesure；butIwasnotVEXED。’BOSWELL。’Ideclare，Sir，uponmyhonour，IdidimagineIwasvexed，andtookaprideinit；butitWAS，perhaps，cant；forIownIneitherateless，norsleptless。’
　　JOHNSON。’Mydearfriend，clearyourMINDofcant。YoumayTALK
　　asotherpeopledo：youmaysaytoaman，“Sir，Iamyourmosthumbleservant。“Youarenothismosthumbleservant。Youmaysay，“Thesearebadtimes；itisamelancholythingtobereservedtosuchtimes。“Youdon’tmindthetimes。Youtellaman，“Iamsorryyouhadsuchbadweatherthelastdayofyourjourney，andweresomuchwet。“Youdon’tcaresix-pencewhetherheiswetordry。YoumayTALKinthismanner；itisamodeoftalkinginSociety：butdon’tTHINKfoolishly。’
　　Herehediscoveredanotioncommonenoughinpersonsnotmuchaccustomedtoentertaincompany，thattheremustbeadegreeofelaborateattention，otherwisecompanywillthinkthemselvesneglected；andsuchattentionisnodoubtveryfatiguing。Heproceeded：’Iwouldnot，however，beastrangerinmyowncounty；I