Talking of conversation,he said,'There must,in the first place,be knowledge,there must be materials;in the second place,there must be a command of words;in the third place,there must be imagination,to place things in such views as they are not commonly seen in;and in the fourth place,there must be presence of mind,and a resolution that is not to be overcome by failures:this last is an essential requisite;for want of it many people do not excel in conversation.Now I want it:I throw up the game upon losing a trick.'I wondered to hear him talk thus of himself,and said,'Idon't know,Sir,how this may be;but I am sure you beat other people's cards out of their hands.'I doubt whether he heard this remark.While he went on talking triumphantly,I was fixed in admiration,and said to Mrs.Thrale,'O,for short-hand to take this down!''You'll carry it all in your head,(said she;)a long head is as good as short-hand.'
It has been observed and wondered at,that Mr.Charles Fox never talked with any freedom in the presence of Dr.Johnson,though it is well known,and I myself can witness,that his conversation is various,fluent,and exceedingly agreeable.Johnson's own experience,however,of that gentleman's reserve was a sufficient reason for his going on thus:'Fox never talks in private company;not from any determination not to talk,but because he has not the first motion.A man who is used to the applause of the House of Commons,has no wish for that of a private company.A man accustomed to throw for a thousand pounds,if set down to throw for sixpence,would not be at the pains to count his dice.Burke's talk is the ebullition of his mind;he does not talk from a desire of distinction,but because his mind is full.'
After musing for some time,he said,'I wonder how I should have any enemies;for I do harm to nobody.'BOSWELL.'In the first place,Sir,you will be pleased to recollect,that you set out with attacking the Scotch;so you got a whole nation for your enemies.'
JOHNSON.'Why,I own,that by my definition of OATS I meant to vex them.'BOSWELL.'Pray,Sir,can you trace the cause of your antipathy to the Scotch?'JOHNSON.'I cannot,Sir.'BOSWELL.
'Old Mr.Sheridan says,it was because they sold Charles the First.'JOHNSON.'Then,Sir,old Mr.Sheridan has found out a very good reason.'
I had paid a visit to General Oglethorpe in the morning,and was told by him that Dr.Johnson saw company on Saturday evenings,and he would meet me at Johnson's that night.When I mentioned this to Johnson,not doubting that it would please him,as he had a great value for Oglethorpe,the fretfulness of his disease unexpectedly shewed itself;his anger suddenly kindled,and he said,with vehemence,'Did not you tell him not to come?Am I to be HUNTED in this manner?'I satisfied him that I could not divine that the visit would not be convenient,and that I certainly could not take it upon me of my own accord to forbid the General.
March 22.--Ed.
I found Dr.Johnson in the evening in Mrs.Williams's room,at tea and coffee with her and Mrs.Desmoulins,who were also both ill;it was a sad scene,and he was not in very good humour.He said of a performance that had lately come out,'Sir,if you should search all the madhouses in England,you would not find ten men who would write so,and think it sense.'
I was glad when General Oglethorpe's arrival was announced,and we left the ladies.Dr.Johnson attended him in the parlour,and was as courteous as ever.
On Sunday,March 23,I breakfasted with Dr.Johnson,who seemed much relieved,having taken opium the night before.He however protested against it,as a remedy that should be given with the utmost reluctance,and only in extreme necessity.I mentioned how commonly it was used in Turkey,and that therefore it could not be so pernicious as he apprehended.He grew warm and said,'Turks take opium,and Christians take opium;but Russel,in his Account of Aleppo,tells us,that it is as disgraceful in Turkey to take too much opium,as it is with us to get drunk.Sir,it is amazing how things are exaggerated.A gentleman was lately telling in a company where I was present,that in France as soon as a man of fashion marries,he takes an opera girl into keeping;and this he mentioned as a general custom."Pray,Sir,(said I,)how many opera girls may there be?"He answered,"About fourscore.""Well then,Sir,(said I,)you see there can be no more than fourscore men of fashion who can do this."'
Mrs.Desmoulins made tea;and she and I talked before him upon a topick which he had once borne patiently from me when we were by ourselves,--his not complaining of the world,because he was not called to some great office,nor had attained to great wealth.He flew into a violent passion,I confess with some justice,and commanded us to have done.'Nobody,(said he,)has a right to talk in this manner,to bring before a man his own character,and the events of his life,when he does not choose it should be done.Inever have sought the world;the world was not to seek me.It is rather wonderful that so much has been done for me.All the complaints which are made of the world are unjust.I never knew a man of merit neglected:it was generally by his own fault that he failed of success.A man may hide his head in a hole:he may go into the country,and publish a book now and then,which nobody reads,and then complain he is neglected.There is no reason why any person should exert himself for a man who has written a good book:he has not written it for any individual.I may as well make a present to the postman who brings me a letter.When patronage was limited,an authour expected to find a Maecenas,and complained if he did not find one.Why should he complain?This Maecenas has others as good as he,or others who have got the start of him.'
