第45章

WhenTopladywasgoingtospeak，Johnsonutteredsomesound，whichledGoldsmithtothinkthathewasbeginningagain，andtakingthewordsfromToplady。Uponwhich，heseizedthisopportunityofventinghisownenvyandspleen，underthepretextofsupportinganotherperson：

’Sir，(saidhetoJohnson，)thegentlemanhasheardyoupatientlyforanhour；prayallowusnowtohearhim。’JOHNSON。(sternly，)

’Sir，Iwasnotinterruptingthegentleman。Iwasonlygivinghimasignalofmyattention。Sir，youareimpertinent。’Goldsmithmadenoreply，butcontinuedinthecompanyforsometime。

AgentlemanpresentventuredtoaskDr。Johnsoniftherewasnotamaterialdifferenceastotolerationofopinionswhichleadtoaction，andopinionsmerelyspeculative；forinstance，woulditbewronginthemagistratetotoleratethosewhopreachagainstthedoctrineoftheTRINITY？Johnsonwashighlyoffended，andsaid，’I

wonder，Sir，howagentlemanofyourpietycanintroducethissubjectinamixedcompany。’Hetoldmeafterwards，thattheimproprietywas，thatperhapssomeofthecompanymighthavetalkedonthesubjectinsuchtermsasmighthaveshockedhim；orhemighthavebeenforcedtoappearintheireyesanarrow-mindedman。Thegentleman，withsubmissivedeference，said，hehadonlyhintedatthequestionfromadesiretohearDr。Johnson’sopinionuponit。

JOHNSON。’Whythen，Sir，Ithinkthatpermittingmentopreachanyopinioncontrarytothedoctrineoftheestablishedchurchtends，inacertaindegree，tolessentheauthorityofthechurch，andconsequently，tolessentheinfluenceofreligion。’’Itmaybeconsidered，(saidthegentleman，)whetheritwouldnotbepoliticktotolerateinsuchacase。’JOHNSON。’Sir，wehavebeentalkingofRIGHT：thisisanotherquestion。IthinkitisNOTpoliticktotolerateinsuchacase。’

BOSWELL。’Pray，Mr。Dilly，howdoesDr。Leland’sHistoryofIrelandsell？’JOHNSON。(burstingforthwithagenerousindignation，)’TheIrishareinamostunnaturalstate；forweseetheretheminorityprevailingoverthemajority。Thereisnoinstance，eveninthetenpersecutions，ofsuchseverityasthatwhichtheprotestantsofIrelandhaveexercisedagainsttheCatholicks。Didwetellthemwehaveconqueredthem，itwouldbeaboveboard：topunishthembyconfiscationandotherpenalties，asrebels，wasmonstrousinjustice。KingWilliamwasnottheirlawfulsovereign：hehadnotbeenacknowledgedbytheParliamentofIreland，whentheyappearedinarmsagainsthim。’

HeandMr。LangtonandIwenttogethertoTHECLUB，wherewefoundMr。Burke，Mr。Garrick，andsomeothermembers，andamongstthemourfriendGoldsmith，whosatsilentlybroodingoverJohnson’sreprimandtohimafterdinner。Johnsonperceivedthis，andsaidasidetosomeofus，’I’llmakeGoldsmithforgiveme；’andthencalledtohiminaloudvoice，’Dr。Goldsmith，——somethingpassedto-daywhereyouandIdined；Iaskyourpardon。’Goldsmithansweredplacidly，’Itmustbemuchfromyou，Sir，thatItakeill。’Andsoatoncethedifferencewasover，andtheywereonaseasytermsasever，andGoldsmithrattledawayasusual。

Inourwaytotheclubto-night，whenIregrettedthatGoldsmithwould，uponeveryoccasion，endeavourtoshine，bywhichheoftenexposedhimself，Mr。Langtonobserved，thathewasnotlikeAddison，whowascontentwiththefameofhiswritings，anddidnotaimalsoatexcellencyinconversation，forwhichhefoundhimselfunfit；andthathesaidtoaladywhocomplainedofhishavingtalkedlittleincompany，’Madam，Ihavebutninepenceinreadymoney，butIca

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