第47章

Macleod，ofRasay，thathehadcommittedamistake，whichgavethatgentlemansomeuneasiness。Hewrotehimacourteousandkindletter，andinsertedinthenews-papersanadvertisement，correctingthemistake。

AstohisprejudiceagainsttheScotch，whichIalwaysascribedtothatnationalitywhichheobservedinTHEM，hesaidtothesamegentleman，’WhenIfindaScotchman，towhomanEnglishmanisasaScotchman，thatScotchmanshallbeasanEnglishmantome。’HisintimacywithmanygentlemenofScotland，andhisemployingsomanynativesofthatcountryashisamanuenses，provethathisprejudicewasnotvirulent；andIhavedepositedintheBritishMuseum，amongstotherpiecesofhiswriting，thefollowingnoteinanswertoonefromme，askingifhewouldmeetmeatdinnerattheMitre，thoughafriendofmine，aScotchman，wastobethere：——

’Mr。JohnsondoesnotseewhyMr。BoswellshouldsupposeaScotchmanlessacceptablethananyotherman。HewillbeattheMitre。’

Mymuch-valuedfriendDr。Barnard，nowBishopofKillaloc，havingonceexpressedtohimanapprehension，thatifheshouldvisitIrelandhemighttreatthepeopleofthatcountrymoreunfavourablythanhehaddonetheScotch，heanswered，withstrongpointeddouble-edgedwit，’Sir，youhavenoreasontobeafraidofme。TheIrisharenotinaconspiracytocheattheworldbyfalserepresentationsofthemeritsoftheircountrymen。No，Sir；theIrishareaFAIRPEOPLE；——theyneverspeakwellofoneanother。’

AllthemiserablecavillingsagainsthisJourney，innewspapers，magazines，andotherfugitivepublications，Icanspeakfromcertainknowledge，onlyfurnishedhimwithsport。Atlasttherecameoutascurrilousvolume，largerthanJohnson’sown，filledwithmalignantabuse，underaname，realorfictitious，ofsomelowmaninanobscurecornerofScotland，thoughsupposedtobetheworkofanotherScotchman，whohasfoundmeanstomakehimselfwellknownbothinScotlandandEngland。TheeffectwhichithaduponJohnsonwas，toproducethispleasantobservationtoMr。Seward，towhomhelentthebook：’Thisfellowmustbeablockhead。Theydon’tknowhowtogoabouttheirabuse。Whowillreadafive-

shillingbookagainstme？No，Sir，iftheyhadwit，theyshouldhavekeptpeltingmewithpamphlets。’

OnTuesday，March21，IarrivedinLondon；andonrepairingtoDr。

Johnson’sbeforedinner，foundhiminhisstudy，sittingwithMr。

PeterGarrick，theelderbrotherofDavid，stronglyresemblinghimincountenanceandvoice，butofmoresedateandplacidmanners。

Johnsoninformedme，that’thoughMr。Beauclerkwasingreatpain，itwashopedhewasnotindanger，andthathenowwishedtoconsultDr。HeberdentotrytheeffectofaNEWUNDERSTANDING。’

Bothatthisinterview，andintheeveningatMr。Thrale’swhereheandMr。PeterGarrickandImetagain，hewasvehementonthesubjectoftheOssiancontroversy；observing，’WedonotknowthatthereareanyancientErsemanuscripts；andwehavenootherreasontodisbelievethattherearemenwiththreeheads，butthatwedonotknowthatthereareanysuchmen。’Healsowasoutrageousuponhissuppositionthatmycountrymen’lovedScotlandbetterthantruth，’saying，’Allofthem，——naynotall，——butDROVESofthem，wouldcomeup，andattestanythingforthehonourofScotland。’

Healsoperseveredinhiswildallegation，thathequestionediftherewasatreebetweenEdinburghandtheEnglishborderolderthanhimself。Iassuredhimhewasmistaken，andsuggestedthattheproperpunishmentwouldbethatheshouldreceiveastripeateverytreeaboveahundredyearsold，thatwasfoundwithinthatspace。Helaughed，andsaid，’IbelieveImightsubmittoitfor

后续内容为VIP可读请开通VIP，或购买此章节