第85章

WetalkedofthestateofthepoorinLondon——JOHNSON。’SaundersWelch，theJustice，whowasonceHigh-ConstableofHolborn，andhadthebestopportunitiesofknowingthestateofthepoor，toldme，thatIunder-ratedthenumber，whenIcomputedthattwentyaweek，thatis，aboveathousandayear，diedofhunger；notabsolutelyofimmediatehunger；butofthewastingandotherdiseaseswhicharetheconsequencesofhunger。ThishappensonlyinsolargeaplaceasLondon，wherepeoplearenotknown。Whatwearetoldaboutthegreatsumsgotbybeggingisnottrue：thetradeisoverstocked。

And，youmaydependuponit，therearemanywhocannotgetwork。A

particularkindofmanufacturefails：thosewhohavebeenusedtoworkatit，can，forsometime，workatnothingelse。Youmeetamanbegging；youchargehimwithidleness：hesays，“Iamwillingtolabour。Willyougivemework？“——“Icannot。“——“Why，thenyouhavenorighttochargemewithidleness。“’WeleftMr。Strahan’satseven，asJohnsonhadsaidheintendedtogotoeveningprayers。

Aswewalkedalong，hecomplainedofalittlegoutinhistoe，andsaid，’Ishan’tgotoprayersto-night；Ishallgoto-morrow：

WheneverImisschurchonaSunday，Iresolvetogoanotherday。

ButIdonotalwaysdoit。’Thiswasafairexhibitionofthatvibrationbetweenpiousresolutionsandindolence，whichmanyofushavetoooftenexperienced。

Iwenthomewithhim，andwehadalongquietconversation。

BOSWELL。’Why，Sir，dopeopleplaythistrickwhichIobservenow，whenIlookatyourgrate，puttingtheshovelagainstittomakethefireburn？’JOHNSON。’Theyplaythetrick，butitdoesnotmakethefireburn。THEREisabetter；(settingthepokerperpendicularlyupatrightangleswiththegrate。)Indaysofsuperstitiontheythought，asitmadeacrosswiththebars，itwoulddriveawaythewitch。’

BOSWELL。’Byassociatingwithyou，Sir，Iamalwaysgettinganaccessionofwisdom。Butperhapsaman，afterknowinghisowncharacter——thelimitedstrengthofhisownmind，shouldnotbedesirousofhavingtoomuchwisdom，considering，quidvaleanthumeri，howlittlehecancarry。’JOHNSON。’Sir，beaswiseasyoucan；letamanbealiislaetus，sapienssibi：

“Thoughpleas’dtoseethedolphinsplay，Imindmycompassandmyway。“

Youmaybewiseinyourstudyinthemorning，andgayincompanyatatavernintheevening。Everymanistotakecareofhisownwisdomandhisownvirtue，withoutmindingtoomuchwhatothersthink。’

Hesaid，’DodsleyfirstmentionedtometheschemeofanEnglishDictionary；butIhadlongthoughtofit。’BOSWELL。’Youdidnotknowwhatyouwereundertaking。’JOHNSON。’Yes，Sir，IknewverywellwhatIwasundertaking，——andverywellhowtodoit，——andhavedoneitverywell。’BOSWELL。’Anexcellentclimax!anditHAS

availedyou。InyourPrefaceyousay，“Whatwoulditavailmeinthisgloomofsolitude？“Youhavebeenagreeablymistaken。’

InhisLifeofMiltonheobserves，’Icannotbutremarkakindofrespect，perhapsunconsciously，paidtothisgreatmanbyhisbiographers：everyhouseinwhichheresidedishistoricallymentioned，asifitwereaninjurytoneglectnaminganyplacethathehonouredbyhispresence。’Ihad，beforeIreadthisobservation，beendesirousofshewingthatrespecttoJohnson，byvariousinquiries。Findinghimthiseveninginaverygoodhumour，Iprevailedonhimtogivemeanexactlistofhisplacesofresidence，sinceheenteredthemetropolisasanauthour，whichI

subjoininanote。*

*1。Exeter-street，offCatherine-street，Strand。2。Greenwich。

3。Woodstock-street，nearHanover-square。4。Castle-street，Cavendish-square，No。6。5。Strand。6。Boswell-Court。7。

Strand，again。8。Bow-street。9。Holborn。10。Fetter-lane。

11。Holborn，again。12。Gough-square。13。StapleInn。14。

Gray’sInn。15。InnerTemple-lane，No。1。16。Johnson’s-co

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