第96章

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，havewenotli

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