He said,'Goldsmith was a plant that flowered late.There appeared nothing remarkable about him when he was young;though when he had got high in fame,one of his friends began to recollect something of his being distinguished at College.Goldsmith in the same manner recollected more of that friend's early years,as he grew a greater man.'
I mentioned that Lord Monboddo told me,he awaked every morning at four,and then for his health got up and walked in his room naked,with the window open,which he called taking an air bath;after which he went to bed again,and slept two hours more.Johnson,who was always ready to beat down any thing that seemed to be exhibited with disproportionate importance,thus observed:'I suppose,Sir,there is no more in it than this,he awakes at four,and cannot sleep till he chills himself,and makes the warmth of the bed a grateful sensation.'
I talked of the difficulty of rising in the morning.Dr.Johnson told me,'that the learned Mrs.Carter,at that period when she was eager in study,did not awake as early as she wished,and she therefore had a contrivance,that,at a certain hour,her chamber-light should burn a string to which a heavy weight was suspended,which then fell with a strong sudden noise:this roused her from sleep,and then she had no difficulty in getting up.'But I said THAT was my difficulty;and wished there could be some medicine invented which would make one rise without pain,which I never did,unless after lying in bed a very long time.
Johnson advised me to-night not to REFINE in the education of my children.'Life (said he,)will not bear refinement:you must do as other people do.'
As we drove back to Ashbourne,Dr.Johnson recommended to me,as he had often done,to drink water only:'For (said he,)you are then sure not to get drunk;whereas if you drink wine you are never sure.'I said,drinking wine was a pleasure which I was unwilling to give up,'Why,Sir,(said he,)there is no doubt that not to drink wine is a great deduction from life;but it may be necessary.'He however owned,that in his opinion a free use of wine did not shorten life;and said,he would not give less for the life of a certain Scotch Lord (whom he named)celebrated for hard drinking,than for that of a sober man.'But stay,(said he,with his usual intelligence,and accuracy of enquiry,)does it take much wine to make him drunk?'I answered,'a great deal either of wine or strong punch.'--'Then (said he,)that is the worse.'I presume to illustrate my friend's observation thus:'A fortress which soon surrenders has its walls less shattered than when a long and obstinate resistance is made.'
I ventured to mention a person who was as violent a Scotsman as he was an Englishman;and literally had the same contempt for an Englishman compared with a Scotsman,that he had for a Scotsman compared with an Englishman;and that he would say of Dr.Johnson,'Damned rascal!to talk as he does of the Scotch.'This seemed,for a moment,'to give him pause.'It,perhaps,presented his extreme prejudice against the Scotch in a point of view somewhat new to him,by the effect of CONTRAST.
By the time when we returned to Ashbourne,Dr.Taylor was gone to bed.Johnson and I sat up a long time by ourselves.
On Saturday,September 20,after breakfast,when Taylor was gone out to his farm,Dr.Johnson and I had a serious conversation by ourselves on melancholy and madness.
We entered seriously upon a question of much importance to me,which Johnson was pleased to consider with friendly attention.Ihad long complained to him that I felt myself discontented in Scotland,as too narrow a sphere,and that I wished to make my chief residence in London,the great scene of ambition,instruction,and amusement:a scene,which was to me,comparatively speaking,a heaven upon earth.JOHNSON.'Why,Sir,I never knew any one who had such a GUST for London as you have:and I cannot blame you for your wish to live there:yet,Sir,were I in your father's place,I should not consent to your settling there;for Ihave the old feudal notions,and I should be afraid that Auchinleck would be deserted,as you would soon find it more desirable to have a country-seat in a better climate.'
I suggested a doubt,that if I were to reside in London,the exquisite zest with which I relished it in occasional visits might go off,and I might grow tired of it.JOHNSON.'Why,Sir,you find no man,at all intellectual,who is willing to leave London.
No,Sir,when a man is tired of London,he is tired of life;for there is in London all that life can afford.'
He said,'A country gentleman should bring his lady to visit London as soon as he can,that they may have agreeable topicks for conversation when they are by themselves.'
We talked of employment being absolutely necessary to preserve the mind from wearying and growing fretful,especially in those who have a tendency to melancholy;and I mentioned to him a saying which somebody had related of an American savage,who,when an European was expatiating on all the advantages of money,put this question:'Will it purchase OCCUPATION?'JOHNSON.'Depend upon it,Sir,this saying is too refined for a savage.And,Sir,money WILL purchase occupation;it will purchase all the conveniences of life;it will purchase variety of company;it will purchase all sorts of entertainment.'
I talked to him of Forster's Voyage to the South Seas,which pleased me;but I found he did not like it.'Sir,(said he,)there is a great affectation of fine writing in it.'BOSWELL.'But he carries you along with him.'JOHNSON.'No,Sir;he does not carry ME along with him:he leaves me behind him:or rather,indeed,he sets me before him;for he makes me turn over many leaves at a time.'