Johnson would have admired; nor is his hatred confined to
four-legged adversaries. He evidently dislikes Communists and
Socialists, as sincerely as he does rats. "Communism, Socialism, and
Ratism," he says, "are terms synonymous;" but this is not the part of
his book we have to deal with, so let us pass on from what he hates to
what he admires. "Now," he says, "for the prolific disposition of rats;"
and here takes an opportunity of saying the best word he can for his
friends, the rat-catchers--the rat-killers--the Napoleons of the vermin
war--the exterminators of the catchable rats--the Nimrods of the
hunting-grounds to be found in sewers and cellars, and under barn
floors. The passage looks very like an advertisement; but since it is
characteristic, and as the statements are curious, and really not
without importance, they shall be here quoted:

"Now for their prolific disposition! In this respect I have been most
ably assisted by the renowned James Shaw, of rat-killing celebrity,
landlord of the Blue Anchor Tavern, Bunhill-row, St. Luke's, and of whom
I can not speak too highly, for the civil, straightforward, and animated
way in which he communicated every information I desired. Curiosity
prompted me to make inquiries respecting him, and I find him to be a man
universally respected for his manly bearing and refined sentiments of
honor, consequently, a man whose testimony can be relied upon. I have
also been supplied with similar information from Mr. Sabin, of
rat-killing renown, residing in Broad-street, St. Giles's. These men
destroy between eight and nine thousand each annually, averaging
seventeen thousand between them. We will now proceed with the
calculations. In the first place, my informants tell me that rats will
have six, seven, and eight nests of young in the year, and that for
three and four years together; secondly, that they will have from twelve
to twenty-three at a litter, and that the young ones will breed at three
months old; thirdly, that there are more females than males, at an
average of about ten to six. Now, I propose to lay down my calculations
at something less than one half. In the first place, I say four litters
in the year, beginning and ending with a litter, so making thirteen
litters in three years; secondly, to have eight young ones at a birth,
half male, and half female; thirdly, the young ones to have a litter at
six months old. At this calculation, I will take one pair of rats; and,