conversation merely. And what wonder that he should have an avidity for
the sole delight he was able to enjoy? No man conversed so well as he on
every subject; no man so acutely discerned the reason of every fact, the
motive of every action, the end of every design. He was indeed often
pained by the ignorance or causeless wonder of those who knew less than
himself, though he seldom drove them away with apparent scorn, unless he
thought they added presumption to stupidity. And it was impossible not
to laugh at the patience he showed, when a Welsh parson of mean
abilities, though a good heart, struck with reverence at the sight of Dr.
Johnson, whom he had heard of as the greatest man living, could not find
any words to answer his inquiries concerning a motto round somebody's
arms which adorned a tombstone in Ruabon churchyard. If I remember right
the words were--

"Heb Dw, Heb Dym,
Dw o' diggon."

And though of no very difficult construction, the gentleman seemed wholly
confounded, and unable to explain them; till Mr. Johnson, having picked
out the meaning by little and little, said to the man, "Heb is a
preposition, I believe, sir, is it not?" My countryman recovering some
spirits upon the sudden question, cried out, "So I humbly presume, sir,"
very comically.

Stories of humour do not tell well in books; and what made impression on
the friends who heard a jest will seldom much delight the distant
acquaintance or sullen critic who reads it. The cork model of Paris is
not more despicable as a resemblance of a great city, than this book,
levior cortice, as a specimen of Johnson's character. Yet everybody
naturally likes to gather little specimens of the rarities found in a
great country; and could I carry home from Italy square pieces of all the
curious marbles which are the just glory of this surprising part of the
world, I could scarcely contrive, perhaps, to arrange them so meanly as
not to gain some attention from the respect due to the places they once
belonged to. Such a piece of motley Mosaic work will these anecdotes
inevitably make. But let the reader remember that he was promised
nothing better, and so be as contented as he can.

An Irish trader at our house one day heard Dr. Johnson launch out into
very great and greatly deserved praises of Mr. Edmund Burke. Delighted
to find his countryman stood so high in the opinion of a man he had been
told so much of, "Sir," said he, "give _me_ leave to