what caprice, took the other side. 'I have not observed (said he,) that
men of very large fortunes enjoy any thing extraordinary that
makes happiness. What has the Duke of Bedford? What has the Duke of
Devonshire? The only great instance that I have ever known of the
enjoyment of wealth was, that of Jamaica Dawkins, who, going to visit
Palmyra, and hearing that the way was infested by robbers, hired a troop
of Turkish horse to guard him.'

Dr. Gibbons, the Dissenting minister, being mentioned, he said, 'I took
to Dr. Gibbons.' And addressing himself to Mr. Charles Dilly, added, 'I
shall be glad to see him. Tell him, if he'll call on me, and dawdle over
a dish of tea in an afternoon, I shall take it kind.'

The Reverend Mr. Smith, Vicar of Southill, a very respectable man,
with a very agreeable family, sent an invitation to us to drink tea. I
remarked Dr. Johnson's very respectful politeness. Though always fond of
changing the scene, he said, 'We must have Mr. Dilly's leave. We cannot
go from your house, Sir, without your permission.' We all went, and were
well satisfied with our visit.

When I observed that a housebreaker was in general very timorous;
JOHNSON. 'No wonder, Sir; he is afraid of being shot getting INTO a
house, or hanged when he has got OUT of it.'

He told us, that he had in one day written six sheets of a translation
from the French, adding, 'I should be glad to see it now. I wish that I
had copies of all the pamphlets written against me, as it is said Pope
had. Had I known that I should make so much noise in the world, I should
have been at pains to collect them. I believe there is hardly a day in
which there is not something about me in the newspapers.'

On Monday, June 4, we all went to Luton-Hoe, to see Lord Bute's
magnificent seat, for which I had obtained a ticket. As we entered
the park, I talked in a high style of my old friendship with Lord
Mountstuart, and said, 'I shall probably be much at this place.' The
Sage, aware of human vicissitudes, gently checked me: 'Don't you be too
sure of that.' He made two or three peculiar observations; as when shewn
the botanical garden, 'Is not EVERY garden a botanical garden?' When
told that there was a shrubbery to the extent of several miles: 'That is
making a very foolish use of the ground; a little of it is very well.'
When it was proposed that we should walk on the pleasure-ground; 'Don't
let us fatigue ourselves. Why should we walk there? Here's a f