ir, there are three ways of
making them better;--putting out,--adding,--or correcting.'

During our visit at Oxford, the following conversation passed between
him and me on the subject of my trying my fortune at the English bar:
Having asked whether a very extensive acquaintance in London, which was
very valuable, and of great advantage to a man at large, might not
be prejudicial to a lawyer, by preventing him from giving sufficient
attention to his business;--JOHNSON. 'Sir, you will attend to business,
as business lays hold of you. When not actually employed, you may see
your friends as much as you do now. You may dine at a Club every day,
and sup with one of the members every night; and you may be as much at
publick places as one who has seen them all would wish to be. But you
must take care to attend constantly in Westminster-Hall; both to mind
your business, as it is almost all learnt there, (for nobody reads now;)
and to shew that you want to have business. And you must not be too
often seen at publick places, that competitors may not have it to say,
"He is always at the Playhouse or at Ranelagh, and never to be found at
his chambers." And, Sir, there must be a kind of solemnity in the manner
of a professional man. I have nothing particular to say to you on the
subject. All this I should say to any one; I should have said it to Lord
Thurlow twenty years ago.'

On Wednesday, June 19, Dr. Johnson and I returned to London; he was not
well to-day, and said very little, employing himself chiefly in reading
Euripides. He expressed some displeasure at me, for not observing
sufficiently the various objects upon the road. 'If I had your eyes,
Sir, (said he,) I should count the passengers.' It was wonderful how
accurate his observation of visual objects was, notwithstanding his
imperfect eyesight, owing to a habit of attention. That he was much
satisfied with the respect paid to him at Dr. Adams's is thus attested
by himself: 'I returned last night from Oxford, after a fortnight's
abode with Dr. Adams, who treated me as well as I could expect or wish;
and he that contents a sick man, a man whom it is impossible to please,
has surely done his part well.'

After his return to London from this excursion, I saw him frequently,
but have few memorandums: I shall therefore here insert some particulars
which I collected at various times.

It having been mentioned to Dr. Johnson that a gentleman who had a son
whom he imagined to