nius, being an excellent physician, a man of deep learning, and a man
of much humour. Mr. Addison was, to be sure, a great man; his learning
was not profound; but his morality, his humour, and his elegance of
writing, set him very high.'

Mr. Ogilvie was unlucky enough to choose for the topick of his
conversation the praises of his native country. He began with saying,
that there was very rich land round Edinburgh. Goldsmith, who had
studied physick there, contradicted this, very untruly, with a sneering
laugh. Disconcerted a little by this, Mr. Ogilvie then took new ground,
where, I suppose, he thought himself perfectly safe; for he observed,
that Scotland had a great many noble wild prospects. JOHNSON. 'I
believe, Sir, you have a great many. Norway, too, has noble wild
prospects; and Lapland is remarkable for prodigious noble wild
prospects. But, Sir, let me tell you, the noblest prospect which a
Scotchman ever sees, is the high road that leads him to England!' This
unexpected and pointed sally produced a roar of applause. After all,
however, those, who admire the rude grandeur of Nature, cannot deny it
to Caledonia.

On Saturday, July 9, I found Johnson surrounded with a numerous levee,
but have not preserved any part of his conversation. On the 14th we had
another evening by ourselves at the Mitre. It happening to be a very
rainy night, I made some common-place observations on the relaxation of
nerves and depression of spirits which such weather occasioned; adding,
however, that it was good for the vegetable creation. Johnson, who, as
we have already seen, denied that the temperature of the air had any
influence on the human frame, answered, with a smile of ridicule. 'Why
yes, Sir, it is good for vegetables, and for the animals who eat those
vegetables, and for the animals who eat those animals.' This observation
of his aptly enough introduced a good supper; and I soon forgot, in
Johnson's company, the influence of a moist atmosphere.

Feeling myself now quite at ease as his companion, though I had all
possible reverence for him, I expressed a regret that I could not be
so easy with my father, though he was not much older than Johnson,
and certainly however respectable had not more learning and greater
abilities to depress me. I asked him the reason of this. JOHNSON. 'Why,
Sir, I am a man of the world. I live in the world, and I take, in some
degree, the colour of the world as it moves along. Your father is a
Jud