ily at Johnson, and exclaiming in a bitter tone, 'TAKE IT.'
When Toplady was going to speak, Johnson uttered some sound, which led
Goldsmith to think that he was beginning again, and taking the words
from Toplady. Upon which, he seized this opportunity of venting his own
envy and spleen, under the pretext of supporting another person:

'Sir, (said he to Johnson,) the gentleman has heard you patiently for
an hour; pray allow us now to hear him.' JOHNSON. (sternly,) 'Sir, I
was not interrupting the gentleman. I was only giving him a signal of
my attention. Sir, you are impertinent.' Goldsmith made no reply, but
continued in the company for some time.

A gentleman present ventured to ask Dr. Johnson if there was not a
material difference as to toleration of opinions which lead to action,
and opinions merely speculative; for instance, would it be wrong in
the magistrate to tolerate those who preach against the doctrine of the
TRINITY? Johnson was highly offended, and said, 'I wonder, Sir, how a
gentleman of your piety can introduce this subject in a mixed company.'
He told me afterwards, that the impropriety was, that perhaps some of
the company might have talked on the subject in such terms as might
have shocked him; or he might have been forced to appear in their eyes
a narrow-minded man. The gentleman, with submissive deference, said,
he had only hinted at the question from a desire to hear Dr. Johnson's
opinion upon it. JOHNSON. 'Why then, Sir, I think that permitting men
to preach any opinion contrary to the doctrine of the established church
tends, in a certain degree, to lessen the authority of the church,
and consequently, to lessen the influence of religion.' 'It may be
considered, (said the gentleman,) whether it would not be politick to
tolerate in such a case.' JOHNSON. 'Sir, we have been talking of RIGHT:
this is another question. I think it is NOT politick to tolerate in such
a case.'

BOSWELL. 'Pray, Mr. Dilly, how does Dr. Leland's History of Ireland
sell?' JOHNSON. (bursting forth with a generous indignation,) 'The Irish
are in a most unnatural state; for we see there the minority prevailing
over the majority. There is no instance, even in the ten persecutions,
of such severity as that which the protestants of Ireland have exercised
against the Catholicks. Did we tell them we have conquered them,
it would be above board: to punish them by confiscation and other
penalties, as rebels, was monstrous injustic