ards my Lord himself, to whom Dr. Johnson was known, appeared, and
did the honours of the house. We talked of Mr. Langton. Johnson, with
a warm vehemence of affectionate regard, exclaimed, 'The earth does
not bear a worthier man than Bennet Langton.' We saw a good many fine
pictures, which I think are described in one of Young's Tours. There is
a printed catalogue of them which the housekeeper put into my hand;
I should like to view them at leisure. I was much struck with Daniel
interpreting Nebuchadnezzar's dream by Rembrandt. We were shown a pretty
large library. In his Lordship's dressing-room lay Johnson's small
Dictionary: he shewed it to me, with some eagerness, saying, 'Look'ye!
Quae terra nostri non plena laboris.' He observed, also, Goldsmith's
Animated Nature; and said, 'Here's our friend! The poor Doctor would
have been happy to hear of this.'

In our way, Johnson strongly expressed his love of driving fast in
a post-chaise. 'If (said he,) I had no duties, and no reference to
futurity, I would spend my life in driving briskly in a post-chaise with
a pretty woman; but she should be one who could understand me, and would
add something to the conversation.' I observed, that we were this day to
stop just where the Highland army did in 1745. JOHNSON. 'It was a noble
attempt.' BOSWELL. 'I wish we could have an authentick history of it.'
JOHNSON. 'If you were not an idle dog you might write it, by collecting
from every body what they can tell, and putting down your authorities.'
BOSWELL. 'But I could not have the advantage of it in my life-time.'
JOHNSON. 'You might have the satisfaction of its fame, by printing it in
Holland; and as to profit, consider how long it was before writing came
to be considered in a pecuniary view. Baretti says, he is the first man
that ever received copy-money in Italy.' I said that I would endeavour
to do what Dr. Johnson suggested and I thought that I might write so as
to venture to publish my History of the Civil War in Great-Britain in
1745 and 1746, without being obliged to go to a foreign press.

When we arrived at Derby, Dr. Butter accompanied us to see the
manufactory of china there. I admired the ingenuity and delicate art
with which a man fashioned clay into a cup, a saucer, or a tea-pot,
while a boy turned round a wheel to give the mass rotundity. I thought
this as excellent in its species of power, as making good verses in ITS
species. Yet I had no respect for this potter. Ne