pen, which he called taking an air bath; after which he went to
bed again, and slept two hours more. Johnson, who was always ready to
beat down any thing that seemed to be exhibited with disproportionate
importance, thus observed: 'I suppose, Sir, there is no more in it than
this, he awakes at four, and cannot sleep till he chills himself, and
makes the warmth of the bed a grateful sensation.'

I talked of the difficulty of rising in the morning. Dr. Johnson told
me, 'that the learned Mrs. Carter, at that period when she was eager
in study, did not awake as early as she wished, and she therefore had
a contrivance, that, at a certain hour, her chamber-light should burn
a string to which a heavy weight was suspended, which then fell with
a strong sudden noise: this roused her from sleep, and then she had no
difficulty in getting up.' But I said THAT was my difficulty; and wished
there could be some medicine invented which would make one rise without
pain, which I never did, unless after lying in bed a very long time.

Johnson advised me to-night not to REFINE in the education of my
children. 'Life (said he,) will not bear refinement: you must do as
other people do.'

As we drove back to Ashbourne, Dr. Johnson recommended to me, as he had
often done, to drink water only: 'For (said he,) you are then sure not
to get drunk; whereas if you drink wine you are never sure.' I said,
drinking wine was a pleasure which I was unwilling to give up, 'Why,
Sir, (said he,) there is no doubt that not to drink wine is a great
deduction from life; but it may be necessary.' He however owned, that in
his opinion a free use of wine did not shorten life; and said, he would
not give less for the life of a certain Scotch Lord (whom he named)
celebrated for hard drinking, than for that of a sober man. 'But stay,
(said he, with his usual intelligence, and accuracy of enquiry,) does it
take much wine to make him drunk?' I answered, 'a great deal either of
wine or strong punch.'--'Then (said he,) that is the worse.' I presume
to illustrate my friend's observation thus: 'A fortress which soon
surrenders has its walls less shattered than when a long and obstinate
resistance is made.'

I ventured to mention a person who was as violent a Scotsman as he was
an Englishman; and literally had the same contempt for an Englishman
compared with a Scotsman, that he had for a Scotsman compared with an
Englishman; and that he would say of Dr. Johnson, 'Damned