m in representing
visible objects. I said, the difference between us in this respect was
as that between a man who has a bad instrument, but plays well on
it, and a man who has a good instrument, on which he can play very
imperfectly.

I recollect a very fine amphitheatre, surrounded with hills covered with
woods, and walks neatly formed along the side of a rocky steep, on
the quarter next the house with recesses under projections of rock,
overshadowed with trees; in one of which recesses, we were told,
Congreve wrote his Old Bachelor. We viewed a remarkable natural
curiosity at Islam; two rivers bursting near each other from the rock,
not from immediate springs, but after having run for many miles under
ground. Plott, in his History of Staffordshire, gives an account of
this curiosity; but Johnson would not believe it, though we had the
attestation of the gardener, who said, he had put in corks, where the
river Manyfold sinks into the ground, and had catched them in a net,
placed before one of the openings where the water bursts out. Indeed,
such subterraneous courses of water are found in various parts of our
globe.

Talking of Dr. Johnson's unwillingness to believe extraordinary things
I ventured to say, 'Sir, you come near Hume's argument against miracles,
"That it is more probable witnesses should lie, or be mistaken,
than that they should happen." JOHNSON. 'Why, Sir, Hume, taking the
proposition simply, is right. But the Christian revelation is not proved
by the miracles alone, but as connected with prophecies, and with the
doctrines in confirmation of which the miracles were wrought.'

In the evening, a gentleman-farmer, who was on a visit at Dr. Taylor's,
attempted to dispute with Johnson in favour of Mungo Campbell, who shot
Alexander, Earl of Eglintoune, upon his having fallen, when retreating
from his Lordship, who he believed was about to seize his gun, as he
had threatened to do. He said, he should have done just as Campbell did.
JOHNSON. 'Whoever would do as Campbell did, deserves to be hanged; not
that I could, as a juryman, have found him legally guilty of murder; but
I am glad they found means to convict him.' The gentleman-farmer said,
'A poor man has as much honour as a rich man; and Campbell had THAT
to defend.' Johnson exclaimed, 'A poor man has no honour.' The English
yeoman, not dismayed, proceeded: 'Lord Eglintoune was a damned fool to
run on upon Campbell, after being warned that Campbell wou