it may be said of the worst man, that he does more good than evil.'
BOSWELL. 'Perhaps from experience men may be found HAPPIER than we
suppose.' JOHNSON. 'No, Sir; the more we enquire, we shall find men the
less happy.'

E. 'I understand the hogshead of claret, which this society was favoured
with by our friend the Dean, is nearly out; I think he should be written
to, to send another of the same kind. Let the request be made with a
happy ambiguity of expression, so that we may have the chance of his
sending IT also as a present.' JOHNSON. 'I am willing to offer my
services as secretary on this occasion.' P. 'As many as are for Dr.
Johnson being secretary hold up your hands.--Carried unanimously.'
BOSWELL. 'He will be our Dictator.' JOHNSON. 'No, the company is
to dictate to me. I am only to write for wine; and I am quite
disinterested, as I drink none; I shall not be suspected of having
forged the application. I am no more than humble SCRIBE.' E. 'Then you
shall PREscribe.' BOSWELL. 'Very well. The first play of words to-day.'
J. 'No, no; the BULLS in Ireland.' JOHNSON. 'Were I your Dictator you
should have no wine. It would be my business cavere ne quid detrimenti
Respublica caperet, and wine is dangerous. Rome was ruined by luxury,'
(smiling.) E. 'If you allow no wine as Dictator, you shall not have me
for your master of horse.'

On Saturday, April 4, I drank tea with Johnson at Dr. Taylor's, where he
had dined.

He was very silent this evening; and read in a variety of books:
suddenly throwing down one, and taking up another.

He talked of going to Streatham that night. TAYLOR. 'You'll be robbed
if you do: or you must shoot a highwayman. Now I would rather be robbed
than do that; I would not shoot a highwayman.' JOHNSON. 'But I would
rather shoot him in the instant when he is attempting to rob me, than
afterwards swear against him at the Old-Bailey, to take away his life,
after he has robbed me. I am surer I am right in the one case than in
the other. I may be mistaken as to the man, when I swear: I cannot be
mistaken, if I shoot him in the act. Besides, we feel less reluctance to
take away a man's life, when we are heated by the injury, than to do it
at a distance of time by an oath, after we have cooled.' BOSWELL. 'So,
Sir, you would rather act from the motive of private passion, than that
of publick advantage.' JOHNSON. 'Nay, Sir, when I shoot the highwayman
I act from both.' BOSWELL. 'Very well, very well--Th