any of
our Club were hanged. I will not say but some of them deserve it.'
BEAUCLERK. (supposing this to be aimed at persons for whom he had at
that time a wonderful fancy, which, however, did not last long,) was
irritated, and eagerly said, 'You, Sir, have a friend, (naming him) who
deserves to be hanged; for he speaks behind their backs against
those with whom he lives on the best terms, and attacks them in the
newspapers. HE certainly ought to be KICKED.' JOHNSON. 'Sir, we all do
this in some degree, "Veniam petimus damusque vicissim." To be sure it
may be done so much, that a man may deserve to be kicked.' BEAUCLERK.
'He is very malignant.' JOHNSON. 'No, Sir; he is not malignant. He is
mischievous, if you will. He would do no man an essential injury; he
may, indeed, love to make sport of people by vexing their vanity. I,
however, once knew an old gentleman who was absolutely malignant.
He really wished evil to others, and rejoiced at it.' BOSWELL. 'The
gentleman, Mr. Beauclerk, against whom you are so violent, is, I know,
a man of good principles.' BEAUCLERK. 'Then he does not wear them out in
practice.'

Dr. Johnson, who, as I have observed before, delighted in discrimination
of character, and having a masterly knowledge of human nature, was
willing to take men as they are, imperfect and with a mixture of good
and bad qualities, I suppose though he had said enough in defence of his
friend, of whose merits, notwithstanding his exceptional points, he had
a just value; and added no more on the subject.

On Wednesday, April 15, I dined with Dr. Johnson at Mr. Dilly's, and
was in high spirits, for I had been a good part of the morning with
Mr. Orme, the able and eloquent historian of Hindostan, who expressed a
great admiration of Johnson. 'I do not care (said he,) on what subject
Johnson talks; but I love better to hear him talk than any body. He
either gives you new thoughts, or a new colouring. It is a shame to the
nation that he has not been more liberally rewarded. Had I been George
the Third, and thought as he did about America, I would have given
Johnson three hundred a year for his Taxation no Tyranny alone.' I
repeated this, and Johnson was much pleased with such praise from such a
man as Orme.

At Mr. Dilly's to-day were Mrs. Knowles, the ingenious Quaker lady, Miss
Seward, the poetess of Lichfield, the Reverend Dr. Mayo, and the Rev.
Mr. Beresford, Tutor to the Duke of Bedford. Before dinner Dr. Johnson
se