ble to his
character to be very serious about the matter.' BOSWELL. 'He may have
intended this to introduce his book the better among genteel people,
who might be unwilling to read too grave a treatise. There is a general
levity in the age. We have physicians now with bag-wigs; may we not have
airy divines, at least somewhat less solemn in their appearance than
they used to be?' JOHNSON. 'Jenyns might mean as you say.' BOSWELL. 'YOU
should like his book, Mrs. Knowles, as it maintains, as you FRIENDS do,
that courage is not a Christian virtue.' MRS. KNOWLES. 'Yes, indeed, I
like him there; but I cannot agree with him, that friendship is not a
Christian virtue.' JOHNSON. 'Why, Madam, strictly speaking, he is right.
All friendship is preferring the interest of a friend, to the neglect,
or, perhaps, against the interest of others; so that an old Greek
said, "He that has FRIENDS has NO FRIEND." Now Christianity recommends
universal benevolence, to consider all men as our brethren, which
is contrary to the virtue of friendship, as described by the ancient
philosophers. Surely, Madam, your sect must approve of this; for, you
call all men FRIENDS.' MRS. KNOWLES. 'We are commanded to do good to
all men, "but especially to them who are of the household of Faith."'
JOHNSON. 'Well, Madam. The household of Faith is wide enough.' MRS.
KNOWLES. 'But, Doctor, our Saviour had twelve Apostles, yet there was
ONE whom he LOVED. John was called "the disciple whom JESUS loved."'
JOHNSON. (with eyes sparkling benignantly,) 'Very well, indeed, Madam.
You have said very well.' BOSWELL. 'A fine application. Pray, Sir, had
you ever thought of it?' JOHNSON. 'I had not, Sir.'

From this pleasing subject, he, I know not how or why, made a sudden
transition to one upon which he was a violent aggressor; for he said, 'I
am willing to love all mankind, EXCEPT AN AMERICAN:' and his inflammable
corruption bursting into horrid fire, he 'breathed out threatenings and
slaughter;' calling them, Rascals--Robbers--Pirates;' and exclaiming,
he'd 'burn and destroy them.' Miss Seward, looking to him with mild but
steady astonishment, said, 'Sir, this is an instance that we are always
most violent against those whom we have injured.' He was irritated
still more by this delicate and keen reproach; and roared out another
tremendous volley, which one might fancy could be heard across the
Atlantick. During this tempest I sat in great uneasiness, lamenting
his heat of t