rved that you TOSSED me sometimes--I don't care how often,
or how high he tosses me, when only friends are present, for then I fall
upon soft ground: but I do not like falling on stones, which is the
case when enemies are present.--I think this a pretty good image, Sir.'
JOHNSON. 'Sir, it is one of the happiest I have ever heard.'

The truth is, there was no venom in the wounds which he inflicted at
any time, unless they were irritated by some malignant infusion by other
hands. We were instantly as cordial again as ever, and joined in
hearty laugh at some ludicrous but innocent peculiarities of one of our
friends. BOSWELL. 'Do you think, Sir, it is always culpable to laugh at
a man to his face?' JOHNSON. 'Why, Sir, that depends upon the man and
the thing. If it is a slight man, and a slight thing, you may; for you
take nothing valuable from him.'

When Mr. Langton returned to us, the 'flow of talk' went on. An eminent
authour being mentioned;--JOHNSON. 'He is not a pleasant man. His
conversation is neither instructive nor brilliant. He does not talk as
if impelled by any fulness of knowledge or vivacity of imagination. His
conversation is like that of any other sensible man. He talks with no
wish either to inform or to hear, but only because he thinks it does not
become ------ ------ to sit in a company and say nothing.'

Mr. Langton having repeated the anecdote of Addison having distinguished
between his powers in conversation and in writing, by saying 'I
have only nine-pence in my pocket; but I can draw for a thousand
pounds;'--JOHNSON. 'He had not that retort ready, Sir; he had prepared
it before-hand.' LANGTON. (turning to me,) 'A fine surmise. Set a thief
to catch a thief.'

JOHNSON. 'I shall be at home to-morrow.' BOSWELL. 'Then let us dine by
ourselves at the Mitre, to keep up the old custom, "the custom of the
manor," the custom of the mitre.' JOHNSON. 'Sir, so it shall be.'

On Saturday, May 9, we fulfilled our purpose of dining by ourselves at
the Mitre, according to old custom. There was, on these occasions, a
little circumstance of kind attention to Mrs. Williams, which must not
be omitted. Before coming out, and leaving her to dine alone, he gave
her her choice of a chicken, a sweetbread, or any other little nice
thing, which was carefully sent to her from the tavern, ready-drest.

On Tuesday, May 12, I waited on the Earl of Marchmont, to know if his
Lordship would favour Dr. Johnson with information c