that considering his Lordship's civility, I
should have been vexed if he had again failed to come. 'Sir, (said
he,) I would rather have given twenty pounds than not have come.' I
accompanied him to Streatham, where we dined, and returned to town in
the evening.

He had, before I left London, resumed the conversation concerning the
appearance of a ghost at Newcastle upon Tyne, which Mr. John Wesley
believed, but to which Johnson did not give credit. I was, however,
desirous to examine the question closely, and at the same time wished to
be made acquainted with Mr. John Wesley; for though I differed from him
in some points, I admired his various talents, and loved his pious zeal.
At my request, therefore, Dr. Johnson gave me a letter of introduction
to him.

'TO THE REVEREND MR. JOHN WESLEY.

'SIR,--Mr. Boswell, a gentleman who has been long known to me, is
desirous of being known to you, and has asked this recommendation, which
I give him with great willingness, because I think it very much to be
wished that worthy and religious men should be acquainted with each
other. I am, Sir, your most humble servant,

'May 3, 1779.'

'SAM. JOHNSON.'

Mr. Wesley being in the course of his ministry at Edinburgh, I presented
this letter to him, and was very politely received. I begged to have it
returned to me, which was accordingly done. His state of the evidence as
to the ghost did not satisfy me.

My readers will not be displeased at being told every slight
circumstance of the manner in which Dr. Johnson contrived to amuse his
solitary hours. He sometimes employed himself in chymistry, sometimes
in watering and pruning a vine, sometimes in small experiments, at which
those who may smile, should recollect that there are moments which admit
of being soothed only by trifles.*

* In one of his manuscript Diaries, there is the following
entry, which marks his curious minute attention: 'July 26,
1768. I shaved my nail by accident in whetting the knife,
about an eighth of an inch from the bottom, and about a
fourth from the top. This I measure that I may know the
growth of nails; the whole is about five eighths of an
inch.'

Another of the same kind appears, 'Aug. 7, 1779, Partem
brachii dextri carpo proximum et cutem pectoris circa
mamillam dextram rasi, ut notum fieret quanto temporis pili
renovarentur.'

And, 'Aug. 15, 1773. I cut from the vine 41 leaves,