which
weighed five oz. and a half, and eight scruples:--I lay them
upon my bookcase, to see what weight they will lose by
drying.'--BOSWELL.

My friend Colonel James Stuart, second son of the Earl of Bute, who had
distinguished himself as a good officer of the Bedfordshire militia,
had taken a publick-spirited resolution to serve his country in its
difficulties, by raising a regular regiment, and taking the command of
it himself. This, in the heir of the immense property of Wortley, was
highly honourable. Having been in Scotland recruiting, he obligingly
asked me to accompany him to Leeds, then the head-quarters of his corps;
from thence to London for a short time, and afterwards to other places
to which the regiment might be ordered. Such an offer, at a time of the
year when I had full leisure, was very pleasing; especially as I was to
accompany a man of sterling good sense, information, discernment, and
conviviality; and was to have a second crop in one year of London and
Johnson. Of this I informed my illustrious friend, in characteristical
warm terms, in a letter dated the 30th of September, from Leeds.

On Monday, October 4, I called at his house before he was up. He sent
for me to his bedside, and expressed his satisfaction at this incidental
meeting, with as much vivacity as if he had been in the gaiety of youth.
He called briskly, 'Frank, go and get coffee, and let us breakfast IN
SPLENDOUR.'

On Sunday, October 10, we dined together at Mr. Strahan's. The
conversation having turned on the prevailing practice of going to the
East-Indies in quest of wealth;--JOHNSON. 'A man had better have ten
thousand pounds at the end of ten years passed in England, than twenty
thousand pounds at the end of ten years passed in India, because you
must compute what you GIVE for money; and a man who has lived ten
years in India, has given up ten years of social comfort and all those
advantages which arise from living in England. The ingenious Mr. Brown,
distinguished by the name of Capability Brown, told me, that he was
once at the seat of Lord Clive, who had returned from India with great
wealth; and that he shewed him at the door of his bed-chamber a large
chest, which he said he had once had full of gold; upon which Brown
observed, "I am glad you can bear it so near your bed-chamber."'

We talked of the state of the poor in London.--JOHNSON. 'Saunders Welch,
the Justice, who was once High-Constable of Holborn