hich they are forced to repeat. Such blind and absolute
dependence may be necessary, but can never be delightful: Freedom is
the first wish of our heart; freedom is the first blessing of our
nature; and, unless we bind ourselves with the voluntary chains of
interest or passion, we advance in freedom as we advance in years.

(_Autobiography_.)

JAMES BOSWELL 1740-1795

FIRST SIGHT OF DR JOHNSON

1763. This is to me a memorable year; for in it I had the happiness to
obtain the acquaintance of that extraordinary man whose memoirs I am
now writing; an acquaintance which I shall ever esteem as one of {95}
the most fortunate circumstances in my life. Though then but
two-and-twenty, I had for several years read his works with delight and
instruction, and had the highest reverence for their author, which had
grown up in my fancy into a kind of mysterious veneration, by figuring
to myself a state of solemn abstraction, in which I supposed him to
live in the immense metropolis of London. Mr Gentleman, a native of
Ireland, who passed some years in Scotland as a player, and as an
instructor in the English language, a man whose talents and worth were
depressed by misfortunes, had given me a representation of the figure
and manner of DICTIONARY JOHNSON! as he was then generally called; and
during my first visit to London, which was for three months in 1760, Mr
Derrick the poet, who was Gentleman's friend and countryman, flattered
me with hopes that he would introduce me to Johnson, an honour of which
I was very ambitious. But he never found an opportunity; which made me
doubt that he had promised to do what was not in his power; till
Johnson some years afterwards told me, "Derrick, Sir, might very well
have introduced you. I had a kindness for Derrick, and am sorry he is
dead."

In the summer of 1761 Mr Thomas Sheridan was at Edinburgh, and
delivered lectures upon the English language and Public Speaking to
large and respectable audiences. I was often in his company, and heard
him frequently expatiate upon Johnson's extraordinary knowledge,
talents, and virtues, repeat his pointed sayings, describe his
particularities, and boast of his being his guest sometimes till two or
three in the morning. At {96} his house I hoped to have many
opportunities of seeing the sage, as Mr Sheridan obligingly assured me
I should not be disappointed.

When I returned to London in the end of 1762, to my surprise and regret
I found