ed he, "it is impossible to know
any person that deserves to be her husband: she's too great a treasure
for one man's possession: she's a goddess. Upon my soul, I speak what I
think, she's an angel"--"Ah, Mr. Thornhill, you only flatter my poor
girl: but we have been thinking of marrying her to one of your tenants,
whose mother is lately dead, and who wants a manager; you know whom I
mean, farmer Williams; a warm man, Mr. Thornhill, able to give her good
bread; and who has several times made her proposals:" (which was
actually the case) "but, sir," concluded she, "I should be glad to have
your approbation of our choice."--"How, Madam," replied he, "my
approbation! My approbation of such a choice! Never. What! Sacrifice so
much beauty and sense, and goodness, to a creature insensible of the
blessing! Excuse me, I can never approve of such a piece of injustice!
And I have my reasons!"--"Indeed, sir," cried Deborah, "If you have your
reasons, that's another affair; but I should be glad to know those
reasons."--"Excuse me, madam," returned he, "they lie too deep for
discovery;" (laying his hand upon his bosom) "they remain buried,
rivetted here."

After he was gone, upon general consultation, we could not tell what to
make of these fine sentiments. Olivia considered them as instances of
the most exalted passion; but I was not quite so sanguine: yet, whatever
they might portend, it was resolved to prosecute the scheme of farmer
Williams, who, from my daughter's first appearance in the country, had
paid her his addresses.

XXIII. MEETING OF JOHNSON WITH WILKES.

(1776).

JAMES BOSWELL.--1740-1795.

_From_ LIFE OF SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL. D.

I am now to record a very curious incident in Dr. Johnson's life, which
fell under my own observation; of which _pars magna fui_, and which I am
persuaded will, with the liberal-minded, be much to his credit.

My desire of being acquainted with celebrated men of every description
had made me, much about the same time, obtain an introduction to Dr.
Samuel Johnson and to John Wilkes, Esq. Two men more different could not
perhaps be selected out of all mankind. They had even attacked one
another with some asperity in their writings; yet I lived in habits of
friendship with both. I could fully relish the excellence of each; for I
have ever delighted in that intellectual chemistry, which can separate
good qualities from evil in the same person.

Sir John Pringle, "mine own friend