and my father's friend," between whom
and Dr. Johnson I in vain wished to establish an acquaintance, as I
respected and lived in intimacy with both of them, observed to me once,
very ingeniously, "It is not in friendship as in mathematics, where two
things, each equal to a third, are equal between themselves. You agree
with Johnson as a middle quality, and you agree with me as a middle
quality; but Johnson and I should not agree." Sir John was not
sufficiently flexible; so I desisted; knowing, indeed, that the
repulsion was equally strong on the part of Johnson; who, I know not
from what cause, unless his being a Scotchman, had formed a very
erroneous opinion of Sir John. But I conceived an irresistible wish, if
possible, to bring Dr. Johnson and Mr. Wilkes together. How to manage
it, was a nice and difficult matter.[E]

My worthy booksellers and friends, Messieurs Dilly in the Poultry, at
whose hospitable and well-covered table I have seen a greater number of
literary men than at any other, except that of Sir Joshua Reynolds, had
invited me to meet Mr. Wilkes and some more gentlemen on Wednesday, May
15th. "Pray," said I, "let us have Dr. Johnson." "What, with Mr. Wilkes?
not for the world," said Mr. Edward Dilly: "Dr. Johnson would never
forgive me." "Come," said I, "if you'll let me negotiate for you, I will
be answerable that all shall go well." _Dilly._ "Nay, if you will take
it upon you, I am sure I shall be very happy to see them both here."

Notwithstanding the high veneration which I entertained for Dr. Johnson,
I was sensible that he was sometimes a little actuated by the spirit of
contradiction, and by means of that I hoped I should gain my point. I
was persuaded that if I had come upon him with a direct proposal, "Sir,
will you dine in company with Jack Wilkes?" he would have flown into a
passion, and would probably have answered, "Dine with Jack Wilkes, Sir!
I'd as soon dine with Jack Ketch." I, therefore, while we were sitting
quietly by ourselves at his house in an evening, took occasion to open
my plan thus: "Mr. Dilly, Sir, sends his respectful compliments to you,
and would be happy if you would do him the honor to dine with him on
Wednesday next along with me, as I must soon go to Scotland." _Johnson._
"Sir, I am obliged to Mr. Dilly. I will wait upon him." _Boswell._
"Provided, Sir, I suppose, that the company which he is to have is
agreeable to you?" _Johnson._ "What do you mean, Sir? What do you tak