Thurfday, 19th August. We rose much refreshed. I had with me a map of Scotland, a Bible, which was given me by Lord Mountftuart when we were together in Italy, and Ogden's Sermons on Prayer, Mr. Nairne introduced us to Dr. Watfon, whom we found a well-informed man, of very amiable manners. Dr. Johnson, after they were acquainted, faid, "I take great delight in him."-His daughter, a very pleasing young lady, made breakfast. Dr. Watfon obferved, that Glasgow University had fewer home-ftudents, fince trade increased, as learning was rather incompatible with it.-Johnson. Why, fir, as trade is now carried on by fubordinate hands, men in trade have as much leifure as others; and now learning itself is a trade. A man goes to a bookseller, and . gets what he can. We have done with patronage. In the infancy of learning, we find fome great man praised for it. This diffufed it among others. When it becomes general, an author leaves the great, and applies to the multitude."-Bofwell. -Bofwell. "It is a fhame that authors are not now better patronized.", -Johnson. No, fir. If learning cannot fupport a man, if he must fit with his hands across till fomebody feeds him, it is as to him a bad thing, and it is better as it is. With patronage, what flattery! what falsehood! While a man is in equilibrio, he throws truth among the multitude, and lets them take it as they please: in patronage, he must say what pleases his patron, and it is an equal chance whether that be truth or falfehood."-Watson. "But is not the cafe now, that, inftead of flatter 66 ing one perfon, we flatter the age?"-Johnfon. "No, fir. The world always lets a man tell what he thinks, his own way. I wonder however, that fo many people have written, who might have let it alone. That people fhould endeavour to excel in conversation, I do not wonder; because in conversation praise is instantly reverberated.” We talked of change of manners. Dr. Johnfon obferved, that our drinking lefs than our ancestors was owing to the change from ale to wine. "I remember, (faid he,) when all the decent people in Lichfield got drunk every night, and were not the worse thought of. Ale was cheap, so you preffed ftrongly. When a man must bring a bottle of wine, he is not in fuch hafte. Smoking has gone out. To be fure, it is a fhocking thing, blowing smoke out of our mouths into other people's mouths, eyes, and nofes, and having the fame thing done to us. Yet I cannot account, why a thing which requires fo little exertion, and yet preferves the mind from total vacuity, fhould have gone out. Every man has something by which he calms himself beating with his feet, or fo*. I remember when people in England changed a shirt only once a week: a Pandour, when he gets a fhirt, greafes it to make it laft. tradesmen had no fire but in the the parlour, except on Sunday. was a magiftrate of Lichfield, lived thus. They never began to have a fire in the parlour, but on leaving off business, or fome great revolution of their life."-Dr. Watfon faid, the hall was as a kitchen, Formerly, good kitchen; never in My father, who Dr. Johnfon ufed to practice this himself very much. kitchen, in old fquires' houfes.-Johnson. "No, fir. The hall was for great occafions, and never was used for domeftick refection."-We talked of the Union, and what money it had brought into Scotland. Dr. Watfon obferved, that a little money formerly went as far as a great deal now. Johnson." In fpeculation, it seems that a finaller quantity of money, equal in value to a larger quantity, if equally divided, fhould produce the fame effect. But it is not fo in reality. Many more conveniences and elegancies are enjoyed where money is plentiful, than where it is fcarce. Perhaps a great familiarity with it, which arifes from plenty, makes us more eafily part with it." After what Dr. Johnson had faid of St. Andrews, which he had long wifhed to fee, as our oldest university, and the feat of our Primate in the days of epifcopacy, I can fay little. Since the publication of Dr. Johnfon's book, I find that he has been cenfured for not feeing here the ancient chapel of St. Rule, a cúrious piece of-facred architecture. But this was neither his fault nor mine. We were both of us abundantly defirous of furveying fuch fort of antiquities: but neither of us knew of this. I am afraid the cenfure muft fall on thofe who did not tell us of it. In every place, where there is any thing worthy of. obfervation, there fhould be a fhort printed directory for ftrangers, fuch as we find in all the towns of Italy, and in fome of the towns in England. I was told that there is a manuscript account of St. Andrews, by Martin, fecretary to Archbishop Sharp; and that one Douglas has published a fmall account of it. at a bookseller's, but could not get it. E I inquired Dr. John fon's fon's veneration for the Hierarchy is well known There is no wonder then, that he was affected with a ftrong indignation, while he beheld the ruins of religious magnificence. I happened to afk where John Knox was buried. Dr. Johnfon burft out, "I hope in the high-way. I have been looking at his reformations." It was a very fine day. Dr. Johnson feemed quite wrapt up in the contemplation of the scenes which were now presented to him. He kept his hat off while he was upon any part of the ground where the cathedral had ftood. He said well, that “Knox had set on a mob, without knowing where it would end; and that differing from a man in doctrine was no reason why you should pull his house about his ears." As we walked in the cloisters, there was a folenin echo, while he talked loudly of a proper retirement from the world. Mr. Nairne faid, he had an inclination to retire. I called Dr. Johnfon's attention to this, that I might hear his opinion if it was right.-Johnson. "Yes, when he has done his duty to fociety. In general, as every man is obliged not only to "love GOD, but his neighbour as himself," he muft bear his part in active life; yet there are exceptions. Thofe who are exceedingly fcrupulous, (which I do not approve, for I am no friend to fcruples,) and find their fcrupulofity invincible, fo that they are quite in the dark, and know not what they fhall do,or thofe who cannot refift temptations, and find they make themfelves worfe by being in the world, without making it better, may retire. I never read of a hermit, but in imagination I kifs his feet; never of a monaftery, but I could fall on my knees, and kifs the pavement. But But I think putting young people there, who know nothing of life, nothing of retirement, is dange rous and wicked. It is a faying as old as Hefiod, Έργα νεῶν, βελαίτε μέσων, ευχαε γερόντων That is a very noble line: not that young men fhould not pray, or old men not give counsel, but that every feafon of life has its proper duties. Í have thought of retiring, and have talked of it to a friend; but I find my vocation is rather to active life." I faid, fome young monks might be allowed, to fhew that it is not age alone that can retire to pious folitude; but he thought this would only fhew that they could not refift temptation. He wanted to mount the fteeples, but it could not be done. There are no good infcriptions here. Bad Roman characters he naturally miftook for half Gothick, half Roman. One of the fteeples, which he was told was in danger, he wifhed not to be taken down;" for, faid he, it may fall on fome of the pofterity of John Knox; and no great matter !" Dinner was mentioned.Johnfon. Ay, ay; amidst all thefe forrowful fcenes, I have no objection to dinner.” We went and looked at the caftle, where Cardi. nal Beaton was murdered, and then vifited Princi pal Murifon at his college, where is a good libraryroom; but the principal was abundantly vain of it, for he ferioufly faid to Dr. Johnfon, not fuch a one in England." E 2 Let youth in deeds, in counsel man engage; you have The |