The Best of the Worlds Classics, Vol. V - Great Britain and Ireland III | Page 2

to Man. (From the essay on Mitford's "History
of Greece")
V The Pathos of Byron's Life. (From the essay on Moore's "Life of
Byron")
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GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND--III
1740--1881
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JAMES BOSWELL
Born in 1740, died in 1795; son of a Scottish judge; admitted to the bar
in 1766; recorder of Carlisle in 1788; removed to London in 1789;
visited Corsica in 1766; first met Dr. Johnson in 1763; went with him
to the Hebrides in 1773; published his "Life of Johnson" in 1791.

I
BOSWELL'S INTRODUCTION TO DR. JOHNSON[1]
Mr. Thomas Davies the actor, who then kept a bookseller's shop in
Russell street, Covent Garden, told me that Johnson was very much his
friend, and came frequently to his house, where he more than once
invited me to meet him; but by some unlucky accident or other he was
prevented from coming to us.
Mr. Thomas Davies was a man of good understanding and talents, with
the advantage of a liberal education. Tho somewhat pompous, he was
an entertaining companion; and his literary performances have no
inconsiderable share of merit. He was a friendly and very hospitable
man. Both he and his wife (who has been celebrated for her beauty),
tho upon the stage for many years, maintained a uniform decency of
character; and Johnson esteemed them, and lived in as easy an intimacy
with them as with any family which he used to visit. Mr. Davies
recollected several of Johnson's remarkable sayings, and was one of the
best of the many imitators of his voice and manner, while relating them.
He increased my impatience more and more to see the extraordinary
man whose works I highly valued, and whose conversation was

reported to be so peculiarly excellent.
At last, on Monday the 16th of May, when I was sitting in Mr. Davies'
back parlor, after having drunk tea with him and Mrs. Davies, Johnson
unexpectedly came into the shop; and Mr. Davies having perceived him
through the glass door in the room in which we were sitting, advancing
toward us, he announced his awful approach to me, somewhat in the
manner of an actor in the part of Horatio, when he addresses Hamlet on
the appearance of his father's ghost--"Look, my lord, it comes." I found
that I had a very perfect idea of Johnson's figure from the portrait of
him painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds soon after he had published his
Dictionary, in the attitude of sitting in his easy chair in deep meditation;
which was the first picture his friend did for him, which Sir Joshua very
kindly presented to me, and from which an engraving has been made
for this work. Mr. Davies mentioned my name, and respectfully
introduced me to him. I was much agitated, and recollecting his
prejudice against the Scotch, of which I had heard much, I said to
Davies, "Don't tell where I came from." "From Scotland," cried Davies,
roguishly. "Mr. Johnson" (said I), "I do indeed come from Scotland, but
I can not help it." I am willing to flatter myself that I meant this as light
pleasantry to soothe and conciliate him, and not as an humiliating
abasement at the expense of my country. But however that might be,
this speech was somewhat unlucky; for with that quickness of wit for
which he was so remarkable, he seized the expression "come from
Scotland," which I used in the sense of being of that country; and as if I
had said that I had come away from it, or left it, retorted, "That, sir, I
find is what a very great many of your countrymen can not help." This
stroke stunned me a good deal; and when he had sat down, I felt myself
not a little embarrassed, and apprehensive of what might come next. He
then addrest himself to Davies: "What do you think of Garrick? He has
refused me an order for the play of Miss Williams, because he knows
the house will be full, and that an order would be worth three shillings."
Eager to take any opening to get into conversation with him, I ventured
to say, "Oh, sir, I can not think Mr. Garrick would grudge such a trifle
to you."
"Sir" (said he, with a stern look), "I have known David Garrick longer

than you have done; and I know no right you have to talk to me on the
subject." Perhaps I deserved this check; for it was rather presumptuous
in me, an entire stranger, to express any doubt of the justice of his
animadversion upon his old acquaintance and pupil. I now felt myself
much mortified, and began to think that the hope which I had long
indulged of obtaining his acquaintance was blasted.