The Best of the Worlds Classics, Vol. V - Great Britain and Ireland III | Page 3

And in truth, had
not my ardor been uncommonly strong, and my resolution
uncommonly persevering, so rough a reception might have deterred me
forever from making any further attempts....
I was highly pleased with the extraordinary vigor of his conversation,
and regretted that I was drawn away from it by an engagement at
another place. I had for a part of the evening been left alone with him,
and had ventured to make an observation now and then, which he
received very civilly; so that I was satisfied that tho there was a
roughness in his manner, there was no ill-nature in his disposition.
Davies followed me to the door, and when I complained to him a little
of the hard blows which the great man had given me, he kindly took
upon him to console me by saying, "Don't be uneasy. I can see he likes
you very well."
A few days afterward I called on Davies, and asked him if he thought I
might take the liberty of waiting on Mr. Johnson at his chambers in the
Temple. He said I certainly might, and that Mr. Johnson would take it
as a compliment. So on Tuesday the 24th of May, after having been
enlivened by the witty sallies of Messieurs Thornton, Wilkes, Churchill,
and Lloyd, with whom I had passed the morning, I boldly repaired to
Johnson. His chambers were on the first floor of No. 1, Inner Temple
Lane, and I entered them with an impression given me by the Rev. Dr.
Blair,[2] of Edinburgh, who had been introduced to him not long before,
and described his having "found the giant in his den"; an expression
which, when I came to be pretty well acquainted with Johnson, I
repeated to him, and he was diverted at this picturesque account of
himself. Dr. Blair had been presented to him by Dr. James Fordyce. At
this time the controversy concerning the pieces published by Mr. James
Macpherson as translations of Ossian was at its height. Johnson had all
along denied their authenticity; and what was still more provoking to

their admirers, maintained that they had no merit. The subject having
been introduced by Dr. Fordyce, Dr. Blair, relying on the internal
evidence of their antiquity, asked Dr. Johnson whether he thought any
man of a modern age could have written such poems. Johnson replied,
"Yes, sir, many men, many women, and many children." Johnson, at
this time, did not know that Dr. Blair had just published a Dissertation,
not only defending their authenticity, but seriously ranking them with
the poems of Homer and Virgil; and when he was afterward informed
of this circumstance, he exprest some displeasure at Dr. Fordyce's
having suggested the topic, and said, "I am not sorry that they got thus
much for their pains. Sir, it was like leading one to talk of a book when
the author is concealed behind the door."
He received me very courteously; but it must be confest that his
apartment and furniture and morning dress were sufficiently uncouth.
His brown suit of clothes looked very rusty; he had on a little shriveled
unpowdered wig, which was too small for his head; his shirt-neck and
the knees of his breeches were loose; his black worsted stockings ill
drawn up; and he had a pair of unbuckled shoes by way of slippers. But
all these slovenly particularities were forgotten the moment that he
began to talk. Some gentlemen, whom I do not recollect, were sitting
with him; and when they went away, I also rose; but he said to me,
"Nay, don't go." "Sir" (said I), "I am afraid that I intrude upon you. It is
benevolent to allow me to sit and hear you." He seemed pleased with
this compliment, which I sincerely paid him, and answered, "Sir, I am
obliged to any man who visits me."

II
JOHNSON'S AUDIENCE WITH GEORGE III[3]
In February, 1767, there happened one of the most remarkable
incidents of Johnson's life, which gratified his monarchical enthusiasm,
and which he loved to relate with all its circumstances, when requested
by his friends. This was his being honored by a private conversation
with his Majesty, in the library at the Queen's house. He had frequently

visited those splendid rooms and noble collection of books, which he
used to say was more numerous and curious than he supposed any
person could have made in the time which the King had employed. Mr.
Barnard, the librarian, took care that he should have every
accommodation that could contribute to his ease and convenience,
while indulging his literary taste in that place; so that he had here a
very agreeable resource at leisure hours.
His Majesty, having been informed of his occasional visits, was pleased
to signify a desire that he