The Best of the Worlds Classics, Vol. V - Great Britain and Ireland III | Page 5

but that he had blamed Henry the Second rather too much.
"Why" (said the King), "they seldom do these things by halves." "No,
sir" (answered Johnson), "not to kings." But fearing to be
misunderstood, he proceeded to explain himself; and immediately
subjoined, "That for those who spoke worse of kings than they
deserved, he could find no excuse; but that he could more easily
conceive how some one might speak better of them than they deserved,
without any ill intention: for as kings had much in their power to give,
those who were favored by them would frequently, from gratitude,
exaggerate their praises; and as this proceeded from a good motive, it
was certainly excusable as far as error could be excusable."
The King then asked him what he thought of Dr. Hill. Johnson
answered that he was an ingenious man, but had no veracity; and
immediately mentioned as an instance of it an assertion of that writer,
that he had seen objects magnified to a much greater degree by using
three or four microscopes at a time than by using one. "Now" (added
Johnson), "every one acquainted with microscopes knows that the more
of them he looks through, the less the object will appear." "Why"
(replied the King), "this is not only telling an untruth, but telling it
clumsily; for if that be the case, every one who can look through a
microscope will be able to detect him."
"I now" (said Johnson to his friends, when relating what had passed)
"began to consider that I was depreciating this man in the estimation of
his Sovereign, and thought it was time for me to say something that
might be more favorable." He added, therefore, that Dr. Hill was
notwithstanding a very curious observer; and if he would have been
contented to tell the world no more than he knew, he might have been a
very considerable man, and needed not to have recourse to such mean

expedients to raise his reputation.
The King then talked of literary journals, mentioned particularly the
Journal des Savants, and asked Johnson if it was well done. Johnson
said it was formerly very well done, and gave some account of the
persons who began it, and carried it on for some years; enlarging at the
same time on the nature and use of such works. The King asked him if
it was well done now. Johnson answered he had no reason to think that
it was. The King then asked him if there were any other literary
journals published in this kingdom except the Monthly and Critical
Reviews; and on being answered there was no other, his Majesty asked
which of them was the best. Johnson answered that the Monthly Review
was done with most care, the Critical upon the best principles; adding
that the authors of the Monthly Review were enemies to the Church.
This the King said he was sorry to hear.
The conversation next turned on the Philosophical Transactions, when
Johnson observed that they had now a better method of arranging their
materials than formerly. "Ay" (said the King), "they are obliged to Dr.
Johnson for that"; for his Majesty had heard and remembered the
circumstance, which Johnson himself had forgot.
His Majesty exprest a desire to have the literary biography of this
country ably executed, and proposed to Dr. Johnson to undertake it.
Johnson signified his readiness to comply with his Majesty's wishes.
During the whole of this interview, Johnson talked to his Majesty with
profound respect, but still in his firm, manly manner, with a sonorous
voice, and never in that subdued tone which is commonly used at the
levee and in the drawing-room. After the King withdrew, Johnson
showed himself highly pleased with his Majesty's conversation and
gracious behavior. He said to Mr. Barnard, "Sir, they may talk of the
King as they will; but he is the finest gentleman that I have ever seen."
And he afterward observed to Mr. Langton, "Sir, his manners are those
of as fine a gentleman as we may suppose Lewis the Fourteenth or
Charles the Second."
At Sir Joshua Reynolds's, where a circle of Johnson's friends were

collected round him to hear his account of this memorable conversation,
Dr. Joseph Warton, in his frank and lively manner, was very active in
pressing him to mention the particulars, "Come, now, sir, this is an
interesting matter; do favor us with it." Johnson, with great good humor,
complied.
He told them: "I found his Majesty wished I should talk, and I made it
my business to talk. I find it does a man good to be talked to by his
Sovereign. In the first place, a man can not be in a passion--" Here
some question interrupted him; which is to be regretted, as he