Next morning,while we were at breakfast,Johnson gave a very earnest recommendation of what he himself practised with the utmost conscientiousness:I mean a strict attention to truth,even in the most minute particulars.'Accustom your children (said he,)constantly to this;if a thing happened at one window,and they,when relating it,say that it happened at another,do not let it pass,but instantly check them;you do not know where deviation from truth will end.'BOSWELL.'It may come to the door:and when once an account is at all varied in one circumstance,it may by degrees be varied so as to be totally different from what really happened.'Our lively hostess,whose fancy was impatient of the rein,fidgeted at this,and ventured to say,'Nay,this is too much.If Mr.Johnson should forbid me to drink tea,I would comply,as I should feel the restraint only twice a day;but little variations in narrative must happen a thousand times a day,if one is not perpetually watching.'JOHNSON.'Well,Madam,and you OUGHT to be perpetually watching.It is more from carelessness about truth than from intentional lying,that there is so much falsehood in the world.'
He was indeed so much impressed with the prevalence of falsehood,voluntary or unintentional,that I never knew any person who upon hearing an extraordinary circumstance told,discovered more of the incredulus odi.He would say,with a significant look and decisive tone,'It is not so.Do not tell this again.'He inculcated upon all his friends the importance of perpetual vigilance against the slightest degrees of falsehood;the effect of which,as Sir Joshua Reynolds observed to me,has been,that all who were of his SCHOOLare distinguished for a love of truth and accuracy,which they would not have possessed in the same degree,if they had not been acquainted with Johnson.
Talking of ghosts,he said,'It is wonderful that five thousand years have now elapsed since the creation of the world,and still it is undecided whether or not there has ever been an instance of the spirit of any person appearing after death.All argument is against it;but all belief is for it.'
He said,'John Wesley's conversation is good,but he is never at leisure.He is always obliged to go at a certain hour.This is very disagreeable to a man who loves to fold his legs and have out his talk,as I do.'
On Friday,April 3,I dined with him in London,in a companywhere were present several eminent men,whom I shall not name,but distinguish their parts in the conversation by different letters.
The Club.Hill identifies E.as Burke and J.as Sir Joshua Reynolds.--ED.
E.'We hear prodigious complaints at present of emigration.I am convinced that emigration makes a country more populous.'J.
'That sounds very much like a paradox.'E.'Exportation of men,like exportation of all other commodities,makes more be produced.'
JOHNSON.'But there would be more people were there not emigration,provided there were food for more.'E.'No;leave a few breeders,and you'll have more people than if there were no emigration.'JOHNSON.'Nay,Sir,it is plain there will be more people,if there are more breeders.Thirty cows in good pasture will produce more calves than ten cows,provided they have good bulls.'E.'There are bulls enough in Ireland.'JOHNSON.
(smiling,)'So,Sir,I should think from your argument.'
E.'I believe,in any body of men in England,I should have been in the Minority;I have always been in the Minority.'P.'The House of Commons resembles a private company.How seldom is any man convinced by another's argument;passion and pride rise against it.'R.'What would be the consequence,if a Minister,sure of a majority in the House of Commons,should resolve that there should be no speaking at all upon his side.'E.'He must soon go out.
That has been tried;but it was found it would not do.'....
JOHNSON.'I have been reading Thicknesse's Travels,which I think are entertaining.'BOSWELL.'What,Sir,a good book?'JOHNSON.
'Yes,Sir,to read once;I do not say you are to make a study of it,and digest it;and I believe it to be a true book in his intention.'
E.'From the experience which I have had,--and I have had a great deal,--I have learnt to think BETTER of mankind.'JOHNSON.'From my experience I have found them worse in commercial dealings,more disposed to cheat,than I had any notion of;but more disposed to do one another good than I had conceived.'J.'Less just and more beneficent.'JOHNSON.'And really it is wonderful,considering how much attention is necessary for men to take care of themselves,and ward off immediate evils which press upon them,it is wonderful how much they do for others.As it is said of the greatest liar,that he tells more truth than falsehood;so it may be said of the worst man,that he does more good than evil.'BOSWELL.'Perhaps from experience men may be found HAPPIER than we suppose.'
JOHNSON.'No,Sir;the more we enquire,we shall find men the less happy.'
E.'I understand the hogshead of claret,which this society was favoured with by our friend the Dean,is nearly out;I think he should be written to,to send another of the same kind.Let the request be made with a happy ambiguity of expression,so that we may have the chance of his sending IT also as a present.'JOHNSON.
'I am willing to offer my services as secretary on this occasion.'
P.'As many as are for Dr.Johnson being secretary hold up your hands.--Carried unanimously.'BOSWELL.'He will be our Dictator.'
JOHNSON.'No,the company is to dictate to me.I am only to write for wine;and I am quite disinterested,as I drink none;I shall not be suspected of having forged the application.I am no more than humble SCRIBE.'E.'Then you shall PREscribe.'BOSWELL.
