It is reasonable to suppose that the Johnsonian stories in 'Boswelliana' are not less polished than those in the journal; they are themselves in a definite form; and since the journal itself is only the second stage of Boswell's method, these stories must be in a state at the least no less advanced. And yet the verbal differences between these stories and those in the 'Life' are often considerable and sometimes large. The truth is that Boswell's method must have developed very much in one direction from the account he gave of it in the 'Tour to Corsica.' As Dr. Birkbeck Hill has clearly proved, he made changes in the way of 'touching up' the conversations and stories. One or two instances of these variations will illustrate Boswell's treatment of his materials; the stories are given below in double columns for purpose of comparison. _Boswelliana_ _Life_ 1. Boswell asked Mr. We talked of the education Samuel Johnson what was of children; and I best to teach a gentleman's asked him what he thought children first. was best to teach them 'Why, Sir,' said he, first. _Johnson_: 'Sir, it 'there is no matter what is no matter what you you teach them first. It shall teach them first, any matters no more than more than what leg you which leg you put first shall put in your breeches into your bretches [_sic_]. first. Sir, you may stand Sir, you may stand disputing which leg you disputing which leg you shall put in first, but in shall put in first, but in the meantime your breech the meantime your legs is bare. Sir, while you are bare. No matter are considering which of which you put in first two things you shall teach so that you put 'em both your child first, another in, and then you have boy has learnt them both. your bretches on. Sir, while you think which of two things to teach a child first, another boy, in the common course has learnt both.' I was present. _Boswelliana_ _Life_