The Story of Doctor Johnson; Being an Introduction to Boswell's LifeRoberts, S. C. (Sydney Castle)
History
The Story of Doctor Johnson; Being an Introduction to Boswell's Life
Roberts, S. C. (Sydney Castle)
Authors, English -- 18th century -- Biography; Johnson, Samuel, 1709-1784
"I had ... great curiosity to dine with DR SAMUEL JOHNSON, in the
dusky recess of a court in Fleet-street. I supposed we should scarcely
have knives and forks, and only some strange, uncouth, ill-drest dish:
but I found every thing in very good order. We had no other company
but Mrs Williams and a young woman whom I did not know. As a dinner
here was considered as a singular phænomenon, and as I was frequently
interrogated on the subject, my readers may perhaps be desirous to know
our bill of fare.... We had a very good soup, a boiled leg of lamb and
spinach, a veal pye, and a rice pudding."
Boswell was made still prouder when shortly afterwards he was admitted
to the Club:
"On Friday, April 30, I dined with him at Mr Beauclerk's, where were
Lord Charlemont, Sir Joshua Reynolds, and some more members of the
LITERARY CLUB, whom he had obligingly invited to meet me, as I was
this evening to be balloted for as candidate for admission into that
distinguished society. Johnson had done me the honour to propose me,
and Beauclerk was very zealous for me...."
"The gentlemen went away to their club, and I was left at Beauclerk's
till the fate of my election should be announced to me. I sat in a
state of anxiety which even the charming conversation of Lady Di
Beauclerk could not entirely dissipate. In a short time I received
the agreeable intelligence that I was chosen. I hastened to the place
of meeting, and was introduced to such a society as can seldom be
found.... Upon my entrance, Johnson placed himself behind a chair, on
which he leaned as on a desk or pulpit, and with humorous formality
gave me a _Charge_, pointing out the conduct expected from me as a good
member of this club."
When they were travelling together in Scotland Johnson frankly told him
a little more about the election, and Boswell as frankly tells us:
"He told me, 'Sir, you got into our club by doing what a man can do.
Several of the members wished to keep you out. Burke told me, he
doubted if you were fit for it: but, now you are in, none of them are
sorry. Burke says, that you have so much good humour naturally, it is
scarce a virtue.' BOSWELL. 'They were afraid of you, Sir, as it was you
who proposed me.' JOHNSON. 'Sir, they knew, that if they refused you,
they'd probably never have got in another. I'd have kept them all out.'"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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