custom to speak in a disparaging and most unworthy manner x . We gave our sentiments, and undoubtedly of high panegyric, on the Tale of a Tub] of which Dr. Johnson insisted, in his usual positive manner, that it was impossible that Swift should have been the author, it was so eminently superior to all his other works 2 . I expressed my own conviction, that it was written by Swift, and that, in many of his productions, he showed a genius not unequal to the composition of the Tale of a Tub. The Doctor desired me to name one. I replied, that I thought Gulliver's Travels 3 not unworthy of the performance he so ex clusively admired. He would not admit the instance ; but said, that ' if Swift was really the author of the Tale of a Tub, as the best of his other performances were of a very inferior merit, he should have hanged himself after he had written it.'
Johnson said on the same day, ' Swift corresponded minutely with Stella and Mrs. Dingley 4 , on his importance with the ministry, from excessive vanity that the women might exclaim, " What a great man Dr. Swift is ! " '
Among other topics, Warburton claimed our attention. Gold smith took a part against Warburton whom Johnson strenuously defended, and, indeed, with many strong arguments, and with bright sallies of eloquence 5 . Goldsmith ridiculously asserted, that Warburton was a weak writer. This misapplied character istic Dr. Johnson refuted. I shall never forget one of the happy metaphors with which he strengthened and illustrated his refuta tion. ' Warburton/ said he, ' may be absurd, but he will never be weak : \\& flounders well/
1 Ante, i. 373, 479; ii. 211. 5 Johnson said: 'I treated War-
2 Ib. 1.452 ; ii. 318 ; v. 44 ; Works, burton with great respect both in my viii. 197. Preface and in my Notes ' to Shake-
3 Life, ii. 319. In his Life of Gay speare. Ib. iv. 288. The notes are Johnson says of that writer's ' little often contemptuous and sarcastic : poems ' : * Those that please least ' I am well informed (writes Bos- are the pieces to which Gulliver well) that Warburton said of John- gave occasion ; for who can much son, " I admire him, but cannot bear delight in the echo of an unnatural his style;" and that Johnson being fiction?' Works, viii. 71. told of this said, "That is exactly
4 Life, iv. 177. my case as to him." ' Ib. iv. 48.
Lord
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