374 A Biographical Sketch of Dr. Johnson
Jack Ketch as with Jack Wilkes x ) could sit at the same table with this patriot, it may be concluded he did not write his animosities in marble 2 . Johnson was famous for saying what are called good things. Mr. Boswell, who listened to him for so many years, has probably remembered many. He mentioned many of them to Paoli 3 , who paid him the last tribute of a visit to his grave. If Johnson had had as good eyes as Boswell he might have seen more trees in Scotland, perhaps, than he mentions 4 .
This is not the record-office for his sayings : but a few must be recollected here. For Plutarch has not thought it beneath his dignity to relate some things of this sort, of some of his heroes 5 .
- Pray Dr. Johnson ' (said somebody) ' is the master of the
mansion at Streatham a man of much conversation, or is he only wise and silent?' 'He strikes/ says Johnson, 'once an hour, and I suppose strikes right 6 / Mr. Thrale left him a legacy 7 , and made him an executor. It came to Johnson's ears, that the great bookseller in the Strand, on receiving the last manuscript sheet of his Dictionary, had said, * Give Johnson his money, for I thank God I have done with him.' The philologer took care that he should receive his compliments, and be informed, 'he was extremely glad he returned thanks to God for any thing 8 .'
1 ' I was persuaded that if I had the various objects upon the road, come upon him with a direct pro- " If I had your eyes, Sir (said he), posal, " Sir, will you dine in com- I should count the passengers." ' pany with Jack Wilkes?" he would Life, iv. 311.
have flown into a passion, and would 5 Boswell also shelters himself under probably have answered, "Dine with the example of Plutarch. Ib. v. 414. Jack Wilkes, Sir! I'd as soon dine 6 Ante, ii. 169. 'Johnson said, he with Jack Ketch." 3 Life, iii. 66. Bos- was angry at Thrale, for sitting at well adds in a note : ' This has General Oglethorpe's without speak- been circulated as if actually said by ing. He censured a man for de- Johnson ; when the truth is, it was grading himself to a non-entity.' only supposed by me.' Life, v. 277.
2 ' Some write their wrongs in 7 ^200. Ib. iv. 86.
marble ; he more just 8 Andrew Millar was the book- Stooped down serene and wrote seller. He would not have said, them in the dust/ ' Give Johnson his money,' for ' John- Ante, ii. 267. son had received all the copy-money
3 Life, i. 432 n. by different drafts a considerable
4 ' He expressed some displeasure time before he had finished his task.' at me for not observing sufficiently Ib. i. 287.
Well
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