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TRAVELLING.

JOHNSON once talked with uncommon animation of travelling into diftant countries; that the mind was enlarged by it, and that an acquifition of dignity of character was derived from it. He expreffed a particular enthufiafin with refpect to vifiting the wall of China. Mr. Boswell caught it for the moment, and faid he really believed he fhould go and fee the wall of China, had he not children, of whom it was his duty to take care."Sir (faid Johnfon), by doing. fo, you would do what will be of importance in raifing your children to eminence. There would be a luftre reflected upon them from your spirit and curiofity. They would be at all times regarded as the children of a man who had gone to view the wall of China. I am ferious, Sir."

citizen endured the cha ge; but ennu at length attacked him, and drove him to make very li eral offers to his fucceffor to restore the concern. Thefe, however, were refufed; he then folicited to be admitted to a partnership; but this was not complied with. At length, fo ftrong was the force of habit, he begged to be allowed to act as a water; in which occupation, it is faid, he continues at the present day, in the very houfe where he acquired a fortune as master. A journey

A journey to Italy was once in his thoughts. He faid, "A man who has not been in Italy is always confcious of an inferiority, from his not having feen what it is expected a man fhould fee. The grand object of travelling is to fee the fhores of the Mediterranean. On those fhores were the four great Empires of the world; the Affyrian, the Perfian, the Grecian, and the Roman. All our religion, almost all our law, almost all our arts, almost all that fets us above favages, has come to us from the fhores of the Mediterranean." It was obferved, that "THE MEDITERRANEAN would be a noble fubje&t for a poem.'

He upon all occafions fhewed an averfion to

go to Ireland, where Mr. B. proposed to him that they fhould make a tour. -JOHNSON. "It is the last place where I fhould wish to travel." -BOSWELL. "Should you not like to fee Dublin, Sir?”—7. No, Sir; Dublin is only a worfe capital."-B. "Is not the Giant's Caufeway worth fecing ?"-7. "Worth fecing, yes; but not worth going to fee."

Yet he had a kindnefs for the Irish nation, and thus generously expreffed himself to a gentleman from that country, on the subject of an UNION, which artful politicians often had in view" Do not make an union with us, Sir.

We

We should unite with you only to rob you.We should have robbed the Scotch, if they had had any thing of which we could have robbed them."

It was his opinion that the information we have from modern travellers is much more authentic than what we had from ancient travellers." Ancient travellers (faid he) gueffed; modern travellers meafure. The Swifs admit that there is but one error in Stanyan. If Brydone were more attentive to his Bible, he would be a good traveller."

Mr. Bofwell once afked him if modefty was not natural. JOHNSON. "I cannot fay, Sir, as we find no people quite in a state of nature ;— but I think the more they are taught, the more modeft they are. The French are a grofs, illbred, untaught people; a lady there will spit on the floor and rub it with her foot. What I gained by being in France was, learning to be better fatisfied with my own country. Time may be employed to more advantage from nineteen to twenty-four almost in any way than in. travelling; when you fet travelling against mere negation, against doing nothing, it is better to be fure; but how much more would a young man improve were he to study during those years.Indeed, if a young man is wild, and must run

after

after women and bad company, it is better this fhould be done abroad, as, on his return, he can break off fuch connections, and begin at home a new man, with a character to form, and acquaintances to make. How little does travelling fupply to the converfation of any man who has travelled; how little to Beauclerk ;-B. "What fay you to Lord - ?”—J. “ I

never but once heard him talk of what he had feen, and that was of a large ferpent in one of the pyramids of Egypt."-B. "Well, I happened to hear him tell the fame thing, which made me mention him."

Of a young female tourift, he faid, "Mifs Nancy has doubtlefs kept a conftant and copious journal. Let her review her journal often, and fet down what fhe knows herself to have omitted, that she may truft to memory as little. as poffible, for memory is foon confused by a quick fucceffion of things; and fhe will grow every day lefs confcious of the truth of her own narratives unlefs fhe can recur to fome written memorials. If fhe has fatisfied herself with,. hints, inftead of full reprefentations, let her fupply the deficiencies now, while her memory is yet fresh, and while her father's memory may help her. If the obferves this direction, the will not have travelled in vain; for the will bring

home

home a book with which the may entertain herfelf to the end of life. If it were not now too late, I would advife her to note the impreffion which the first fight of any thing new and wonderful made upon her mind. Let her now fet her thoughts down as fhe can recollect them; for faint as they may already be, they will grow every day fainter.”

One day dining at an excellent inn, he expatiated on the felicity of England in its taverns and inns, and triumphed over the French for not having, in any perfection, the tavern life."There is no private house (faid he) in which ́people can enjoy themfelves fo well, as at a capital tavern. Let there be ever fo great plenty of good things, ever fo much grandeur, ever fo much elegance, ever fo much defire that every body should be easy; in the nature of things it cannot be there muft always be fome degree of care and anxiety. The mafter of the houfe is anxious to entertain his guests; the guests are anxious to be agreeable to him and no man,' but a very impudent dog indeed, can as freely command what is in another man's houfe, as if it were his own. Whereas, at a tavern, there is a general freedom from anxiety. You are fure you are welcome; and the more noife you make, the more trouble you give, the more

good

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