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TIBKY

In this compilation are contained several authentic reddotes of diflinguished Literary Characters; rules fo the conduct of life in the most ferious and delicate conjuncles ; and thofe found remarks on works of genius and learning, which in a peculiar manner distinguished the beloved friend of Mr. BoS WELL.

It may be proper to add, that this felection was undertaken in the life-time of Mr. BoswELL, and with his cordial approbation: had that gentleman lived, it might probably have been rendered more acceptable to the Reader.

March 1798.

TABLE TALK.

CONVERSATION.

JOHNSON'S ufual phrafe for converfation

was yet he made a diftinction; for having once dined at a friend's house with what he termed " a very pretty company," and being asked if there was good conversation, he answered, "No, Sir; we had talk enough, but no conversation; there was nothing dif cuffed."

He had a great averfion to gefticulation in company, and called once to a gentleman who offended him in that point, "Don't attitudenife." When another gentleman thought he was giving additional force to what he uttered, by expreffive movements of his hands, Johnfon fairly feized them, and held them down.

He also disapproved of introducing scripture phrafes into fecular difcourfe.

Mr. Bofwell having on fome occafion obferved, that he thought it right to tell one man

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of a handsome thing which had been faid of him by another, as tending to increase benevolence, Johnfon answered, "Undoubtedly it is right, Sir."

He thus defined the difference between phyfical and moral truth: "Phyfical truth is, when you tell a thing as it actually is. Moral truth is, when you tell a thing fincerely and precisely as it appears to you. I fay fuch a one walked across the ftreet; if he really did fo, I told a phyfical truth. If I thought fo, though I fhould have been mistaken, I told a moral truth."

"A man," he faid, " fhould be careful never to tell tales of himfelf to his own difadvantage. People may be amufed and laugh at the time; but they will be remembered, and brought out against him upon fome fubfequent

occafion."

At another time he obferved, "A man cannot with propriety speak of himself, except he relates fimple facts; as, I was at Richmond' or what depends on menfuration; as,

I am fix feet high.' He is fure he has been at Richmond; he is fure he is fix feet high: but he cannot be fure he is wife, or that he has any other excellence. Then, all cenfure of a man's felf is oblique praife. It is in order

to

to fhew how much he can fpare. It has all the invidioufnefs of felf-praife, and all the reproach of falsehood." Mr. Bofwell however remarks, that this may fometimes proceed from a man's ftrong consciousness of his faults being obferved. He knows that others would throw him down, and therefore he had better lie down foftly of his own accord.

Johnson ufed alfo to fay, that if a man talked of his misfortunes, we might depend upon it there was fomething in them not difagreeable to him-for where there was nothing but pure mifery, there never was any recourse to the mention of it.

Talking of an acquaintance, whose narratives, which abounded in curious and interefting topics, were unhappily found to be very fabulous, Mr. B. mentioned Lord Mansfield's having faid, "Suppofe we believe one balf of what he tells."-" Aye," said Johnson, "but we don't know whith half to believe. By his lying we lose not only our reverence for him, but all comfort in his conversation."

Speaking of converfation, he faid, "There muft, in the first place, be knowledge, and there must be materials; in the fecond place, there must be a command of words; in the third place, there must be imagination, to place things in fuch views as they are not commonly

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monly feen in; and in the fourth place, there must be presence of mind, and a refolution that is not to be overcome by failures; this laft is an effential requifite; for want of it many people do not excel in converfation. Now I want it I throw up the game upon lofing a

trick."

Of Charles Fox Johnfon faid, "Fox never talks in private company; not from any determination not to talk, but because he has not the firft motion. A man who is ufed to the applaufe of the Houfe of Commons has no with for that of a private company. A man accustomed to throw for a thousand pounds, if fet down to throw for fixpence, would not be at the pains to count his dice. Burke's talk is the ebullition of his mind; he does not talk from a defire of diftinction, but because his mind is full."

After mufing for fome time one day, Johnson faid, "I wonder how I fhould have any enemies; for I do harm to nobody."-BoswELL. "In the first place, Sir, you will be pleased to

"I wondered (fays Mr. B.) to hear him talk thus of himself, and faid, I don't know, Sir, how this may be; but I am fure you beat other people's cards out of their hands.' I doubt whether he heard this remark. While he went on talking triumphantly, I was fixed in admiration, and faid to Mrs. Thrale, O, for fhort-hand to take this down!'- You'll carry it all in your head (faid fhe); a long head is as good as fhort-hand."

recollect,