HNSON Dr. Goldsmith, upon occasion of Mrs. Lennox's bringing out a play, said to Dr. Johnson at the Club, that a person had advised him to go and biss it, because she had attacked Shakspeare in her book called ' Shakspeare Illustrated.' Johnson. « And did not you tell him that he was a rascal ?”—GOLDSMTH. “ No, Sir, I did not. Perhaps he might not mean what he said.”-JOHNSON. “ Nay, Sir, if he lied it is a different thing."--Colman sily said (but it is believed Dr. Johnson did not hear him), “ Then the proper expression 1hould have been,-Sir, if you don't lie, you're a rascal.” Goldsmith could sometimes take adventus rous liberties with Johnson, and escape unpunished. When he once talked of a project for having a third theatre in London, solely for the exhibition of new plays, in order to deliver authors from the fupposed tyranny of managers, Johnson treated it Nightingly ; upon which Goldsmith faid, “ Aye, aye, this may be nothing to you, who can now shelter yourself hehind the corner of a pension;" and John, fon bore this with good humour. Goldsmith, upon being visited by Johnson one day in the Temple, said to him with a little jealousy of the appearance of his accom modation, modation, “ I shall soon be in better chambers than these.” Johnson at the same time checked him and paid him a handsome compliment, implying that a man of his talents fhould be above attention to such distinctions. “ Nay, Sir (said he), never mind that ; nil te quafiveris extra.” FINI S. 138 141 144 156 CONVERSATION, |