He did not approve of late marriages, observing that more was lost in point of time than compensated for by any possible Even ill-assorted marrriages were preferable to

advantages.

cheerless celibacy.

He disapproved of the Royal Marriage Bill: Because," said he, “I would not have the people think that the validity of marriage depends on the will of man. I should not have been against making the marriage of any of the royal family, without the approbation of the king and parliament, highly criminal."

At a dinner at General Paoli's the question was started “whether the state of marriage is natural to man?" JOHNSON. "Sir, it is so far from being natural for a man and woman to live in a state of marriage that we find all the motives which they have for remaining in that connexion, and the restraints which civilized society imposes to prevent separation, are hardly sufficient to keep them together." PAOLI. "In a state of nature a man and woman uniting together will form a strong and constant affection, by the mutual pleasure each will receive; and the same causes of dissension will not arise between them as occur between husband and wife in a civilized state." JOHNSON. 66 Sir, they would have dissensions enough, though of another kind: one would choose to go a hunting in this wood, the other in that; one would choose to go a fishing in this lake, the other in that; or, perhaps, one would choose to go a hunting, when the other would choose to go a fishing; and so they would part. Besides, sir, a savage man and a savage woman meet by chance; and, when the man sees another woman that pleases him better, he will leave the first."

A young lady who had married a man much her inferior in rank being mentioned at Thrale's, a question arose as to how a woman's relations should behave to her in such a situation. Boswell contended that she ought to be treated with an inflexible steadiness of displeasure, while Mrs. Thrale was all for mildness and forgiveness, and, according to the vulgar phrase,

"making the best of a bad bargain." JOHNSON. "Madam, we must distinguish. Were I a man of rank, I would not let a daughter starve who had made a mean marriage; but having voluntarily degraded herself from the station which she was originally entitled to hold, I would support her only in that which she herself had chosen, and would not put her on a level with my other daughters. You are to consider, madam, that it is our duty to maintain the subordination of civilized society; and when there is a gross and shameful deviation from rank, it should be punished so as to deter others from the same perversion."

When a gentleman told him he had bought a suit of lace for his lady, he exclaimed: "Well, sir, you have done a good thing, and a wise one. "I have done a good thing," said the gentleman, "but I do not know that I have done a wise thing." JOHNSON. "Yes, sir; no money is better spent than what is laid out for domestic satisfaction. A man is pleased that his wife is dressed as well as other people, and the wife is pleased that she is dressed."

Boswell talked of legitimation by subsequent marriage, which obtained in the Roman law, and still obtains in the law of Scotland. JOHNSON. "I think it is a bad thing; because the chastity of women being of the utmost importance, as all property depends upon it, they who forfeit it should not have any possibility of being restored to good character; nor should the children by an illicit connexion attain the full right of lawful children by the posterior consent of the offending parties."

He held that "It is commonly a weak man who marries for love." The conversation then turned on marrying women of fortune; and Boswell mentioned a common remark that a inan may be, upon the whole, richer by marrying a woman with a very small portion, because a woman of fortune will be proportionately expensive; whereas a woman who brings none will be very moderate in expenses. JOHNSON. Depend upon it, sir,

66

this is not true. A woman of fortune, being used to the handling of money, spends it judiciously: but a woman who gets the command of money for the first time upon her marriage has such a gust in spending it that she throws it away with great profusion."

He praised the ladies of the present age, insisting that they were more faithful to their husbands, and more virtuous in every respect, than in former times, because their understandings were better cultivated.

Boswell repeated to him an argument of a lady of his acquaint ance who maintained that the fact of her husband's having been guilty of numberless infidelities released her from conjugal obligations, because they were reciprocal. JOHNSON. "This is miserable stuff, sir. To the contract of marriage, besides the man and wife, there is a third party-society; and, if it be considered as a vow-God: and, therefore, it cannot be dissolved by their consent alone. Laws are not made for particular, but for men in general. A woman may be unhappy with her hus band; but she cannot be freed from him without the approbation of the civil and ecclesiastical power. A man may be unhappy because he is not so rich as another; but he is not to seize upon another's property with his own hand." BOSWELL. "But, sir, this lady does not want that the contract should be dissolved. She only argues that she may indulge herself in gallantries with equal freedom as her husband does, provided she takes care not to introduce a spurious issue into his family. You know, sir, what Macrobius has told of Julia." JOHNSON. "That lady of yours, sir, I think, is very fit for a brothel."

At another time he observed: "Marriage, sir, is much more necessary to a man than to a woman: for he is much less able to supply himself with domestic comforts. You will recollect my saying to some ladies the other day that I had often wondered why young women should marry, as they have so much more freedom, and so much more attention paid to them, than when

married. I indeed did not mention the strong reason for their marrying the mechanical reason." BOSWELL. "Why, that is a strong one; but does not imagination make it more important than it is in reality? Is it not, to a certain degree, a delusion in us as well as in women?" JOHNSON. “Why, yes, sir; but it is a delusion that is always beginning again." BOSWELL. "I don't know but there is upon the whole more misery than happiness produced by that passion." JOHNSON. "I don't think so, sir."

A

IX.

CHILDREN.

CCORDING to Boswell, he disliked the custom of bring

ing children into company, because it in a manner forced us to pay foolish compliments to please their parents. JOHNSON. "You are right, sir. We may be excused for not caring much about other people's children, for there are many who care very little about their own children. It may be observed that men, who from being engaged in business, or from their course of life in whatever way, seldom see their children do not care much about them. I myself should not have had much fondness for a child of my own." MRS. THRALE. " 'Nay, sir, how can you JOHNSON. "At least I never wished to have a

talk so?"

child."

Another time BOSWELL asked: "If, sir, you were shut up in a castle, and a new-born child with you, what would you do? JOHNSON. "Why, sir, I should not much like my company." BOSWELL. "But would you take the trouble of rearing it?" He seemed, as may well be supposed, unwilling to pursue the subject: but upon Boswell's persevering in his question, replied: "Why, yes, sir, I would; but I must have all conveniences. If I had no garden, I would make a shed on the roof, and take it

there for fresh air. I should feed it, and wash it much, and with warm water to please it, not with cold water to give it pain." BOSWELL. "But, sir, does not heat relax?" JOHNSON. "Sir, you are not to imagine the water is to be very hot : I would not coddle the child. No, sir, the hardy method of treating children does no good. I'll take you five children from London who shall cuff five Highland children. Sir, a man bred in London will carry a burthen, or run, or wrestle, as well as a man brought up in the hardest manner in the country." BOSWELL. "Good living, I suppose, makes the Londoners strong." JOHNSON. "Why, I don't know that it does. Our chairmen from Ireland, who are as strong men as any, have been brought up upon potatoes. Quantity makes up for quality." BOSWELL. "Would you teach this child that I have furnished you with, any thing?" JOHNSON. "No, I should not be apt to teach it.' BOSWELL. "Would not you have a pleasure in teaching it?" JOHNSON. "No, sir, I should not have a pleasure in teaching it." BosWELL. "Have you not a pleasure in teaching men? There I have you. You have the same pleasure in teaching men that I should have in teaching children." JOHNSON. 'Why, something about that."

66

BOSWELL. "Do you think, sir, that what is called natural affection is born with us? It seems to me to be the effect of habit, or of gratitude for kindness. No child has it for a parent whom it has not seen." JOHNSON. "Why, sir, I think there is an instinctive natural affection in parents towards their children."

On Boswell's consulting him as to the appointment of guardians to his children in case of his death, he advised: "Sir, do not appoint a number of guardians. When there are many, they trust one to another, and the business is neglected. I would advise you to choose only one; let him be a man of respectable character, who, for his own credit, will do what is right; let him be a rich man, so that he may be under no temptation to take