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mon for the daughter of a tradesman, he natu→ rally enquired into the character of the deceased; and being told she was remarkable for her humility and condescension to inferiors, he observed, that those were very laudable qualities, but it might not be so easy to discover who the lady's inferiors were.

He made the common remark on the unhappiness which men who have led a busy life experience when they retire in expectation of enjoying themselves at ease, and that they generally languish for want of their habitual occupation, and wish to return to it. He mentioned as strong an instance of this as can well be imagined. "An eminent tallow-chandler in London, who had acquired a considerable fortune, gave up the trade in favour of his foreman, and went to live at a country house near town. He soon grew weary, and paid frequent visits to his old shop, where he desired they might let him know their meltingdays, and he would come and assist them; which he accordingly did. Here, Sir, was a man, to whom the most disgusting circumstance in the business to which he had been used, was a relief from idleness *."

The COMPILER has been informed of a living instance of the truth of this remark of Dr. Johnson's.

A tavern keeper in the neighbourhood of Holborn having saved money enough to retire from business, parted with his lease and

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JOHNSON once talked with uncommon animation of travelling into distant countries; that the mind was enlarged by it, and that an acquisition of dignity of character was derived from it. He expressed a particular enthusiasm with respect to visiting the wall of China. Mr. Boswell caught it for the moment, and said he really believed he should go and see the wall of China, had he not children, of whom it was his duty to take care.— "Sir (said Johnson), by doing so, you would do what will be of importance in raising your children to eminence. There would be a lustre reflected upon them from your spirit and curiosity. They would be at all times regarded as the children of a man who had gone to view the wall of China. I am serious, Sir."

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stock to his principal servant. Things went on well with the new proprietor, and for a short time the retired citizen endured the change; but ennui at, length attacked him, and drove him to make very liberal offers to his successor to restore the concern. These, however, were refused: he then solicited to be admitted to a partnership; but this was not complied with. At length, so strong was the force of habit, he begged to be allowed to act as a waiter; in which occupation, it is said, he continues at the present day, in the very house where he acquired a fortune as

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A journey to Italy was once in his thoughts. He said, “A man who has not been in Italy is always conscious of an inferiority, from his not having seen what it is expected a man should see. The grand object of travelling is to see the shores of the Mediterranean. On those shores were the four great Empires of the world; the Assyrian, the Persian, the Grecian, and the Roman. All our religion, almost all our law, almost all our arts, almost all that sets us above savages, has come to us from the shores of the Mediterranean." It was observed, that THE MEDITERRANEAN Would be a noble subject for a poem.'

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He upon all occasions shewed an aversion to go to Ireland, where Mr. B. proposed to him that they should make a tour.-JOHNSON. "It is the last place where I should wish to travel.”—BosWELL. "Should you not like to see Dublin, Sir?" -J." No Sir; Dublin is only a worse capital." B. "Is not the Giant's Causeway worth seeing?" -J. "Worth seeing, yes; but not worth going

to see."

Yet he had a kindness for the Irish nation, and thus generously expressed 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 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."

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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 (said he) guessed; modern travellers measure. The Swiss admit that there is but one error in Stanyan. If Brydone were more attentive to his Bible, he would be a good traveller."

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Mr. Boswell once asked him if modesty was not natural.-JOHNSON. "I cannot say, Sir, as we find no people quite in a state of nature;but I think the more they are taught, the more modest they are. The French are a gross, 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 satisfied 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 set travelling against mere negation, against doing nothing, it is better, to be sure; 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 women and bad company, it is better this should be done abroad, as, on his return, he can

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break off such connections, and begin at home a new man, with a character to form, and acquaintances to make. How little does travelling supply to the conversation of any man who has travelled; how little to Beauclerk;"-B. "What say you to Lord ?"-J. “I never but once heard him talk of what he had seen, and that was of a large serpent in one of the pyramids of Egypt."-B. "Well, I happened to hear him: tell the same thing, which made me mention him."

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Of a young female tourist, he said, "Miss Nancy has doubtless kept à constant and copious journal. Let her review her journal often, and set down what she knows herself to have omitted, that she may trust to memory as little as possible, for memory is soon confused by a quick succession of things; and she will grow every day less conscious of the truth of her own narratives unless she can recur to some written memorials. If she has satisfied herself with hints, instead of full representations, let her supply the deficien-* cies now, while her memory is yet fresh, and while her father's memory may help her. If she observes this direction, she will hot have tra velled in vain; for she will bring home a book! with which she may entertain herself to the end of life. If it were not now too late, I would' ad

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