had there been more company there.’  BOSWELL.  ‘Might not Mrs. Montagu have been a fourth?’ JOHNSON.  ’Sir, Mrs. Montagu does not make a trade of her wit; but Mrs. Montagu is a very extraordinary woman; she has a constant stream of conversation, and it is always impregnated; it has always meaning[851].’  BOSWELL.  ’Mr. Burke has a constant stream of conversation.’  JOHNSON.  ’Yes, Sir; if a man were to go by chance at the same time with Burke under a shed, to shun a shower, he would say—­“this is an extraordinary man.”  If Burke should go into a stable to see his horse drest, the ostler would say—­we have had an extraordinary man here[852].’  BOSWELL.  ’Foote was a man who never failed in conversation.  If he had gone into a stable—­’ JOHNSON.  ’Sir, if he had gone into a stable, the ostler would have said, here has been a comical fellow; but he would not have respected him.’  BOSWELL.  ’And, Sir, the ostler would have answered him, would have given him as good as he brought, as the common saying is.’  JOHNSON.  ’Yes, Sir; and Foote would have answered the ostler.—­When Burke does not descend to be merry, his conversation is very superiour indeed.  There is no proportion between the powers which he shews in serious talk and in jocularity.  When he lets himself down to that, he is in the kennel[853].’  I have in another place[854] opposed, and I hope with success, Dr. Johnson’s very singular and erroneous notion as to Mr. Burke’s pleasantry.  Mr. Windham now said low to me, that he differed from our great friend in this observation; for that Mr. Burke was often very happy in his merriment.  It would not have been right for either of us to have contradicted Johnson at this time, in a Society all of whom did not know and value Mr. Burke as much as we did.  It might have occasioned something more rough, and at any rate would probably have checked the flow of Johnson’s good-humour.  He called to us with a sudden air of exultation, as the thought started into his mind, ’O!  Gentlemen, I must tell you a very great thing.  The Empress of Russia has ordered the Rambler to be translated into the Russian language[855]:  so I shall be read on the banks of the Wolga.  Horace boasts that his fame would extend as far as the banks of the Rhone[856]; now the Wolga is farther from me than the Rhone was from Horace.’  BOSWELL.  ’You must certainly be pleased with this, Sir.’  JOHNSON.  ’I am pleased Sir, to be sure.  A man is pleased to find he has succeeded in that which he has endeavoured to do.’

One of the company mentioned his having seen a noble person driving in his carriage, and looking exceedingly well, notwithstanding his great age.  JOHNSON.  ’Ah, Sir; that is nothing.  Bacon observes, that a stout healthy old man is like a tower undermined.’

On Sunday, May 16, I found him alone; he talked of Mrs. Thrale with much concern, saying, ’Sir, she has done every thing wrong, since Thrale’s bridle was off her neck;’ and was proceeding to mention some circumstances which have since been the subject of publick discussion[857], when he was interrupted by the arrival of Dr. Douglas, now Bishop of Salisbury.