On Thursday, June 3, the Oxford post-coach took us up in the morning at Bolt-court.  The other two passengers were Mrs. Beresford and her daughter, two very agreeable ladies from America; they were going to Worcestershire, where they then resided.  Frank had been sent by his master the day before to take places for us; and I found, from the way-bill, that Dr. Johnson had made our names be put down.  Mrs. Beresford, who had read it, whispered me, ’Is this the great Dr. Johnson?’ I told her it was; so she was then prepared to listen.  As she soon happened to mention in a voice so low that Johnson did not hear it, that her husband had been a member of the American Congress, I cautioned her to beware of introducing that subject, as she must know how very violent Johnson was against the people of that country.  He talked a great deal, but I am sorry I have preserved little of the conversation.  Miss Beresford was so much charmed, that she said to me aside, ’How he does talk!  Every sentence is an essay.’  She amused herself in the coach with knotting; he would scarcely allow this species of employment any merit.  ’Next to mere idleness (said he) I think knotting is to be reckoned in the scale of insignificance; though I once attempted to learn knotting.  Dempster’s sister (looking to me) endeavoured to teach me it; but I made no progress[875].’

I was surprised at his talking without reserve in the publick post-coach of the state of his affairs; ’I have (said he) about the world I think above a thousand pounds, which I intend shall afford Frank an annuity of seventy pounds a year.’  Indeed his openness with people at a first interview was remarkable.  He said once to Mr. Langton, ’I think I am like Squire Richard in The Journey to London, “I’m never strange in a strange place[876]."’ He was truly social.  He strongly censured what is much too common in England among persons of condition,—­maintaining an absolute silence, when unknown to each other; as for instance, when occasionally brought together in a room before the master or mistress of the house has appeared.  ’Sir, that is being so uncivilised as not to understand the common rights of humanity[877].’

At the inn where we stopped he was exceedingly dissatisfied with some roast mutton which we had for dinner.  The ladies I saw wondered to see the great philosopher, whose wisdom and wit they had been admiring all the way, get into ill-humour from such a cause.  He scolded the waiter, saying, ’It is as bad as bad can be:  it is ill-fed, ill-killed, ill-kept, and ill-drest[878].’