He thought Mr. Caleb Whitefoord singularly happy in hitting on the signature of Papyrius Cursor, to his ingenious and diverting cross-readings of the newspapers; it being a real name of an ancient Roman, and clearly expressive of the thing done in this lively conceit[996].

He once in his life was known to have uttered what is called a bull:  Sir Joshua Reynolds, when they were riding together in Devonshire, complained that he had a very bad horse, for that even when going down hill he moved slowly step by step.  ’Ay (said Johnson,) and when he goes up hill, he stands still.’

He had a great aversion to gesticulating in company.  He called once to a gentleman who offended him in that point, ‘Don’t attitudenise.’  And when another gentleman thought he was giving additional force to what he uttered, by expressive movements of his hands, Johnson fairly seized them, and held them down[997].

An authour of considerable eminence[998] having engrossed a good share of the conversation in the company of Johnson, and having said nothing but what was trifling and insignificant; Johnson when he was gone, observed to us, ’It is wonderful what a difference there sometimes is between a man’s powers of writing and of talking. ——­ writes with great spirit, but is a poor talker; had he held his tongue we might have supposed him to have been restrained by modesty; but he has spoken a great deal to-day; and you have heard what stuff it was.’

A gentleman having said that a conge d’elire[999] has not, perhaps, the force of a command, but may be considered only as a strong recommendation; ’Sir, (replied Johnson, who overheard him,) it is such a recommendation, as if I should throw you out of a two-pair of stairs window, and recommend to you to fall soft[1000].’

Mr. Steevens, who passed many a social hour with him during their long acquaintance, which commenced when they both lived in the Temple, has preserved a good number of particulars concerning him, most of which are to be found in the department of Apothegms, &c. in the Collection of Johnson’s Works[1001].  But he has been pleased to favour me with the following, which are original:—­

’One evening, previous to the trial of Barretti[1002], a consultation of his friends was held at the house of Mr. Cox, the Solicitor, in Southampton-buildings, Chancery-lane.  Among others present were, Mr. Burke and Dr. Johnson, who differed in sentiments concerning the tendency of some part of the defence the prisoner was to make.  When the meeting was over, Mr. Steevens observed, that the question between him and his friend had been agitated with rather too much warmth.  “It may be so, Sir, (replied the Doctor,) for Burke and I should have been of one opinion, if we had had no audience[1003].”