Mr. Berrenger[292] visited him to-day, and was very pleasing.  We talked of an evening society for conversation at a house in town, of which we were all members, but of which Johnson said, ’It will never do, Sir.  There is nothing served about there, neither tea, nor coffee, nor lemonade, nor any thing whatever; and depend upon it, Sir, a man does not love to go to a place from whence he comes out exactly as he went in.’  I endeavoured, for argument’s sake, to maintain that men of learning and talents might have very good intellectual society, without the aid of any little gratifications of the senses.  Berrenger joined with Johnson, and said, that without these any meeting would be dull and insipid.  He would therefore have all the slight refreshments; nay, it would not be amiss to have some cold meat, and a bottle of wine upon a side-board.  ’Sir, (said Johnson to me, with an air of triumph,) Mr. Berrenger knows the world.  Every body loves to have good things furnished to them without any trouble.  I told Mrs. Thrale once, that as she did not choose to have card tables, she should have a profusion of the best sweetmeats, and she would be sure to have company enough come to her[293].’  I agreed with my illustrious friend upon this subject; for it has pleased GOD to make man a composite animal, and where there is nothing to refresh the body, the mind will languish.

On Sunday, April 15, being Easter-day, after solemn worship in St. Paul’s church, I found him alone; Dr. Scott of the Commons came in.  He talked of its having been said that Addison wrote some of his best papers in The Spectator when warm with wine[294].  Dr. Johnson did not seem willing to admit this.  Dr. Scott, as a confirmation of it, related, that Blackstone, a sober man, composed his Commentaries with a bottle of port before him; and found his mind invigorated and supported in the fatigue of his great work, by a temperate use of it[295].

I told him, that in a company where I had lately been, a desire was expressed to know his authority for the shocking story of Addison’s sending an execution into Steele’s house[296].  ’Sir, (said he,) it is generally known, it is known to all who are acquainted with the literary history of that period.  It is as well known, as that he wrote Cato.’  Mr. Thomas Sheridan once defended Addison to me, by alledging that he did it in order to cover Steele’s goods from other creditors, who were going to seize them.

We talked of the difference between the mode of education at Oxford, and that in those Colleges where instruction is chiefly conveyed by lectures[297].  JOHNSON.  ’Lectures were once useful; but now, when all can read, and books are so numerous, lectures are unnecessary.  If your attention fails, and you miss a part of a lecture, it is lost; you cannot go back as you do upon a book.’  Dr. Scott agreed with him.  ’But yet (said I), Dr. Scott, you yourself gave lectures at Oxford[298].’  He smiled.  ‘You laughed (then said I) at those who came to you.’