[Here he said, ‘GOD bless you with it.’  I acknowledged myself much obliged to him; but I begged that he would go on as to the propitiation being the chief object of our most holy faith.  He then dictated this one other paragraph.]

’The peculiar doctrine of Christianity is, that of an universal sacrifice, and perpetual propitiation.  Other prophets only proclaimed the will and the threatenings of GOD.  CHRIST satisfied his justice[400].’

The Reverend Mr. Palmer[401], Fellow of Queen’s College, Cambridge, dined with us.  He expressed a wish that a better provision were made for parish-clerks.  JOHNSON.  ’Yes, Sir, a parish-clerk should be a man who is able to make a will, or write a letter for any body in the parish.’

I mentioned Lord Monboddo’s notion[402] that the ancient Egyptians, with all their learning, and all their arts, were not only black, but woolly-haired.  Mr. Palmer asked how did it appear upon examining the mummies?  Dr. Johnson approved of this test[403].

Although upon most occasions[404] I never heard a more strenuous advocate for the advantages of wealth, than Dr. Johnson:  he this day, I know not from what caprice, took the other side.  ’I have not observed (said he) that men of very large fortunes enjoy any thing extraordinary that makes happiness.  What has the Duke of Bedford?  What has the Duke of Devonshire?  The only great instance that I have ever known of the enjoyment of wealth was, that of Jamaica Dawkins, who, going to visit Palmyra, and hearing that the way was infested by robbers, hired a troop of Turkish horse to guard him[405].’

Dr. Gibbons[406], the Dissenting minister, being mentioned, he said, ’I took to Dr. Gibbons.’  And addressing himself to Mr. Charles Dilly, added, ’I shall be glad to see him.  Tell him, if he’ll call on me, and dawdle[407] over a dish of tea in an afternoon, I shall take it kind.’

The Reverend Mr. Smith, Vicar of Southill, a very respectable man, with a very agreeable family, sent an invitation to us to drink tea.  I remarked Dr. Johnson’s very respectful[408] politeness.  Though always fond of changing the scene, he said, ’We must have Mr. Dilly’s leave.  We cannot go from your house, Sir, without your permission.’  We all went, and were well satisfied with our visit.  I however remember nothing particular, except a nice distinction which Dr. Johnson made with respect to the power of memory, maintaining that forgetfulness was a man’s own fault[409].  ’To remember and to recollect (said he) are different things.  A man has not the power to recollect what is not in his mind; but when a thing is in his mind he may remember it.’  The remark was occasioned by my leaning back on a chair, which a little before I had perceived to be broken, and pleading forgetfulness as an excuse.  ’Sir, (said he,) its being broken was certainly in your mind[410].’

When I observed that a housebreaker was in general very timorous; JOHNSON.  ’No wonder, Sir; he is afraid of being shot getting into a house, or hanged when he has got out of it.’