’Regum aequabat opes animis[536].’

On the subject of the right employment of wealth, Johnson observed, ’A man cannot make a bad use of his money, so far as regards Society, if he does not hoard it; for if he either spends it or lends it out, Society has the benefit.  It is in general better to spend money than to give it away; for industry is more promoted by spending money than by giving it away.  A man who spends his money is sure he is doing good with it:  he is not so sure when he gives it away.  A man who spends ten thousand a year will do more good than a man who spends two thousand and gives away eight[537].’

In the evening I came to him again.  He was somewhat fretful from his illness.  A gentleman[538] asked him, whether he had been abroad to-day.  ’Don’t talk so childishly, (said he.) You may as well ask if I hanged myself to-day.’  I mentioned politicks.  JOHNSON.  ’Sir, I’d as soon have a man to break my bones as talk to me of publick affairs, internal or external.  I have lived to see things all as bad as they can be.’

Having mentioned his friend the second Lord Southwell, he said, ’Lord Southwell was the highest-bred man without insolence that I ever was in company with; the most qualified I ever saw.  Lord Orrery[539] was not dignified:  Lord Chesterfield was, but he was insolent[540].  Lord ——­[541] is a man of coarse manners, but a man of abilities and information.  I don’t say he is a man I would set at the head of a nation, though perhaps he may be as good as the next Prime Minister that comes; but he is a man to be at the head of a Club; I don’t say our CLUB; for there’s no such Club.’  BOSWELL.  ’But, Sir, was he not once a factious man?’ JOHNSON.  ’O yes, Sir; as factious a fellow as could be found:  one who was for sinking us all into the mob[542].’  BOSWELL.  ’How then, Sir, did he get into favour with the King?’ JOHNSON.  ’Because, Sir, I suppose he promised the King to do whatever the King pleased.’

He said, ’Goldsmith’s blundering speech to Lord Shelburne, which has been so often mentioned, and which he really did make to him, was only a blunder in emphasis:  “I wonder they should call your Lordship Malagrida[543], for Malagrida was a very good man;” meant, I wonder they should use Malagrida as a term of reproach[544].’

Soon after this time I had an opportunity of seeing, by means of one of his friends[545], a proof that his talents, as well as his obliging service to authours, were ready as ever.  He had revised The Village, an admirable poem, by the Reverend Mr. Crabbe.  Its sentiments as to the false notions of rustick happiness and rustick virtue were quite congenial with his own[546]; and he had taken the trouble not only to suggest slight corrections and variations, but to furnish some lines, when he thought he could give the writer’s meaning better than in the words of the manuscript[547].