The weather being now somewhat better, Mr. James McDonald, factor to Sir Alexander McDonald in Slate, insisted that all the company at Ostig should go to the house at Armidale, which Sir Alexander had left, having gone with his lady to Edinburgh, and be his guests, till we had an opportunity of sailing to Mull.  We accordingly got there to dinner; and passed our day very cheerfully, being no less than fourteen in number.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2.

Dr. Johnson said, that ’a Chief and his Lady should make their house like a court.  They should have a certain number of the gentlemen’s daughters to receive their education in the family, to learn pastry and such things from the housekeeper, and manners from my lady.  That was the way in the great families in Wales; at Lady Salisbury’s,[751] Mrs. Thrale’s grandmother, and at Lady Philips’s.[752] I distinguish the families by the ladies, as I speak of what was properly their province.  There were always six young ladies at Sir John Philips’s:  when one was married, her place was filled up.  There was a large school-room, where they learnt needle-work and other things.’  I observed, that, at some courts in Germany, there were academies for the pages, who are the sons of gentlemen, and receive their education without any expence to their parents.  Dr. Johnson said, that manners were best learned at those courts.’  You are admitted with great facility to the prince’s company, and yet must treat him with much respect.  At a great court, you are at such a distance that you get no good.’  I said, ’Very true:  a man sees the court of Versailles, as if he saw it on a theatre.’  He said, ’The best book that ever was written upon good breeding, Il Corteggiano, by Castiglione[753], grew up at the little court of Urbino, and you should read it.’  I am glad always to have his opinion of books.  At Mr. McPherson’s, he commended Whitby’s Commentary[754], and said, he had heard him called rather lax; but he did not perceive it.  He had looked at a novel, called The Man of the World[755], at Rasay, but thought there was nothing in it.  He said to-day, while reading my Journal, ‘This will be a great treasure to us some years hence.’

Talking of a very penurious gentleman of our acquaintance[756], he observed, that he exceeded L’Avare in the play[757].  I concurred with him, and remarked that he would do well, if introduced in one of Foote’s farces; that the best way to get it done, would be to bring Foote to be entertained at his house for a week, and then it would be facit indignatio[758].  JOHNSON.  ’Sir, I wish he had him.  I, who have eaten his bread, will not give him to him; but I should be glad he came honestly by him.’