Jacobites were now come to talk with moderation.’  Lord Elibank said to him, ’Mr. Robertson, the first thing that gave me a high opinion of you, was your saying in the Select Society[1084], while parties ran high, soon after the year 1745, that you did not think worse of a man’s moral character for his having been in rebellion.  This was venturing to utter a liberal sentiment, while both sides had a detestation of each other.’  Dr. Johnson observed, that being in rebellion from a notion of another’s right, was not connected with depravity; and that we had this proof of it, that all mankind applauded the pardoning of rebels; which they would not do in the case of robbers and murderers.  He said, with a smile, that ’he wondered that the phrase of unnatural rebellion should be so much used, for that all rebellion was natural to man.’

* * * * *

As I kept no Journal of anything that passed after this morning, I shall, from memory, group together this and the other days, till that on which Dr. Johnson departed for London.  They were in all nine days; on which he dined at Lady Colvill’s, Lord Hailes’s, Sir Adolphus Oughton’s, Sir Alexander Dick’s, Principal Robertson’s, Mr. M’Laurin’s[1085], and thrice at Lord Elibank’s seat in the country, where we also passed two nights[1086].  He supped at the Honourable Alexander Gordon’s[1087], now one of our judges, by the title of Lord Rockville; at Mr. Nairne’s, now also one of our judges, by the title of Lord Dunsinan; at Dr. Blair’s, and Mr. Tytler’s; and at my house thrice, one evening with a numerous company, chiefly gentlemen of the law; another with Mr. Menzies of Culdares, and Lord Monboddo, who disengaged himself on purpose to meet him; and the evening on which we returned from Lord Elibank’s, he supped with my wife and me by ourselves[1088].

He breakfasted at Dr. Webster’s, at old Mr. Drummond’s, and at Dr. Blacklock’s; and spent one forenoon at my uncle Dr. Boswell’s[1089], who shewed him his curious museum; and, as he was an elegant scholar, and a physician bred in the school of Boerhaave[1090], Dr. Johnson was pleased with his company.  On the mornings when he breakfasted at my house, he had, from ten o’clock till one or two, a constant levee of various persons, of very different characters and descriptions.  I could not attend him, being obliged to be in the Court of Session; but my wife was so good as to devote the greater part of the morning to the endless task of pouring out tea for my friend and his visitors.

Such was the disposition of his time at Edinburgh.  He said one evening to me, in a fit of languor, ‘Sir, we have been harassed by invitations.’  I acquiesced.  ‘Ay, Sir,’ he replied; but how much worse would it have been, if we had been neglected[1091]?’

From what has been recorded in this Journal, it may well be supposed that a variety of admirable conversation has been lost, by my neglect to preserve it.  I shall endeavour to recollect some of it, as well as I can.