[341] Here, unluckily, the windows had no pullies; and Dr. Johnson, who was constantly eager for fresh air, had much struggling to get one of them kept open.  Thus he had a notion impressed upon him, that this wretched defect was general in Scotland; in consequence of which he has erroneously enlarged upon it in his Journey.  I regretted that he did not allow me to read over his book before it was printed.  I should have changed very little; but I should have suggested an alteration in a few places where he has laid himself open to be attacked.  I hope I should have prevailed with him to omit or soften his assertion, that ’a Scotsman must be a sturdy moralist, who does not prefer Scotland to truth,’ for I really think it is not founded; and it is harshly said.  BOSWELL.  Johnson, after a half-apology for ’these diminutive observations’ on Scotch windows and fresh air, continues:—­’The true state of every nation is the state of common life.’ Works, ix. 18.  Boswell a second time (ante, ii. 311) returns to Johnson’s assertion that ’a Scotchman must be a very sturdy moralist who does not love Scotland better than truth; he will always love it better than inquiry.’ Works, ix. 116.

[342] See ante, p. 40.

[343] A protest may be entered on the part of most Scotsmen against the Doctor’s taste in this particular.  A Finnon haddock dried over the smoke of the sea-weed, and sprinkled with salt water during the process, acquires a relish of a very peculiar and delicate flavour, inimitable on any other coast than that of Aberdeenshire.  Some of our Edinburgh philosophers tried to produce their equal in vain.  I was one of a party at a dinner, where the philosophical haddocks were placed in competition with the genuine Finnon-fish.  These were served round without distinction whence they came; but only one gentleman, out of twelve present, espoused the cause of philosophy.  WALTER SCOTT.

[344] It is the custom in Scotland for the judges of the Court of Session to have the title of lords, from their estates; thus Mr. Burnett is Lord Monboddo, as Mr. Home was Lord Kames.  There is something a little awkward in this; for they are denominated in deeds by their names, with the addition of ’one of the Senators of the College of Justice;’ and subscribe their Christian and surnames, as James Burnett, Henry Home, even in judicial acts.  BOSWELL.  See ante, p. 77, note 4.

[345] See ante, ii. 344, where Johnson says:—­’A judge may be a farmer, but he is not to geld his own pigs.’

[346]

     ’Not to admire is all the art I know
      To make men happy and to keep them so.’

Pope, Imitations of Horace, Epistles, i. vi. 1.

[347] See ante, i. 461.

[348] See ante, iv. 152.

[349] See ante, iii. 322.