’With no poetick ardour fir’d,
        I press [press’d] the bed where Wilmot lay;
      That here he liv’d [lov’d], or here expir’d,
        Begets no numbers, grave or gay.’

BOSWELL.

[545] See ante, iv. 60, 187.

[546] See ante, iv. 113 and 315.

[547] ’This was written while Mr. Wilkes was Sheriff of London, and when it was to be feared he would rattle his chain a year longer as Lord Mayor.’  Note to Campbell’s British Poets, p. 662.  By ‘here’ the poet means at Tyburn.

[548] With virtue weigh’d, what worthless trash is gold!  BOSWELL.

[549] Since the first edition of this book, an ingenious friend has observed to me, that Dr. Johnson had probably been thinking on the reward which was offered by government for the apprehension of the grandson of King James II, and that he meant by these words to express his admiration of the Highlanders, whose fidelity and attachment had resisted the golden temptation that had been held out to them.  BOSWELL.

[550] On the subject of Lady Margaret Macdonald, it is impossible to omit an anecdote which does much honour to Frederick, Prince of Wales.  By some chance Lady Margaret had been presented to the princess, who, when she learnt what share she had taken in the Chevalier’s escape, hastened to excuse herself to the prince, and exlain to him that she was not aware that Lady Margaret was the person who had harboured the fugitive.  The prince’s answer was noble:  ’And would you not have done the same, madam, had he come to you, as to her, in distress and danger?  I hope—­I am sure you would!’ WALTER SCOTT.

[551] This old Scottish member of parliament, I am informed, is still living (1785).  BOSWELL.

[552] I cannot find that this account was ever published.  Mr. Lumisden is mentioned ante, ii. 401, note 2.

[553] This word is not in Johnson’s Dictionary.

[554] Dr. A. Carlyle (Auto. p. 153) describes him in 1745 as ’a good-looking man of about five feet ten inches; his hair was dark red, and his eyes black.  His features were regular, his visage long, much sunburnt and freckled, and his countenance thoughtful and melancholy.’  When the Pretender was in London in 1750, ‘he came one evening,’ writes Dr. W. King (Anec. p. 199) ’to my lodgings, and drank tea with me; my servant, after he was gone, said to me, that he thought my new visitor very like Prince Charles.  “Why,” said I, “have you ever seen Prince Charles?” “No, Sir,” said the fellow, “but this gentleman, whoever he may be, exactly resembles the busts which are sold in Red Lionstreet, and are said to be the busts of Prince Charles.”  The truth is, these busts were taken in plaster of Paris from his face.  He has an handsome face and good eyes.’