message in which the wisest of mankind would rejoice to find an answer to their doubts, and rest to their inquiries.  It is idle to say that a future state had been discovered already.—­It had been discovered as the Copernican System was;—­it was one guess amongst many.  He alone discovers who proves, and no man can prove this point but the teacher who testifies by miracles that his doctrine comes from GOD.’—­Book V. chap. 9.

If infidelity be disingenuously dispersed in every shape that is likely to allure, surprise, or beguile the imagination,—­in a fable, a tale, a novel, a poem,—­in books of travels, of philosophy, of natural history,—­as Mr. Paley has well observed,—­I hope it is fair in me thus to meet such poison with an unexpected antidote, which I cannot doubt will be found powerful.  BOSWELL.  The ‘eloquent historian’ was Gibbon.  See Paley’s Principles, ed. 1786, p. 395.

[567] In The Life of Johnson (ante, iii. 113), Boswell quotes these words, without shewing that they are his own; but italicises not fervour, but loyalty.

[568] ‘Whose service is perfect freedom.’ Book of Common Prayer.

[569] See ante, i. 353, note 1.

[570] Ovid, Ars Amatoria, iii. 121.

[571]

     ’This facile temper of the beauteous sex
      Great Agamemnon, brave Pelides proved.’

These two lines follow the four which Boswell quotes. Agis, act iv.

[572] Agis, a tragedy, by John Home.  BOSWELL.

[573] See ante, p. 27.

[574] A misprint, I suppose, for designing.

[575] ’Next in dignity to the laird is the tacksman; a large taker or leaseholder of land, of which he keeps part as a domain in his own hand, and lets part to under-tenants.  The tacksman is necessarily a man capable of securing to the laird the whole rent, and is commonly a collateral relation.’  Johnson’s Works, ix. 82.

[576] A lettre de cachet.

[577] Ante, p. 159.

[578] ’It is related that at Dunvegan Lady Macleod, having poured out for Dr. Johnson sixteen cups of tea, asked him if a small basin would not save him trouble, and be more agreeable.  “I wonder, Madam,” answered he roughly, “why all the ladies ask me such questions.  It is to save yourselves trouble, Madam, and not me.”  The lady was silent and resumed her task.’  Northcote’s Reynolds, i. 81.

[579] ’In the garden-or rather the orchard which was formerly the garden-is a pretty cascade, divided into two branches, and called Rorie More’s Nurse, because he loved to be lulled to sleep by the sound of it.’  Lockhart’s Scott, iv. 304.