’His friend Garrick was so busy in conducting the drama, that they could not have so much intercourse as Mr. Garrick used to profess an anxious wish that there should be.  There might, indeed, be something in the contemptuous severity as to the merit of acting, which his old preceptor nourished in himself, that would mortify Garrick after the great applause which he received from the audience.  For though Johnson said of him, “Sir, a man who has a nation to admire him every night, may well be expected to be somewhat elated;” yet he would treat theatrical matters with a ludicrous slight.  He mentioned one evening, “I met David coming off the stage, drest in a woman’s riding-hood, when he acted in The Wonder; I came full upon him, and I believe he was not pleased."’

’Once he asked Tom Davies, whom he saw drest in a fine suit of clothes, “And what art thou to-night?” Tom answered, “The Thane of Ross;” (which it will be recollected is a very inconsiderable character.) “O brave!” said Johnson.

’Of Mr. Longley, at Rochester, a gentleman of very considerable learning, whom Dr. Johnson met there, he said, “My heart warms towards him.  I was surprised to find in him such a nice acquaintance with the metre in the learned languages; though I was somewhat mortified that I had it not so much to myself, as I should have thought."’

’Talking of the minuteness with which people will record the sayings of eminent persons, a story was told, that when Pope was on a visit to Spence at Oxford, as they looked from the window they saw a Gentleman Commoner, who was just come in from riding, amusing himself with whipping at a post.  Pope took occasion to say, “That young gentleman seems to have little to do.”  Mr. Beauclerk observed, “Then, to be sure, Spence turned round and wrote that down;” and went on to say to Dr. Johnson, “Pope, Sir, would have said the same of you, if he had seen you distilling.”  Johnson.  “Sir, if Pope had told me of my distilling, I would have told him of his grotto."’

’He would allow no settled indulgence of idleness upon principle, and always repelled every attempt to urge excuses for it.  A friend one day suggested, that it was not wholesome to study soon after dinner.  Johnson.  “Ah, Sir, don’t give way to such a fancy.  At one time of my life I had taken it into my head that it was not wholesome to study between breakfast and dinner."’

’Dr. Goldsmith, upon occasion of Mrs. Lennox’s bringing out a play, said to Dr. Johnson at the club, that a person had advised him to go and hiss it, because she had attacked Shakspeare in her book called Shakspeare Illustrated.  Johnson.  “And did not you tell him he was a rascal?” Goldsmith.  “No, Sir, I did not.  Perhaps he might not mean what he said.”  Johnson.  “Nay, Sir, if he lied, it is a different thing.”  Colman slily said, (but it is believed Dr. Johnson did not hear him,) “Then the proper expression should have been,—­Sir, if you don’t lie, you’re a rascal."’