’For hospitality, as formerly practised, there is no longer the same reason; heretofore the poorer people were more numerous, and from want of commerce, their means of getting a livelihood more difficult; therefore the supporting them was an act of great benevolence; now that the poor can find maintenance for themselves, and their labour is wanted, a general undiscerning hospitality tends to ill, by withdrawing them from their work to idleness and drunkenness.  Then, formerly rents were received in kind, so that there was a great abundance of provisions in possession of the owners of the lands, which, since the plenty of money afforded by commerce, is no longer the case.’

’Hospitality to strangers and foreigners in our country is now almost at an end, since, from the increase of them that come to us, there have been a sufficient number of people that have found an interest in providing inns and proper accommodations, which is in general a more expedient method for the entertainment of travellers.  Where the travellers and strangers are few, more of that hospitality subsists, as it has not been worth while to provide places of accommodation.  In Ireland there is still hospitality to strangers, in some degree; in Hungary and Poland probably more.’

’Colman, in a note on his translation of Terence, talking of Shakspeare’s learning, asks, “What says Farmer to this?  What says Johnson[63]?” Upon this he observed, “Sir, let Farmer answer for himself:  I never engaged in this controversy.  I always said, Shakspeare had Latin enough to grammaticise his English[64]."’

’A clergyman, whom he characterised as one who loved to say little oddities, was affecting one day, at a Bishop’s table, a sort of slyness and freedom not in character, and repeated, as if part of The Old Mans Wish, a song by Dr. Walter Pope, a verse bordering on licentiousness.  Johnson rebuked him in the finest manner, by first shewing him that he did not know the passage he was aiming at, and thus humbling him:  “Sir, that is not the song:  it is thus.”  And he gave it right.  Then looking stedfastly on him, “Sir, there is a part of that song which I should wish to exemplify in my own life:—­

“May I govern my passions with absolute sway[65]!"’

’Being asked if Barnes knew a good deal of Greek, he answered, “I doubt, Sir, he was unoculus inter caecos[66]."’

’He used frequently to observe, that men might be very eminent in a profession, without our perceiving any particular power of mind in them in conversation.  “It seems strange (said he) that a man should see so far to the right, who sees so short a way to the left.  Burke is the only man whose common conversation corresponds with the general fame which he has in the world.  Take up whatever topick you please, he is ready to meet you[67]."’