THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7.

Captain M’Lean joined us this morning at breakfast.  There came on a dreadful storm of wind and rain, which continued all day, and rather increased at night.  The wind was directly against our getting to Mull.  We were in a strange state of abstraction from the world:  we could neither hear from our friends, nor write to them.  Col had brought Daille on the Fathers[800], Lucas on Happiness[801], and More’s Dialogues[802], from the Reverend Mr. M’Lean’s, and Burnet’s History of his own Times, from Captain M’Lean’s; and he had of his own some books of farming, and Gregory’s Geometry[803].  Dr. Johnson read a good deal of Burnet, and of Gregory, and I observed he made some geometrical notes in the end of his pocket-book.  I read a little of Young’s Six Weeks’ Tour through the Southern Counties; and Ovid’s Epistles, which I had bought at Inverness, and which helped to solace many a weary hour.

We were to have gone with Dr. Johnson this morning to see the mine; but were prevented by the storm.  While it was raging, he said, ’We may be glad we are not damnati ad metalla.’

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8.

Dr. Johnson appeared to-day very weary of our present confined situation.  He said, ’I want to be on the main land, and go on with existence.  This is a waste of life.’

I shall here insert, without regard to chronology, some of his conversation at different times.

’There was a man some time ago, who was well received for two years, among the gentlemen of Northamptonshire, by calling himself my brother.  At last he grew so impudent as by his influence to get tenants turned out of their farms.  Allen the Printer[804], who is of that county, came to me, asking, with much appearance of doubtfulness, if I had a brother; and upon being assured I had none alive, he told me of the imposition, and immediately wrote to the country, and the fellow was dismissed.  It pleased me to hear that so much was got by using my name.  It is not every name that can carry double; do both for a man’s self and his brother (laughing).  I should be glad to see the fellow.  However, I could have done nothing against him.  A man can have no redress for his name being used, or ridiculous stories being told of him in the newspapers, except he can shew that he has suffered damage.  Some years ago a foolish piece was published, said to be written by S. Johnson.  Some of my friends wanted me to be very angry about this.  I said, it would be in vain; for the answer would be, “S.  Johnson may be Simon Johnson, or Simeon Johnson, or Solomon Johnson;” and even if the full name, Samuel Johnson, had been used, it might be said; “it is not you; it is a much cleverer fellow.”