Talking of the good people with whom we were, he said, ’Life has not got at all forward by a generation in M’Sweyn’s family; for the son is exactly formed upon the father.  What the father says, the son says; and what the father looks, the son looks.’

There being little conversation to-night, I must endeavour to recollect what I may have omitted on former occasions.  When I boasted, at Rasay, of my independency of spirit, and that I could not be bribed, he said, ‘Yes, you may be bribed by flattery.’  At the Reverend Mr. M’Lean’s, Dr. Johnson asked him, if the people of Col had any superstitions.  He said, ‘No.’  The cutting peats at the increase of the moon was mentioned as one; but he would not allow it, saying, it was not a superstition, but a whim.  Dr. Johnson would not admit the distinction.  There were many superstitions, he maintained, not connected with religion; and this was one of them[825].  On Monday we had a dispute at the Captain’s, whether sand-hills could be fixed down by art.  Dr. Johnson said, ’How the devil can you do it?’ but instantly corrected himself, ’How can you do it[826]?’ I never before heard him use a phrase of that nature.

He has particularities which it is impossible to explain[827].  He never wears a night-cap, as I have already mentioned; but he puts a handkerchief on his head in the night.  The day that we left Talisker, he bade us ride on.  He then turned the head of his horse back towards Talisker, stopped for some time; then wheeled round to the same direction with ours, and then came briskly after us.  He sets open a window in the coldest day or night, and stands before it.  It may do with his constitution; but most people, amongst whom I am one, would say, with the frogs in the fable, ’This may be sport to you; but it is death to us.’  It is in vain to try to find a meaning in every one of his particularities, which, I suppose, are mere habits, contracted by chance; of which every man has some that are more or less remarkable.  His speaking to himself, or rather repeating, is a common habit with studious men accustomed to deep thinking; and, in consequence of their being thus rapt, they will even laugh by themselves, if the subject which they are musing on is a merry one.  Dr. Johnson is often uttering pious ejaculations, when he appears to be talking to himself; for sometimes his voice grows stronger, and parts of the Lord’s Prayer are heard[828].  I have sat beside him with more than ordinary reverence on such occasions[829].

In our Tour, I observed that he was disgusted whenever he met with coarse manners.  He said to me, ’I know not how it is, but I cannot bear low life[830]:  and I find others, who have as good a right as I to be fastidious, bear it better, by having mixed more with different sorts of men.  You would think that I have mixed pretty well too.’