attached to Addison’s previous reputation, one would not think much of it.  Had he written nothing else, his name would not have lived.  Addison does not seem to have gone deep in Italian literature:  he shews nothing of it in his subsequent writings.  He shews a great deal of French learning.  There is, perhaps, more knowledge circulated in the French language than in any other[839].  There is more original knowledge in English.’  ’But the French (said I) have the art of accommodating[840] literature.’  JOHNSON.  ’Yes, Sir:  we have no such book as Moreri’s Dictionary[841].’  BOSWELL.  ’Their Ana[842] are good.’  JOHNSON.  ’A few of them are good; but we have one book of that kind better than any of them; Selden’s Table-talk.  As to original literature, the French have a couple of tragick poets who go round the world, Racine and Corneille, and one comick poet, Moliere.’  BOSWELL.  ‘They have Fenelon.’  JOHNSON.  ’Why, Sir, Telemachus is pretty well.’  BOSWELL.  ‘And Voltaire, Sir.’  JOHNSON.  ’He has not stood his trial yet.  And what makes Voltaire chiefly circulate is collection; such as his Universal History.’  BOSWELL.  ’What do you say to the Bishop of Meaux?’ JOHNSON.  ‘Sir, nobody reads him[843].’  He would not allow Massilon and Bourdaloue to go round the world.  In general, however, he gave the French much praise for their industry.

He asked me whether he had mentioned, in any of the papers of the Rambler, the description in Virgil of the entrance into Hell, with an application to the press; ‘for (said he) I do not much remember them.’  I told him, ‘No.’  Upon which he repeated it:—­

     ’Vestibulum ante ipsum, primisque in faucibus orci,
      Luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae;
      Pallentesque habitant Morbi, tristisque Senectus,
      Et metus, et malesuada Fames, et turpis Egestas,
      Terribiles visu formae; Lethumque, Laborque[844].’

’Now, (said he) almost all these apply exactly to an authour:  all these are the concomitants of a printing-house.  I proposed to him to dictate an essay on it, and offered to write it.  He said, he would not do it then, but perhaps would write one at some future period.

The Sunday evening that we sat by ourselves at Aberdeen, I asked him several particulars of his life, from his early years, which he readily told me; and I wrote them down before him.  This day I proceeded in my inquiries, also writing them in his presence.  I have them on detached sheets.  I shall collect authentick materials for THE LIFE OF SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL.D.; and, if I survive him, I shall be one who will most faithfully do honour to his memory.  I have now a vast treasure of his conversation, at different times, since the year 1762[845], when I first obtained his acquaintance; and, by assiduous inquiry, I can make up for not knowing him sooner[846].

A Newcastle ship-master, who happened to be in the house, intruded himself upon us.  He was much in liquor, and talked nonsense about his being a man for Wilkes and Liberty, and against the ministry.  Dr. Johnson was angry, that ’a fellow should come into our company, who was fit for no company.’  He left us soon.