’The Honourable ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL was, I believe, the Nephew[958] of the Marquis of Argyle.  He began life by engaging in Monmouth’s rebellion, and, to escape the law, lived some time in Surinam.  When he returned, he became zealous for episcopacy and monarchy; and at the Revolution adhered not only to the Nonjurors, but to those who refused to communicate with the Church of England, or to be present at any worship where the usurper was mentioned as king.  He was, I believe, more than once apprehended in the reign of King William, and once at the accession of George.  He was the familiar friend of Hicks[959] and Nelson[960]; a man of letters, but injudicious; and very curious and inquisitive, but credulous.  He lived[961] in 1743, or 44, about 75 years old.’ The subject of luxury having been introduced, Dr. Johnson defended it.  ’We have now (said he) a splendid dinner before us; which of all these dishes is unwholesome?’ The duke asserted, that he had observed the grandees of Spain diminished in their size by luxury.  Dr. Johnson politely refrained from opposing directly an observation which the duke himself had made; but said, ’Man must be very different from other animals, if he is diminished by good living; for the size of all other animals is increased by it[962].’  I made some remark that seemed to imply a belief in second sight.  The duchess said, ’I fancy you will be a Methodist.’  This was the only sentence her grace deigned to utter to me; and I take it for granted, she thought it a good hit on my credulity in the Douglas cause.

A gentleman in company, after dinner, was desired by the duke to go to another room, for a specimen of curious marble, which his grace wished to shew us.  He brought a wrong piece, upon which the duke sent him back again.  He could not refuse; but, to avoid any appearance of servility, he whistled as he walked out of the room, to shew his independency.  On my mentioning this afterwards to Dr. Johnson, he said, it was a nice trait of character.

Dr. Johnson talked a great deal, and was so entertaining, that Lady Betty Hamilton, after dinner, went and placed her chair close to his, leaned upon the back of it, and listened eagerly.  It would have made a fine picture to have drawn the Sage and her at this time in their several attitudes.  He did not know, all the while, how much he was honoured.  I told him afterwards.  I never saw him so gentle and complaisant as this day.

We went to tea.  The duke and I walked up and down the drawing-room, conversing.  The duchess still continued to shew the same marked coldness for me; for which, though I suffered from it, I made every allowance, considering the very warm part that I had taken for Douglas, in the cause in which she thought her son deeply interested.  Had not her grace discovered some displeasure towards me, I should have suspected her of insensibility or dissimulation.