As I wandered with my reverend friend in the groves of Auchinleck, I told him, that, if I survived him, it was my intention to erect a monument to him here, among scenes which, in my mind, were all classical; for in my youth I had appropriated to them many of the descriptions of the Roman poets.  He could not bear to have death presented to him in any shape; for his constitutional melancholy made the king of terrours more frightful.  He turned off the subject, saying, ‘Sir, I hope to see your grand-children!’

This forenoon he observed some cattle without horns, of which he has taken notice in his Journey[1033], and seems undecided whether they be of a particular race.  His doubts appear to have had no foundation; for my respectable neighbour, Mr. Fairlie, who, with all his attention to agriculture, finds time both for the classicks and his friends, assures me they are a distinct species, and that, when any of their calves have horns, a mixture of breed can be traced.  In confirmation of his opinion, he pointed out to me the following passage in Tacitus,—­’Ne armentis quidem suus honor, aut gloria frontis[1034];’ (De mor.  Germ.  Sec. 5) which he wondered had escaped Dr. Johnson.

On the front of the house of Auchinleck is this inscription:—­

     ’Quod petis, hic est;
     Est Ulubris; animus si te non deficit aequus[1035].’

It is characteristick of the founder; but the animus aequus is, alas! not inheritable, nor the subject of devise.  He always talked to me as if it were in a man’s own power to attain it; but Dr. Johnson told me that he owned to him, when they were alone, his persuasion that it was in a great measure constitutional, or the effect of causes which do not depend on ourselves, and that Horace boasts too much, when he says, aequum mi animum ipse parabo[1036].

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5.

The Reverend Mr. Dun, our parish minister, who had dined with us yesterday, with some other company, insisted that Dr. Johnson and I should dine with him to-day.  This gave me an opportunity to shew my friend the road to the church, made by my father at a great expence, for above three miles, on his own estate, through a range of well enclosed farms, with a row of trees on each side of it.  He called it the Via sacra, and was very fond of it.[1037]Dr. Johnson, though he held notions far distant from those of the Presbyterian clergy, yet could associate on good terms with them.  He indeed occasionally attacked them.  One of them discovered a narrowness of information concerning the dignitaries of the Church of England, among whom may be found men of the greatest learning, virtue, and piety, and of a truly apostolic character.  He talked before Dr. Johnson, of fat bishops and drowsy deans; and, in short, seemed to believe the illiberal and profane scoffings of professed satyrists, or vulgar railers.  Dr. Johnson was so highly offended, that he said to him, ’Sir, you know no more of our Church than a Hottentot[1038].’  I was sorry that he brought this upon himself.