[1002] The unwilling gratitude of base mankind.  POPE. [Imitations of Horace, 2 Epis. i. 14.] BOSWELL.

[1003] Dr. Franklin (Memoirs, i. 246-253) gives a curious account of Lord Loudoun, who was general in America about the year 1756.  ‘Indecision,’ he says, ’was one of the strongest features of his character.’  He kept back the packet-boats from day to day because he could not make up his mind to send his despatches.  At one time there were three boats waiting, one of which was kept with cargo and passengers on board three months beyond its time.  Pitt at length recalled him, because ’he never heard from him, and could not know what he was doing.’

[1004] See Chalmers’s Biog.  Dict. xi. 161 for an account of a controversy about the identity of this writer with an historian of the same name.

[1005] He had paid but little attention to his own rule.  See ante, ii. 119.

[1006] ’I believe that for all the castles which I have seen beyond the Tweed, the ruins yet remaining of some one of those which the English built in Wales would supply Materials.’  Johnson’s Works, ix. 152.

[1007] See ante, p. 40, note 4.

[1008] Johnson described her as ’a lady who for many years gave the laws of elegance to Scotland.’ Piozzi Letters, i. 200.  Allan Ramsay dedicated to her his Gentle Shepherd, and W. Hamilton, of Bangour, wrote to her verses on the presentation of Ramsay’s poem.  Hamilton’s Poems, p. 23.

[1009] See ante, ii. 66, and iii. 188.

[1010] ’She called Boswell the boy:  “yes, Madam,” said I, “we will send him to school.”  “He is already,” said she, “in a good school;” and expressed her hope of his improvement.  At last night came, and I was sorry to leave her.’ Piozzi Letters, i. 200.  See ante, iii. 366.

[1011] See ante, pp. 318, 362.

[1012] Burns, who was in his fifteenth year, was at this time living at Ayr, about twelve miles away.  When later on he moved to Mauchline, he and Boswell became much nearer neighbours.

[1013] He had, however, married again. Ante, ii. 140, note I. It is curious that Boswell in this narrative does not mention his step-mother.

[1014]
     ’Asper
     Incolumi gravitate jocum tentavit.’ 
     ’Though rude his mirth, yet laboured to maintain
     The solemn grandeur of the tragic scene.’

FRANCIS.  Horace, Ars Poet. l. 221.

[1015] See ante, iii. 65, and v. 97.

[1016] See ante, iv. 163, 241.

[1017] Johnson (Works, vii. 425) says of Addison’s dedication of the opera of Rosamond to the Duchess of Marlborough, that ’it was an instance of servile absurdity, to be exceeded only by Joshua Barnes’s dedication of a Greek Anacreon to the Duke.’  For Barnes see ante, iii. 284, and iv. 19.