Having taken the liberty, this evening, to remark to Dr. Johnson, that he very often sat quite silent for a long time, even when in company with only a single friend, which I myself had sometimes sadly experienced, he smiled and said, ’It is true, Sir[220].  Tom Tyers, (for so he familiarly called our ingenious friend, who, since his death, has paid a biographical tribute to his memory[221],) Tom Tyers described me the best.  He once said to me, “Sir, you are like a ghost:  you never speak till you are spoken to[222]."’

SATURDAY, AUGUST 31.

Neither the Rev. Mr. Nisbet, the established minister, nor the Rev. Mr. Spooner, the episcopal minister, were in town.  Before breakfast, we went and saw the town-hall, where is a good dancing-room, and other rooms for tea-drinking.  The appearance of the town from it is very well; but many of the houses are built with their ends to the street, which looks awkward.  When we came down from it, I met Mr. Gleg, a merchant here.  He went with us to see the English chapel.  It is situated on a pretty dry spot, and there is a fine walk to it.  It is really an elegant building, both within and without.  The organ is adorned with green and gold.  Dr. Johnson gave a shilling extraordinary to the clerk, saying, ’He belongs to an honest church[223].’  I put him in mind, that episcopals were but dissenters here; they were only tolerated.  ’Sir, (said he,) we are here, as Christians in Turkey.’  He afterwards went into an apothecary’s shop, and ordered some medicine for himself, and wrote the prescription in technical characters.  The boy took him for a physician[224].

I doubted much which road to take, whether to go by the coast, or by Laurence Kirk and Monboddo.  I knew Lord Monboddo and Dr. Johnson did not love each other[225]; yet I was unwilling not to visit his Lordship; and was also curious to see them together[226].  I mentioned my doubts to Dr. Johnson, who said, he would go two miles out of his way to see Lord Monboddo[227].  I therefore sent Joseph forward with the following note:—­

’Montrose, August 21.

’My Dear Lord,

’Thus far I am come with Mr. Samuel Johnson.  We must be at Aberdeen to-night.  I know you do not admire him so much as I do; but I cannot be in this country without making you a bow at your old place, as I do not know if I may again have an opportunity of seeing Monboddo.  Besides, Mr. Johnson says, he would go two miles out of his way to see Lord Monboddo.  I have sent forward my servant, that we may know if your lordship be at home.

’I am ever, my dear lord,

’Most sincerely yours,

‘JAMES BOSWELL.’

As we travelled onwards from Montrose, we had the Grampion hills in our view, and some good land around us, but void of trees and hedges.  Dr. Johnson has said ludicrously, in his Journey, that the hedges were of stone[228]; for, instead of the verdant thorn to refresh the eye, we found the bare wall or dike intersecting the prospect.  He observed, that it was wonderful to see a country so divested, so denuded of trees.