We talked of Sir Adolphus Oughton[391].  The Major said, he knew a great deal for a military man.  JOHNSON.  ’Sir, you will find few men, of any profession, who know more.  Sir Adolphus is a very extraordinary man; a man of boundless curiosity and unwearied diligence.’

I know not how the Major contrived to introduce the contest between Warburton and Lowth.  JOHNSON.  ’Warburton kept his temper all along, while Lowth was in a passion.  Lowth published some of Warburton’s letters.  Warburton drew him on to write some very abusive letters, and then asked his leave to publish them; which he knew Lowth could not refuse, after what he had done.  So that Warburton contrived that he should publish, apparently with Lowth’s consent, what could not but shew Lowth in a disadvantageous light[392].’

At three the drum beat for dinner.  I, for a little while, fancied myself a military man, and it pleased me.  We went to Sir Eyre Coote’s, at the governour’s house, and found him a most gentleman-like man.  His lady is a very agreeable woman, with an uncommonly mild and sweet tone of voice.  There was a pretty large company:  Mr. Ferne, Major Brewse, and several officers.  Sir Eyre had come from the East-Indies by land, through the Desarts of Arabia.  He told us, the Arabs could live five days without victuals, and subsist for three weeks on nothing else but the blood of their camels, who could lose so much of it as would suffice for that time, without being exhausted.  He highly praised the virtue of the Arabs; their fidelity, if they undertook to conduct any person; and said, they would sacrifice their lives rather than let him be robbed.  Dr. Johnson, who is always for maintaining the superiority of civilized over uncivilized men[393], said, ’Why, Sir, I can see no superiour virtue in this.  A serjeant and twelve men, who are my guard, will die, rather than that I shall be robbed.’  Colonel Pennington, of the 37th regiment, took up the argument with a good deal of spirit and ingenuity.  PENNINGTON.  ’But the soldiers are compelled to this by fear of punishment.  ’JOHNSON.  ’Well, Sir, the Arabs are compelled by the fear of infamy.’  PENNINGTON.  ’The soldiers have the same fear of infamy, and the fear of punishment besides; so have less virtue; because they act less voluntarily.’  Lady Coote observed very well, that it ought to be known if there was not, among the Arabs, some punishment for not being faithful on such occasions.

We talked of the stage.  I observed, that we had not now such a company of actors as in the last age; Wilks[394], Booth[395], &c. &c.  JOHNSON.  ’You think so, because there is one who excels all the rest so much:  you compare them with Garrick, and see the deficiency.  Garrick’s great distinction is his universality[396].  He can represent all modes of life, but that of an easy fine bred gentleman[397].’  PENNINGTON.  ’He should give over playing young parts.’  JOHNSON.  ’He does not take them now; but he does not leave off those