I talked of the recent expulsion of six students from the University of Oxford, who were methodists and would not desist from publickly praying and exhorting.  Johnson.  ’Sir, that expulsion was extremely just and proper.  What have they to do at an University who are not willing to be taught, but will presume to teach?  Where is religion to be learnt but at an University?  Sir, they were examined, and found to be mighty ignorant fellows.’  Boswell.  ’But, was it not hard, Sir, to expel them, for I am told they were good beings?’ Johnson.  ’I believe they might be good beings; but they were not fit to be in the University of Oxford.  A cow is a very good animal in the field; but we turn her out of a garden.’  Lord Elibank used to repeat this as an illustration uncommonly happy.

Desirous of calling Johnson forth to talk, and exercise his wit, though I should myself be the object of it, I resolutely ventured to undertake the defence of convivial indulgence in wine, though he was not to-night in the most genial humour.  After urging the common plausible topicks, I at last had recourse to the maxim, in vino veritas, a man who is well warmed with wine will speak truth.  Johnson.  ’Why, Sir, that may be an argument for drinking, if you suppose men in general to be liars.  But, Sir, I would not keep company with a fellow, who lyes as long as he is sober, and whom you must make drunk before you can get a word of truth out of him.’

At this time it appears from his Prayers and Meditations, that he had been more than commonly diligent in religious duties, particularly in reading the Holy Scriptures.  It was Passion Week, that solemn season which the Christian world has appropriated to the commemoration of the mysteries of our redemption, and during which, whatever embers of religion are in our breasts, will be kindled into pious warmth.

I paid him short visits both on Friday and Saturday, and seeing his large folio Greek Testament before him, beheld him with a reverential awe, and would not intrude upon his time.  While he was thus employed to such good purpose, and while his friends in their intercourse with him constantly found a vigorous intellect and a lively imagination, it is melancholy to read in his private register, ’My mind is unsettled and my memory confused.  I have of late turned my thoughts with a very useless earnestness upon past incidents.  I have yet got no command over my thoughts; an unpleasing incident is almost certain to hinder my rest.’  What philosophick heroism was it in him to appear with such manly fortitude to the world while he was inwardly so distressed!  We may surely believe that the mysterious principle of being ’made perfect through suffering’ was to be strongly exemplified in him.

On Sunday, April 19, being Easter-day, General Paoli and I paid him a visit before dinner.