We talked of sounds.  The General said, there was no beauty in a simple sound, but only in an harmonious composition of sounds.  I presumed to differ from this opinion, and mentioned the soft and sweet sound of a fine woman’s voice.  Johnson.  ’No, Sir, if a serpent or a toad uttered it, you would think it ugly.’  Boswell.  ’So you would think, Sir, were a beautiful tune to be uttered by one of those animals.’  Johnson.  ’No, Sir, it would be admired.  We have seen fine fiddlers whom we liked as little as toads.’ (laughing.)

While I remained in London this spring, I was with him at several other times, both by himself and in company.  I dined with him one day at the Crown and Anchor tavern, in the Strand, with Lord Elibank, Mr. Langton, and Dr. Vansittart of Oxford.  Without specifying each particular day, I have preserved the following memorable things.

I regretted the reflection in his Preface to Shakspeare against Garrick, to whom we cannot but apply the following passage:  ’I collated such copies as I could procure, and wished for more, but have not found the collectors of these rarities very communicative.’  I told him, that Garrick had complained to me of it, and had vindicated himself by assuring me, that Johnson was made welcome to the full use of his collection, and that he left the key of it with a servant, with orders to have a fire and every convenience for him.  I found Johnson’s notion was, that Garrick wanted to be courted for them, and that, on the contrary, Garrick should have courted him, and sent him the plays of his own accord.  But, indeed, considering the slovenly and careless manner in which books were treated by Johnson, it could not be expected that scarce and valuable editions should have been lent to him.

A gentleman* having to some of the usual arguments for drinking added this:  ’You know, Sir, drinking drives away care, and makes us forget whatever is disagreeable.  Would not you allow a man to drink for that reason?’ Johnson.  ‘Yes, Sir, if he sat next you.’

     * The gentleman most likely is Boswell.—­Hill.

A learned gentleman who in the course of conversation wished to inform us of this simple fact, that the Counsel upon the circuit at Shrewsbury were much bitten by fleas, took, I suppose, seven or eight minutes in relating it circumstantially.  He in a plenitude of phrase told us, that large bales of woollen cloth were lodged in the town-hall;—­that by reason of this, fleas nestled there in prodigious numbers; that the lodgings of the counsel were near to the town-hall;—­and that those little animals moved from place to place with wonderful agility.  Johnson sat in great impatience till the gentleman had finished his tedious narrative, and then burst out (playfully however), ’It is a pity, Sir, that you have not seen a lion; for a flea has taken you such a time, that a lion must have served you a twelvemonth.’