We talked of the King’s coming to see Goldsmith’s new play.—­’I wish he would,’ said Goldsmith; adding, however, with an affected indifference, ‘Not that it would do me the least good.’  Johnson.  ’Well then, Sir, let us say it would do him good, (laughing.) No, Sir, this affectation will not pass;—­it is mighty idle.  In such a state as ours, who would not wish to please the Chief Magistrate?’ Goldsmith.  ’I do wish to please him.  I remember a line in Dryden,—­

     “And every poet is the monarch’s friend.”

It ought to be reversed.’  Johnson.  ’Nay, there are finer lines in Dryden on this subject:—­

     “For colleges on bounteous Kings depend,
     And never rebel was to arts a friend."’

General Paoli observed, that ‘successful rebels might.’  Martinelli.  ‘Happy rebellions.’  Goldsmith.  ‘We have no such phrase.’  General Paoli.  ‘But have you not the thing?’ Goldsmith.  ’Yes; all our happy revolutions.  They have hurt our constitution, and will hurt it, till we mend it by another happy revolution.’  I never before discovered that my friend Goldsmith had so much of the old prejudice in him.

General Paoli, talking of Goldsmith’s new play, said, ’Il a fait un compliment tres gracieux a une certaine grande dame;’ meaning a Duchess of the first rank.

I expressed a doubt whether Goldsmith intended it, in order that I might hear the truth from himself.  It, perhaps, was not quite fair to endeavour to bring him to a confession, as he might not wish to avow positively his taking part against the Court.  He smiled and hesitated.  The General at once relieved him, by this beautiful image:  ’Monsieur Goldsmith est comme la mer, qui jette des perles et beaucoup d’autres belles choses, sans s’en appercevoir.’  Goldsmith.  ’Tres bien dit et tres elegamment.’

A person was mentioned, who it was said could take down in short hand the speeches in parliament with perfect exactness.  Johnson.  ’Sir, it is impossible.  I remember one, Angel, who came to me to write for him a Preface or Dedication to a book upon short hand, and he professed to write as fast as a man could speak.  In order to try him, I took down a book, and read while he wrote; and I favoured him, for I read more deliberately than usual.  I had proceeded but a very little way, when he begged I would desist, for he could not follow me.’  Hearing now for the first time of this Preface or Dedication, I said, ’What an expense, Sir, do you put us to in buying books, to which you have written Prefaces or Dedications.’  Johnson.  ’Why, I have dedicated to the Royal family all round; that is to say, to the last generation of the Royal family.’  Goldsmith.  ’And perhaps, Sir, not one sentence of wit in a whole Dedication.’  Johnson.  ‘Perhaps not, Sir.’  Boswell.  ’What then is the reason for applying to a particular person to do that which any one may do as well?’ Johnson.  ’Why, Sir, one man has greater readiness at doing it than another.’