He maintained the dignity and propriety of male succession, in opposition to the opinion of one of our friends, who had that day employed Mr. Chambers to draw his will, devising his estate to his three sisters, in preference to a remote heir male.  Johnson called them ‘three dowdies,’ and said, with as high a spirit as the boldest Baron in the most perfect days of the feudal system, ’An ancient estate should always go to males.  It is mighty foolish to let a stranger have it because he marries your daughter, and takes your name.  As for an estate newly acquired by trade, you may give it, if you will, to the dog Towser, and let him keep his own name.’

I have known him at times exceedingly diverted at what seemed to others a very small sport.  He now laughed immoderately, without any reason that we could perceive, at our friend’s making his will; called him the testator, and added, ’I dare say, he thinks he has done a mighty thing.  He won’t stay till he gets home to his seat in the country, to produce this wonderful deed:  he’ll call up the landlord of the first inn on the road; and, after a suitable preface upon mortality and the uncertainty of life, will tell him that he should not delay making his will; and here, Sir, will he say, is my will, which I have just made, with the assistance of one of the ablest lawyers in the kingdom; and he will read it to him (laughing all the time).  He believes he has made this will; but he did not make it:  you, Chambers, made it for him.  I trust you have had more conscience than to make him say, “being of sound understanding;” ha, ha, ha!  I hope he has left me a legacy.  I’d have his will turned into verse, like a ballad.’

Mr. Chambers did not by any means relish this jocularity upon a matter of which pars magna fuit, and seemed impatient till he got rid of us.  Johnson could not stop his merriment, but continued it all the way till we got without the Temple-gate.  He then burst into such a fit of laughter, that he appeared to be almost in a convulsion; and, in order to support himself, laid hold of one of the posts at the side of the foot pavement, and sent forth peals so loud, that in the silence of the night his voice seemed to resound from Temple-bar to Fleet-ditch.

This most ludicrous exhibition of the aweful, melancholy, and venerable Johnson, happened well to counteract the feelings of sadness which I used to experience when parting with him for a considerable time.  I accompanied him to his door, where he gave me his blessing.

’To James Boswell, Esq.

’Dear Sir,—­I shall set out from London on Friday the sixth of this month, and purpose not to loiter much by the way.  Which day I shall be at Edinburgh, I cannot exactly tell.  I suppose I must drive to an inn, and send a porter to find you.

’I am afraid Beattie will not be at his College soon enough for us, and I shall be sorry to miss him; but there is no staying for the concurrence of all conveniences.  We will do as well as we can.  I am, Sir, your most humble servant,