’Of Mrs. Boswell, though she knows in her heart that she does not love me, I am always glad to hear any good, and hope that she and the little dear ladies will have neither sickness nor any other affliction.  But she knows that she does not care what becomes of me, and for that she may be sure that I think her very much to blame.

’Never, my dear Sir, do you take it into your head to think that I do not love you; you may settle yourself in full confidence both of my love and my esteem; I love you as a kind man, I value you as a worthy man, and hope in time to reverence you as a man of exemplary piety.  I hold you, as Hamlet has it, “in my heart of hearts,” and therefore, it is little to say, that I am, Sir, your affectionate humble servant,

‘Sam.  Johnson.’

‘London, Aug. 27, 1775.’

     * My Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, which that lady read
     in the original manuscript.—­Boswell.

’To Mr. Robert Levet.

’Paris,* Oct. 22, 1775.

’Dear sir,—­We are still here, commonly very busy in looking about us.  We have been to-day at Versailles.  You have seen it, and I shall not describe it.  We came yesterday from Fontainbleau, where the Court is now.  We went to see the King and Queen at dinner, and the Queen was so impressed by Miss,** that she sent one of the Gentlemen to enquire who she was.  I find all true that you have ever told me of Paris.  Mr. Thrale is very liberal, and keeps us two coaches, and a very fine table; but I think our cookery very bad.  Mrs. Thrale got into a convent of English nuns; and I talked with her through the grate, and I am very kindly used by the English Benedictine friars.  But upon the whole I cannot make much acquaintance here; and though the churches, palaces, and some private houses are very magnificent, there is no very great pleasure after having seen many, in seeing more; at least the pleasure, whatever it be, must some time have an end, and we are beginning to think when we shall come home.  Mr. Thrale calculates that, as we left Streatham on the fifteenth of September, we shall see it again about the fifteenth of November.

     * Written from a tour in France with the Thrales, Johnson’s
     only visit to the Continent.—­Ed.

     ** Miss Thrale.

’I think I had not been on this side of the sea five days before I found a sensible improvement in my health.  I ran a race in the rain this day, and beat Baretti.  Baretti is a fine fellow, and speaks French, I think, quite as well as English.

’Make my compliments to Mrs. Williams; and give my love to Francis; and tell my friends that I am not lost.  I am, dear Sir, your affectionate humble, &c.

‘Sam.  Johnson.’

It is to be regretted that he did not write an account of his travels in France; for as he is reported to have once said, that ’he could write the Life of a Broomstick,’ so, notwithstanding so many former travellers have exhausted almost every subject for remark in that great kingdom, his very accurate observation, and peculiar vigour of thought and illustration, would have produced a valuable work.