On Tuesday, March 19, which was fixed for our proposed jaunt, we met in the morning at the Somerset coffee-house in the Strand, where we were taken up by the Oxford coach.  He was accompanied by Mr. Gwyn, the architect; and a gentleman of Merton College, whom we did not know, had the fourth seat.  We soon got into conversation; for it was very remarkable of Johnson, that the presence of a stranger had no restraint upon his talk.  I observed that Garrick, who was about to quit the stage, would soon have an easier life.  Johnson.  ‘I doubt that, Sir.’  Boswell.  ‘Why, Sir, he will be Atlas with the burthen off his back.’  Johnson.  ’But I know not, Sir, if he will be so steady without his load.  However, he should never play any more, but be entirely the gentleman, and not partly the player:  he should no longer subject himself to be hissed by a mob, or to be insolently treated by performers, whom he used to rule with a high hand, and who would gladly retaliate.’  Boswell.  ’I think he should play once a year for the benefit of decayed actors, as it has been said he means to do.’  Johnson.  ’Alas, Sir! he will soon be a decayed actor himself.’

Johnson expressed his disapprobation of ornamental architecture, such as magnificent columns supporting a portico, or expensive pilasters supporting merely their own capitals, ’because it consumes labour disproportionate to its utility.’  For the same reason he satyrised statuary.  ’Painting (said he) consumes labour not disproportionate to its effect; but a fellow will hack half a year at a block of marble to make something in stone that hardly resembles a man.  The value of statuary is owing to its difficulty.  You would not value the finest head cut upon a carrot.’

Gwyn was a fine lively rattling fellow.  Dr. Johnson kept him in subjection, but with a kindly authority.  The spirit of the artist, however, rose against what he thought a Gothick attack, and he made a brisk defence.  ’What, Sir, will you allow no value to beauty in architecture or in statuary?  Why should we allow it then in writing?  Why do you take the trouble to give us so many fine allusions, and bright images, and elegant phrases?  You might convey all your instruction without these ornaments.’  Johnson smiled with complacency; but said, ’Why, Sir, all these ornaments are useful, because they obtain an easier reception for truth; but a building is not at all more convenient for being decorated with superfluous carved work.’

Gwyn at last was lucky enough to make one reply to Dr. Johnson, which he allowed to be excellent.  Johnson censured him for taking down a church which might have stood many years, and building a new one at a different place, for no other reason but that there might be a direct road to a new bridge; and his expression was, ’You are taking a church out of the way, that the people may go in a straight line to the bridge.’—­’No, Sir, (said Gwyn,) I am putting the church in the way, that the people may not go out of the way.’  Johnson. (with a hearty loud laugh of approbation,) ‘Speak no more.  Rest your colloquial fame upon this.’