Mr. Wilkes held a candle to shew a fine print of a beautiful female figure which hung in the room, and pointed out the elegant contour of the bosom with the finger of an arch connoisseur.  He afterwards, in a conversation with me, waggishly insisted, that all the time Johnson shewed visible signs of a fervent admiration of the corresponding charms of the fair Quaker.

This record, though by no means so perfect as I could wish, will serve to give a notion of a very curious interview, which was not only pleasing at the time, but had the agreeable and benignant effect of reconciling any animosity, and sweetening any acidity, which in the various bustle of political contest, had been produced in the minds of two men, who though widely different, had so many things in common—­classical learning, modern literature, wit, and humour, and ready repartee—­that it would have been much to be regretted if they had been for ever at a distance from each other.

Mr. Burke gave me much credit for this successful negociation; and pleasantly said, that ’there was nothing to equal it in the whole history of the Corps Diplomatique.’

I attended Dr. Johnson home, and had the satisfaction to hear him tell Mrs. Williams how much he had been pleased with Mr. Wilkes’s company, and what an agreeable day he had passed.

I talked a good deal to him of the celebrated Margaret Caroline Rudd, whom I had visited, induced by the fame of her talents, address, and irresistible power of fascination.  To a lady who disapproved of my visiting her, he said on a former occasion, ’Nay, Madam, Boswell is in the right; I should have visited her myself, were it not that they have now a trick of putting every thing into the news-papers.’  This evening he exclaimed, ‘I envy him his acquaintance with Mrs. Rudd.’

On the evening of the next day I took leave of him, being to set out for Scotland.  I thanked him with great warmth for all his kindness.  ’Sir, (said he,) you are very welcome.  Nobody repays it with more.

The following letters concerning an Epitaph which he wrote for the monument of Dr. Goldsmith, in Westminster-Abbey, afford at once a proof of his unaffected modesty, his carelessness as to his own writings, and of the great respect which he entertained for the taste and judgement of the excellent and eminent person to whom they are addressed: 

TO SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS.

Dear sir,—­I have been kept away from you, I know not well how, and of these vexatious hindrances I know not when there will be an end.  I therefore send you the poor dear Doctor’s epitaph.  Read it first yourself; and if you then think it right, shew it to the Club.  I am, you know, willing to be corrected.  If you think any thing much amiss, keep it to yourself, till we come together.  I have sent two copies, but prefer the card.  The dates must be settled by Dr. Percy.  I am, Sir, your most humble servant,