’I have been so distressed by difficulty of breathing, that I lost, as was computed, six-and-thirty ounces of blood in a few days.  I am better, but not well. . . .

’Mrs. Williams sends her compliments, and promises that when you come hither, she will accommodate you as well as ever she can in the old room.  She wishes to know whether you sent her book to Sir Alexander Gordon.

’My dear Boswell, do not neglect to write to me; for your kindness is one of the pleasures of my life, which I should be sorry to lose.  I am, Sir, your humble servant,

‘February 18, 1777.’

‘Sam.  Johnson.’

’To Dr. Samuel Johnson.

’Glasgow, April 24, 1777.

’My dear sir, . . .  My wife has made marmalade of oranges for you.  I left her and my daughters and Alexander all well yesterday.  I have taught Veronica to speak of you thus;—­Dr. JohnSON, not JohnSTON.  I remain, my dear Sir, your most affectionate, and obliged humble servant,

‘James Boswell.’

’To James Boswell, Esq.

’Dear sir, . . .  Tell Mrs. Boswell that I shall taste her marmalade cautiously at first.  Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes.  Beware, says the Italian proverb, of a reconciled enemy.  But when I find it does me no harm, I shall then receive it and be thankful for it, as a pledge of firm, and, I hope, of unalterable kindness.  She is, after all, a dear, dear lady. . . .

’I am, dear Sir, your most affectionate humble servant,

‘May 3, 1777.’

‘Sam.  Johnson.’

’To James Boswell, Esq.

’Southill, Sept. 26, 1777.

’Dear sir, You will find by this letter, that I am still in the same calm retreat, from the noise and bustle of London, as when I wrote to you last.  I am happy to find you had such an agreeable meeting with your old friend Dr. Johnson; I have no doubt your stock is much increased by the interview; few men, nay I may say, scarcely any man, has got that fund of knowledge and entertainment as Dr. Johnson in conversation.  When he opens freely, every one is attentive to what he says, and cannot fail of improvement as well as pleasure.

’The edition of The Poets, now printing, will do honour to the English press; and a concise account of the life of each authour, by Dr. Johnson, will be a very valuable addition, and stamp the reputation of this edition superiour to any thing that is gone before.  The first cause that gave rise to this undertaking, I believe, was owing to the little trifling edition of The Poets, printing by the Martins, at Edinburgh, and to be sold by Bell, in London.  Upon examining the volumes which were printed, the type was found so extremely small, that many persons could not read them; not only this inconvenience attended it, but the inaccuracy of the press was very conspicuous.  These reasons, as well as the idea of an invasion of what we call our Literary Property, induced the London Booksellers to print an elegant and accurate edition of all the English Poets of reputation, from Chaucer to the present time.