On Friday, April 3, I dined with him in London, in a company* where were present several eminent men, whom I shall not name, but distinguish their parts in the conversation by different letters.

     * The Club.  Hill identifies E. as Burke and J. as Sir
     Joshua Reynolds.—­Ed.

E.  ’We hear prodigious complaints at present of emigration.  I am convinced that emigration makes a country more populous.’  J.  ’That sounds very much like a paradox.’  E.  ’Exportation of men, like exportation of all other commodities, makes more be produced.’  Johnson.  ’But there would be more people were there not emigration, provided there were food for more.’  E.  ’No; leave a few breeders, and you’ll have more people than if there were no emigration.’  Johnson.  ’Nay, Sir, it is plain there will be more people, if there are more breeders.  Thirty cows in good pasture will produce more calves than ten cows, provided they have good bulls.’  E.  ‘There are bulls enough in Ireland.’  Johnson. (smiling,) ‘So, Sir, I should think from your argument.’

E.  ’I believe, in any body of men in England, I should have been in the Minority; I have always been in the Minority.’  P.  ’The House of Commons resembles a private company.  How seldom is any man convinced by another’s argument; passion and pride rise against it.’  R.  ’What would be the consequence, if a Minister, sure of a majority in the House of Commons, should resolve that there should be no speaking at all upon his side.’  E.  ’He must soon go out.  That has been tried; but it was found it would not do.’ . . . .

Johnson.  ’I have been reading Thicknesse’s Travels, which I think are entertaining.’  Boswell.  ‘What, Sir, a good book?’ Johnson.  ’Yes, Sir, to read once; I do not say you are to make a study of it, and digest it; and I believe it to be a true book in his intention.’

E.  ’From the experience which I have had,—­and I have had a great deal,—­I have learnt to think better of mankind.’  Johnson.  ’From my experience I have found them worse in commercial dealings, more disposed to cheat, than I had any notion of; but more disposed to do one another good than I had conceived.’  J.  ‘Less just and more beneficent.’  Johnson.  ’And really it is wonderful, considering how much attention is necessary for men to take care of themselves, and ward off immediate evils which press upon them, it is wonderful how much they do for others.  As it is said of the greatest liar, that he tells more truth than falsehood; so it may be said of the worst man, that he does more good than evil.’  Boswell.  ’Perhaps from experience men may be found happier than we suppose.’  Johnson.  ’No, Sir; the more we enquire, we shall find men the less happy.’