E.  ’I understand the hogshead of claret, which this society was favoured with by our friend the Dean, is nearly out; I think he should be written to, to send another of the same kind.  Let the request be made with a happy ambiguity of expression, so that we may have the chance of his sending it also as a present.’  Johnson.  ’I am willing to offer my services as secretary on this occasion.’  P.  ’As many as are for Dr. Johnson being secretary hold up your hands.—­Carried unanimously.’  Boswell.  ‘He will be our Dictator.’  Johnson.  ’No, the company is to dictate to me.  I am only to write for wine; and I am quite disinterested, as I drink none; I shall not be suspected of having forged the application.  I am no more than humble scribe.’  E.  ’Then you shall PREscribe.’  Boswell.  ‘Very well.  The first play of words to-day.’  J.  ‘No, no; the bulls in Ireland.’  Johnson.  ’Were I your Dictator you should have no wine.  It would be my business cavere ne quid detrimenti Respublica caperet, and wine is dangerous.  Rome was ruined by luxury,’ (smiling.) E.  ’If you allow no wine as Dictator, you shall not have me for your master of horse.’

On Saturday, April 4, I drank tea with Johnson at Dr. Taylor’s, where he had dined.

He was very silent this evening; and read in a variety of books:  suddenly throwing down one, and taking up another.

He talked of going to Streatham that night.  Taylor.  ’You’ll be robbed if you do:  or you must shoot a highwayman.  Now I would rather be robbed than do that; I would not shoot a highwayman.’  Johnson.  ’But I would rather shoot him in the instant when he is attempting to rob me, than afterwards swear against him at the Old-Bailey, to take away his life, after he has robbed me.  I am surer I am right in the one case than in the other.  I may be mistaken as to the man, when I swear:  I cannot be mistaken, if I shoot him in the act.  Besides, we feel less reluctance to take away a man’s life, when we are heated by the injury, than to do it at a distance of time by an oath, after we have cooled.’  Boswell.  ’So, Sir, you would rather act from the motive of private passion, than that of publick advantage.’  Johnson.  ’Nay, Sir, when I shoot the highwayman I act from both.’  Boswell.  ’Very well, very well—­There is no catching him.’  Johnson.  ’At the same time one does not know what to say.  For perhaps one may, a year after, hang himself from uneasiness for having shot a man.  Few minds are fit to be trusted with so great a thing.’  Boswell.  ‘Then, Sir, you would not shoot him?’ Johnson.  ’But I might be vexed afterwards for that too.’