people; who, from fear of his power, and hopes of his favour, and admiration of his talents, were constantly submissive to him.  And here is a man who has advanced the dignity of his profession.  Garrick has made a player a higher character.’  Scott.  ‘And he is a very sprightly writer too.’  Johnson.  ’Yes, Sir; and all this supported by great wealth of his own acquisition.  If all this had happened to me, I should have had a couple of fellows with long poles walking before me, to knock down every body that stood in the way.  Consider, if all this had happened to Cibber or Quin, they’d have jumped over the moon—­Yet Garrick speaks to us.’ (smiling.) Boswell.  ‘And Garrick is a very good man, a charitable man.’  Johnson.  ’Sir, a liberal man.  He has given away more money than any man in England.  There may be a little vanity mixed; but he has shewn, that money is not his first object.’  Boswell.  ’Yet Foote used to say of him, that he walked out with an intention to do a generous action; but, turning the corner of a street, he met with the ghost of a half-penny, which frightened him.’  Johnson.  ’Why, Sir, that is very true, too; for I never knew a man of whom it could be said with less certainty to-day, what he will do to-morrow, than Garrick; it depends so much on his humour at the time.’  Scott.  ’I am glad to hear of his liberality.  He has been represented as very saving.’  Johnson.  ’With his domestick saving we have nothing to do.  I remember drinking tea with him long ago, when Peg Woffington made it, and he grumbled at her for making it too strong.* He had then begun to feel money in his purse, and did not know when he should have enough of it.’

* When Johnson told this little anecdote to Sir Joshua Reynolds, he mentioned a circumstance which he omitted to-day:—­’Why, (said Garrick,) it is as red as blood.’  —­Boswell

We talked of war.  Johnson.  ’Every man thinks meanly of himself for not having been a soldier, or not having been at sea.’  Boswell.  ’Lord Mansfield does not.’  Johnson.  ’Sir, if Lord Mansfield were in a company of General Officers and Admirals who have been in service, he would shrink; he’d wish to creep under the table.’  Boswell.  ’No; he’d think he could try them all.’  Johnson.  ’Yes, if he could catch them:  but they’d try him much sooner.  No, Sir; were Socrates and Charles the Twelfth of Sweden both present in any company, and Socrates to say, “Follow me, and hear a lecture on philosophy;” and Charles, laying his hand on his sword, to say, “Follow me, and dethrone the Czar;” a man would be ashamed to follow Socrates.  Sir, the impression is universal; yet it is strange.’

He talked of Mr. Charles Fox, of whose abilities he thought highly, but observed, that he did not talk much at our club.  I have heard Mr. Gibbon remark, ’that Mr. Fox could not be afraid of Dr. Johnson; yet he certainly was very shy of saying any thing in Dr. Johnson’s presence.’