On Sunday, April 12, I found him at home before dinner.  He and I, and Mrs. Williams, went to dine with the Reverend Dr. Percy.

And here I shall record a scene of too much heat between Dr. Johnson and Dr. Percy, which I should have suppressed, were it not that it gave occasion to display the truely tender and benevolent heart of Johnson, who, as soon as he found a friend was at all hurt by any thing which he had ‘said in his wrath,’ was not only prompt and desirous to be reconciled, but exerted himself to make ample reparation.

Books of Travels having been mentioned, Johnson praised Pennant very highly, as he did at Dunvegan, in the Isle of Sky.  Dr. Percy, knowing himself to be the heir male of the ancient Percies, and having the warmest and most dutiful attachment to the noble House of Northumberland, could not sit quietly and hear a man praised, who had spoken disrespectfully of Alnwick-Castle and the Duke’s pleasure grounds, especially as he thought meanly of his travels.  He therefore opposed Johnson eagerly.  Johnson.  ’Pennant in what he has said of Alnwick, has done what he intended; he has made you very angry.’  Percy.  ’He has said the garden is trim, which is representing it like a citizen’s parterre, when the truth is, there is a very large extent of fine turf and gravel walks.’  Johnson.  ’According to your own account, Sir, Pennant is right.  It is trim.  Here is grass cut close, and gravel rolled smooth.  Is not that trim?  The extent is nothing against that; a mile may be as trim as a square yard.  Your extent puts me in mind of the citizen’s enlarged dinner, two pieces of roast-beef, and two puddings.  There is no variety, no mind exerted in laying out the ground, no trees.’  Percy.  ’He pretends to give the natural history of Northumberland, and yet takes no notice of the immense number of trees planted there of late.’  Johnson.  ’That, Sir, has nothing to do with the natural history; that is civil history.  A man who gives the natural history of the oak, is not to tell how many oaks have been planted in this place or that.  A man who gives the natural history of the cow, is not to tell how many cows are milked at Islington.  The animal is the same, whether milked in the Park or at Islington.’  Percy.  ’Pennant does not describe well; a carrier who goes along the side of Loch-lomond would describe it better.’  Johnson.  ‘I think he describes very well.’  Percy.  ‘I travelled after him.’  Johnson.  ‘And I travelled after him.’  Percy.  ’But, my good friend, you are short-sighted, and do not see so well as I do.’  I wondered at Dr. Percy’s venturing thus.  Dr. Johnson said nothing at the time; but inflammable particles were collecting for a cloud to burst.  In a little while Dr. Percy said something more in disparagement of Pennant.  Johnson. (pointedly,) ’This is the resentment of a narrow mind, because he did