I had learnt that his place of frequent resort was the Mitre tavern in Fleet-street, where he loved to sit up late, and I begged I might be allowed to pass an evening with him there soon, which he promised I should.  A few days afterwards I met him near Temple-bar, about one o’clock in the morning, and asked if he would then go to the Mitre.  ’Sir, (said he) it is too late; they won’t let us in.  But I’ll go with you another night with all my heart.’

A revolution of some importance in my plan of life had just taken place; for instead of procuring a commission in the foot-guards, which was my own inclination, I had, in compliance with my father’s wishes, agreed to study the law, and was soon to set out for Utrecht, to hear the lectures of an excellent Civilian in that University, and then to proceed on my travels.  Though very desirous of obtaining Dr. Johnson’s advice and instructions on the mode of pursuing my studies, I was at this time so occupied, shall I call it? or so dissipated, by the amusements of London, that our next meeting was not till Saturday, June 25, when happening to dine at Clifton’s eating-house, in Butcher-row I was surprized to perceive Johnson come in and take his seat at another table.  The mode of dining, or rather being fed, at such houses in London, is well known to many to be particularly unsocial, as there is no Ordinary, or united company, but each person has his own mess, and is under no obligation to hold any intercourse with any one.  A liberal and full-minded man, however, who loves to talk, will break through this churlish and unsocial restraint.  Johnson and an Irish gentleman got into a dispute concerning the cause of some part of mankind being black.  ’Why, Sir, (said Johnson,) it has been accounted for in three ways:  either by supposing that they are the posterity of Ham, who was cursed; or that god at first created two kinds of men, one black and another white; or that by the heat of the sun the skin is scorched, and so acquires a sooty hue.  This matter has been much canvassed among naturalists, but has never been brought to any certain issue.’  What the Irishman said is totally obliterated from my mind; but I remember that he became very warm and intemperate in his expressions; upon which Johnson rose, and quietly walked away.  When he had retired, his antagonist took his revenge, as he thought, by saying, ’He has a most ungainly figure, and an affectation of pomposity, unworthy of a man of genius.’

Johnson had not observed that I was in the room.  I followed him, however, and he agreed to meet me in the evening at the Mitre.  I called on him, and we went thither at nine.  We had a good supper, and port wine, of which he then sometimes drank a bottle.  The orthodox high-church sound of the Mitre,—­the figure and manner of the celebrated Samuel Johnson,—­the extraordinary power and precision of his conversation, and the pride arising from finding myself admitted as his companion, produced a variety of sensations, and a pleasing elevation of mind beyond what I had ever before experienced.  I find in my journal the following minute of our conversation, which, though it will give but a very faint notion of what passed, is in some degree a valuable record; and it will be curious in this view, as shewing how habitual to his mind were some opinions which appear in his works.