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of our literature was extensive is indisputable。 But； unfortunately； he had
altogether neglected that very part of our literature with which it is
especially desirable that an editor of Shakspeare should be conversant。 It is
dangerous to assert a negative。 Yet little will be risked by the assertion；
that in the two folio volumes of the English Dictionary there is not a single
passage quoted from any dramatist of the Elizabethan age； except
Shakspeare and Ben。 Even from Ben the quotations are few。 Johnson
might easily； in a few months； have made himself well acquainted with
every old play that was extant。 But it never seems to have occurred to him
that this was a necessary preparation for the work which he had
undertaken。 He would doubtless have admitted that it would be the height
of absurdity in a man who was not familiar with the works of Aeschylus
and Euripides to publish an edition of Sophocles。 Yet he ventured to
publish an edition of Shakspeare； without having ever in his life； as far as
can be discovered； read a single scene of Massinger； Ford； Decker；
Webster； Marlow； Beaumont； or Fletcher。 His detractors were noisy and
scurrilous。 Those who most loved and honoured him had little to say in
praise of the manner in which he had discharged the duty of a
commentator。 He had； however； acquitted himself of a debt which had
long lain on his conscience； and he sank back into the repose from which
the sting of satire had roused him。 He long continued to live upon the fame
which he had already won。 He was honoured by the University of Oxford
with a Doctor's degree； by the Royal Academy with a professorship； and
by the King with an interview； in which his Majesty most graciously
expressed a hope that so excellent a writer would not cease to write。 In the
interval； however； between 1765 and 1775 Johnson published only two or
three political tracks； the longest of which he could have produced in
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
forty…eight hours； if he had worked as he worked on the life of Savage and
on Rasselas。
But； though his pen was now idle； his tongue was active。 The influence
exercised by his conversation； directly upon those with whom he lived；
and indirectly on the whole literary world； was altogether without a
parallel。 His colloquial talents were indeed of the highest order。 He had
strong sense； quick discernment； wit； humour； immense knowledge of
literature and of life； and an infinite store of curious anecdotes。 As
respected style； he spoke far better than he wrote。 Every sentence which
dropped from his lips was as correct in structure as the most nicely
balanced period of the Rambler。 But in his talk there was no pompous
triads； and little more than a fair proportion of words in 〃osity〃 and 〃ation〃。
All was simplicity； ease； and vigour。 He uttered his short； weighty； and
pointed sentences with a power of voice； and a justness and energy of
emphasis； of which the effect was rather increased than diminished by the
rollings of his huge form； and by the asthmatic gaspings and puffings in
which the peals of his eloquence generally ended。 Nor did the laziness
which made him unwilling to sit down to his desk prevent him from
giving instruction or entertainment orally。 To discuss questions of taste； of
learning； casuistry； in language so exact and so forcible that it might have
been printed without the alteration of a word； was to him no exertion； but a
pleasure。 He loved； as he said； to fold his legs and have his talk out。 He
was ready to bestow the overflowings of his full mind on anybody who
would start a subject； on a fellow…passenger in a stage coach； or on the
person who sate at the same table with him in an eating…house。 But his
conversation was nowhere so brilliant and striking as when he was
surrounded by a few friends； whose abilities and knowledge enabled them；
as he once expressed it； to send him back every ball that he threw。 Some of
these； in 1764； formed themselves into a club； which gradually became a
formidable power in the commonwealth of letters。 The verdicts
pronounced by this conclave on new books were speedily known over all
London； and were sufficient to sell off a whole edition in a day； or to
condemn the sheets to the service of the trunk…maker and the pastry…cook。
Nor shall we think this strange when we consider what great and various
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talents and acquirements met in the little fraternity。 Goldsmith was the
representative of poetry and light literature； Reynolds of the arts； Burke of
political eloquence and political philosophy。 There； too； were Gibbon； the
greatest historian； and Jones； the greatest linguist； of the age。 Garrick
brought to the meetings his inexhaustible pleasantry； his incomparable
mimicry； and his consummate knowledge of stage effect。 Among the most
constant attendants were two high…born and high…bred gentlemen； closely
bound together by friendship； but of widely different characters and habits；
Bennet Langton； distinguished by his skill in Greek literature； by the
orthodoxy of his opinions； and by the sanctity of his life； and Topham
Beauclerk； renowned for his amours； his knowledge of the gay world； his
fastidious taste； and his sarcastic wit。 To predominate over such a society
was not easy。 Yet even over such a society Johnson predominated。 Burke
might indeed have disputed the supremacy to which others were under the
necessity of submitting。 But Burke； though not generally a very patient
listener； was content to take the second part when Johnson was present；
and the club itself； consisting of so many eminent men； is to this day
popularly designated as Johnson's Club。
Among the members of this celebrated body was one to whom it has
owed the greater part of its celebrity； yet who was regarded with little
respect by his brethren； and had not without difficulty obtained a seat
among them。 This was James Boswell； a young Scotch lawyer； heir to an
honourable name and a fair estate。 That he was a coxcomb and a bore；
weak； vain； pushing； curious； garrulous； was obvious to all who were
acquainted with him。 That he could not reason； that he had no wit； no
humour； no eloquence； is apparent from his writings。 And yet his writings
are read beyond the Mississippi； and under the Southern Cross； and are
likely to be read as long as the English exists； either as a living or as a
dead language。 Nature had made him a slave and an idolater。 His mind
resembles those creepers which the botanists call parasites； and which can
subsist only by clinging round the stems and imbibing the juices of
stronger plants。 He must have fastened himself on somebody。 He might
have fastened himself on Wilkes； and have become the fiercest patriot in
the Bill of Rights Society。 He might have fastened himself on Whitfield；
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
and have become the loudest field preacher among the Calvinistic
Methodists。 In a happy hour he fastened himself on Johnson。 The pair
might seem ill matched。 For Johnson had early been prejudiced against
Boswell's country。 To a man of Johnson's strong understanding and
irritable temper； the silly egotism and adulation of Boswell must have
been as teasing as the constant buzz of a fly。 Johnson hated to be
question