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been as teasing as the constant buzz of a fly。 Johnson hated to be
questioned； and Boswell was eternally catechising him on all kinds of
subjects； and sometimes propounded such questions as 〃What would you
do； sir； if you were locked up in a tower with a baby？〃 Johnson was a
water drinker； and Boswell was a wine…bibber； and indeed little better than
a habitual sot。 It was impossible that there should be perfect harmony
between two such companions。 Indeed； the great man was sometimes
provoked into fits of passion in which he said things which the small man；
during a few hours； seriously resented。 Every quarrel； however； was soon
made up。 During twenty years the disciple continued to worship the master：
the master continued to scold the disciple； to sneer at him； and to love him。
The two friends ordinarily resided at a great distance from each other。
Boswell practised in the Parliament House of Edinburgh； and could pay
only occasional visits to London。 During those visits his chief business
was to watch Johnson； to discover all Johnson's habits； to turn the
conversation to subjects about which Johnson was likely to say something
remarkable； and to fill quarto note books with minutes of what Johnson
had said。 In this way were gathered the materials out of which was
afterwards constructed the most interesting biographical work in the
world。
Soon after the club began to exist； Johnson formed a connection less
important indeed to his fame； but much more important to his happiness；
than his connection with Boswell。 Henry Thrale； one of the most opulent
brewers in the kingdom； a man of sound and cultivated understanding；
rigid principles； and liberal spirit； was married to one of those clever； kind…
hearted； engaging； vain； pert young women； who are perpetually doing or
saying what is not exactly right； but who； do or say what they may； are
always agreeable。 In 1765 the Thrales became acquainted with Johnson；
and the acquaintance ripened fast into friendship。 They were astonished
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
and delighted by the brilliancy of his conversation。 They were flattered by
finding that a man so widely celebrated； preferred their house to any other
in London。 Even the peculiarities which seemed to unfit him for civilised
society； his gesticulations； his rollings； his puffings； his mutterings； the
strange way in which he put on his clothes； the ravenous eagerness with
which he devoured his dinner； his fits of melancholy； his fits of anger； his
frequent rudeness； his occasional ferocity； increased the interest which his
new associates took in him。 For these things were the cruel marks left
behind by a life which had been one long conflict with disease and with
adversity。 In a vulgar hack writer such oddities would have excited only
disgust。 But in a man of genius； learning； and virtue their effect was to add
pity to admiration and esteem。 Johnson soon had an apartment at the
brewery in Southwark； and a still more pleasant apartment at the villa of
his friends on Streatham Common。 A large part of every year he passed in
those abodes； abodes which must have seemed magnificent and luxurious
indeed； when compared with the dens in which he had generally been
lodged。 But his chief pleasures were derived from what the astronomer of
his Abyssinian tale called 〃the endearing elegance of female friendship。〃
Mrs Thrale rallied him； soothed him； coaxed him； and； if she sometimes
provoked him by her flippancy； made ample amends by listening to his
reproofs with angelic sweetness of temper。 When he was diseased in body
and in mind； she was the most tender of nurses。 No comfort that wealth
could purchase； no contrivance that womanly ingenuity； set to work by
womanly compassion； could devise； was wanting to his sick…room。 He
requited her kindness by an affection pure as the affection of a father； yet
delicately tinged with a gallantry； which； though awkward； must have been
more flattering than the attentions of a crowd of the fools who gloried in
the names； now obsolete； of Buck and Maccaroni。 It should seem that a
full half of Johnson's life； during about sixteen years； was passed under the
roof of the Thrales。 He accompanied the family sometimes to Bath； and
sometimes to Brighton； once to Wales； and once to Paris。 But he had at the
same time a house in one of the narrow and gloomy courts on the north of
Fleet Street。 In the garrets was his library； a large and miscellaneous
collection of books； falling to pieces and begrimed with dust。 On a lower
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floor he sometimes； but very rarely； regaled a friend with a plain dinner； a
veal pie； or a leg of lamb and spinage； and a rice pudding。 Nor was the
dwelling uninhabited during his long absences。 It was the home of the
most extraordinary assemblage of inmates that ever was brought together。
At the head of the establishment Johnson had placed an old lady named
Williams； whose chief recommendations were her blindness and her
poverty。 But； in spite of her murmurs and reproaches； he gave an asylum
to another lady who was as poor as herself； Mrs Desmoulins； whose
family he had known many years before in Staffordshire。 Room was found
for the daughter of Mrs Desmoulins； and for another destitute damsel； who
was generally addressed as Miss Carmichael； but whom her generous host
called Polly。 An old quack doctor named Levett； who bled and dosed coal…
heavers and hackney coachmen； and received for fees crusts of bread； bits
of bacon； glasses of gin； and sometimes a little copper； completed this
strange menagerie。 All these poor creatures were at constant war with each
other； and with Johnson's negro servant Frank。 Sometimes； indeed； they
transferred their hostilities from the servant to the master； complained that
a better table was not kept for them； and railed or maundered till their
benefactor was glad to make his escape to Streatham； or to the Mitre
Tavern。 And yet he； who was generally the haughtiest and most irritable of
mankind； who was but too prompt to resent anything which looked like a
slight on the part of a purse…proud bookseller； or of a noble and powerful
patron； bore patiently from mendicants； who； but for his bounty； must have
gone to the workhouse； insults more provoking than those for which he
had knocked down Osborne and bidden defiance to Chesterfield。 Year
after year Mrs Desmoulins； Polly； and Levett； continued to torment him
and to live upon him。
The course of life which has been described was interrupted in
Johnson's sixty…fourth year by an important event。 He had early read an
account of the Hebrides； and had been much interested by learning that
there was so near him a land peopled by a race which was still as rude and
simple as in the middle ages。 A wish to become intimately acquainted with
a state of society so utterly unlike all that he had ever seen frequently
crossed his mind。 But it is not probable that his curiosity would have
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
overcome his habitual sluggishness； and his love of the smoke； the mud；
and the cries of London； had not Boswell importuned him to attempt the
adventure； and offered to be his squire。 At length； in August 1773； Johnson
crossed the Highland line； and plunged courageously into what was then
considered； by most Englishmen； as a dreary and perilous wilderness。
After wandering about two months through the Celtic region； sometimes
in rude boats which did not protect him from the rain； and sometimes on
small shaggy ponies which could hardly bear his weight； he returned to his
old haunts with a mind full of new images and new theories。 During the
following ye