said, "I speak with great deference to you, Dr. Johnson, I speak to be instructed." This had its full effect on the Doctor. He bowed his head almost as low as the table to a complimenting nobleman; and called out, "My Lord, my Lord, I do not desire all this ceremony; let us tell our minds to one another quietly." After the debate was over, he said, "I have got lights on the subject to-day which I had not before." This was a great deal from him, especially as he had written a pamphlet upon it.

He observed, "The House of Commons was originally not a privilege of the people, but a check for the crown on the House of Lords. I remember Henry the Eighth wanted them to do something: they hesitated in the morning, but did it in the afternoon. He told them, 'It is well you did; or half your

heads should have been upon Temple Bar.' But the House of Commons is now no longer under the power of the crown, and therefore must be bribed."-He added, "I have no delight in talking of public affairs."

Mr. B. was once engaged as Counsel at the Bar of the House of Commons to oppose a road-bill in the county of Stirling, and asked Johnson what mode he would advise him to follow in addressing such an audience.-J. "Why, Sir, you must provide yourself with a good deal of extra

VOL. I.

neous matter, which you are to produce occasionally, so as to fill up the time; for you must consider, that they do not listen much.—If you begin with the strength of your cause, it may be lost before they begin to listen, When you catch a moment of attention, press the merits of the question upon them." He said, as to one point of the merits, that he thought "it would be a wrong thing to deprive the small landholders of the privilege of assessing themselves for making and repairing the high roads; it was destroying so much liberty, without a good reason, which was always a bad thing." When Mr. B. mentioned this observation next day to Mr. Wilkes, he pleasantly said, "What! does he talk of liberty? Liberty is as ridiculous in his mouth as Religion in mine." Mr. Wilkes's advice, as to the best mode of speaking at the bar of the House of Commons, was not more respectful towards the Senate, than that of Dr. Johnson. "Be as impudent as you can, as merry as you can, and say whatever comes uppermost. Jack Lee is the best heard there of any Counsel; and he is the most impudent dog, and always abusing us. Mr. Boswell censured the coarse invectives which were become fashionable in the House of Commons, and said, that if members of parliament must attack each other personally in the heat of debate, it should be done more genteelly.-J.

"No, Sir; that would be much worse. Abuse is not so dangerous when there is no vehicle of wit or delicacy, no subtle conveyance. The difference between coarse and refined abuse is as the difference between being bruised by a club, and wounded by a poisoned arrow. This position is elegantly expressed by Dr. Young.

'As the soft plume gives swiftness to the dart,
'Good breeding sends the satire to the heart."

A gentleman observed to a Member of Parliament, "Mr. E. I don't mean to flatter, but when posterity reads one of your speeches in Parliament, it will be difficult to believe that you took so much pains, knowing with certainty that it could produce no effect, that not one vote would be gained by it."-E. "Waving your compliment to me, I shall say in general, that it is very well worth while for a man to take pains to speak well in parliament. A man who has vanity speaks to display his talents; and if a man speaks well, he gradually establishes a certain reputation and consequence in the general opinion, which sooner or later will have its political reward. Besides, though not one vote is gained, a good speech has its effect.-Though an act which has been ably opposed passes into a law, yet in its progress it is modelled, it is softened in such a manner, that we see plainly the minister

has been told, that the members attached to him are so sensible of its injustice or absurdity from what they have heard, that it must be altered."JOHNSON. "And, Sir, there is a gratification of pride. Though we cannot out-vote them we will out-argue them. They shall not do wrong without its being shewn both to themselves and to the world."-E. "The House of Commons is a mixed body (I except the minority, which I hold to be pure [smiling]; but I take the whole House). It is a mass by no means pure; but neither is it wholly corrupt, though there is a large proportion of corruption in it. There are many members who generally go with the minister, who will not go all lengths. There are many honest well-meaning country gentlemen who are in parliament only to keep up the consequence of their families. Upon most of these a good speech will have influence."-J. "We are all more or less governed by interest. But interest will not make us do every thing. In a case which admits of doubt, we try to think on the side which is for our interest, and generally bring ourselves to act accordingly. But the subject must admit of diversity of colouring, it must receive a colour on that side. In the House of Commons there are members enough who will not vote what is grossly unjust or absurd. No, Sir, there must always be right enough, or ap

pearance of right, to keep wrong in countenance."-BOSWELL." There is surely always a majority in parliament who have places, or who want to have them, and who therefore will be generally ready to support government without requiring any pretext."-E. " True, Sir; that majority will always follow

Quo clamor vocat et turba faventium."

B. "Well now, let us take the common phrase, Place-hunters. I thought they had hunted without regard to any thing, just as their huntsman, the minister, leads, looking only to the prey."-J. "But, taking your metaphor, you know that in hunting there are few so desperately keen as to follow without reserve. Some do not choose to leap ditches and hedges and risk their necks, or gallop over steeps, or even to dirty themselves in bogs and mire."—B. “ I am glad there are some good, quiet, moderate, political hunters."-E. “I believe in any body of men in England I should have been in the minority; I have always been in the minority."-A gentleman present said, "The House of Commons resembles a private company. How seldom is any man convinced by another's argument! passion and pride rise against it."Another asked, "What would be the conse quence, if a Minister, sure of a majority in the