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how much that income would afford him every week and day of the year. One of his Æconomical practices was, as soon as any repair was wanting in or about his house, to have it immediately performed. When he had money to spare, he chose to lay in a provision of linen or clothes, or any other necessaries; as then, he said, he could afford it, which he might not be so well able to do when the actual want came; in consequence of which method, he had a considerable supply of necessary articles lying by him, beside what was in use.

‘But the main particular that seems to have enabled him to do so much with his income, was, that he paid for every thing as soon as he had it, except, alone, what were current accounts, such as rent for his house and servants’ wages; and these he paid at the stated times with the utmost exactness. He gave notice to the tradesmen of the neighbouring market-towns that they should no longer have his custom, if they let any of his servants have anything without their paying for it. Thus he put it out of his power to commit those imprudences to which those are liable that defer their payments by using their money some other way than where it ought to go. And whatever money he had by him, he knew that it was not demanded elsewhere, but that he might safely employ it as he pleased.

‘His example was confined, by the sequestered place of his abode, to the observation of few, though his prudence and virtue would have made it valuable to all who could have known it. – These few particulars, which I knew myself, or have obtained from those who lived with him, may afford instruction, and be an incentive to that wise art of living, which he so successfully practised.’

a Of his being in the chair of The Literary Club, which at this time met once a week in the evening.

a The passage omitted alluded to a private transaction.226

b This censure of my Latin relates to the Dedication, which was as follows:

VIRO NOBILISSIMO, ORNATISSIMO,

JOANNI,

VICECOMITI MOUNTSTUART,

ATAVIS EDITO REGIBUS

EXCELS,! FAMILIE DE BUTE SPEI ALTERS;

LABENTE SECULO,

QUUM HOMINES NULLIUS ORIGINIS

GENUS SQUARE OPIBUS AGGREDIUNTUR,

SANGUINIS ANTIQUI ET ILLUSTRIS

SEMPER MEMORI,

NATALIUM SPLENDOREM VIRTUTIBUS AUGENTI:

AD PUBLICA POPULI COMITIA

JAM LEGATO;

IN OPTIMATIUM VERO MAGNi BRITANNIA SENATU,

JURE FSREDITARIO,

OLIM CONSESSURO:

VIM INSITAM VARIA DOCTRINA PROMOVENTE,

NEC TAMEN SE VENDITANTE,

PR^DITO:

PRISCA FIDE, ANIMO LIBERRIMO,

ET MORUM ELEGANTIA

INSIGNI:

IN ITALIC VISITAND^ ITINERE,

SOCIO SUO HONORATISSIMO,

HASCE JURISPRUDENTS PRIMITIAS

DEVINCTISSIM^ AMICITS ET OBSERVANTS

MONUMENTUM,

D. D. C. Q.

JACOBUS BOSWELL.227

c This alludes to the first sentence of the Vrocemium of my Thesis: ‘Jurisprudents studio nullum uberius, nullum generosius: in legibus enim agitandis, populorum mores, variasque fortunes vices ex quibus leges oriuntur, contemplari simul solemus.’228

a The passage omitted explained the transaction to which the preceding letter had alluded.

a The Rev. Mr. John Campbell, Minister of the Parish of Kippen, near Stirling, who has lately favoured me with a long, intelligent, and very obliging letter upon this work, makes the following remark: – ‘Dr. Johnson has alluded to the worthy man employed in the translation of the New Testament. Might not this have afforded you an opportunity of paying a proper tribute of respect to the memory of the Rev. Mr. James Stuart, late Minister of Killin, distinguished by his eminent Piety, Learning and Taste? The amiable simplicity of his life, his warm benevolence, his indefatigable and successful exertions for civilizing and improving the Parish of which he was Minister for upwards of fifty years, entitle him to the gratitude of his country, and the veneration of all good men. It certainly would be a pity, if such a character should be permitted to sink into oblivion.’

a This paragraph shews Johnson’s real estimation of the character and abilities of the celebrated Scottish Historian, however lightly, in a moment of caprice, he may have spoken of