OnMonday，September22，whenatbreakfast，IunguardedlysaidtoDr。Johnson，’IwishIsawyouandMrs。Macaulaytogether。’Hegrewveryangry；and，afterapause，whileacloudgatheredonhisbrow，heburstout，’No，Sir；youwouldnotseeusquarrel，tomakeyousport。Don’tyouknowthatitisveryunciviltoPITtwopeopleagainstoneanother？’Then，checkinghimself，andwishingtobemoregentle，headded，’Idonotsayyoushouldbehangedordrownedforthis；butitISveryuncivil。’Dr。Taylorthoughthiminthewrong，andspoketohimprivatelyofit；butIafterwardsacknowledgedtoJohnsonthatIwastoblame，forIcandidlyowned，thatImeanttoexpressadesiretoseeacontestbetweenMrs。
Macaulayandhim；butthenIknewhowthecontestwouldend；sothatIwastoseehimtriumph。JOHNSON。’Sir，youcannotbesurehowacontestwillend；andnomanhasarighttoengagetwopeopleinadisputebywhichtheirpassionsmaybeinflamed，andtheymaypartwithbitterresentmentagainsteachother。IwouldsoonerkeepcompanywithamanfromwhomImustguardmypockets，thanwithamanwhocontrivestobringmeintoadisputewithsomebodythathemayhearit。Thisisthegreatfaultof——，namingoneofourfriends，endeavouringtointroduceasubjectuponwhichheknowstwopeopleinthecompanydiffer。’BOSWELL。’Buthetoldme，Sir，hedoesitforinstruction。’JOHNSON。’Whateverthemotivebe，Sir，themanwhodoesso，doesverywrong。Hehasnomorerighttoinstructhimselfatsuchrisk，thanhehastomaketwopeoplefightaduel，thathemaylearnhowtodefendhimself。’
Hefoundgreatfaultwithagentlemanofouracquaintanceforkeepingabadtable。’Sir，saidhe，whenamanisinvitedtodinner，heisdisappointedifhedoesnotgetsomethinggood。I
advisedMrs。Thrale，whohasnocard-partiesatherhouse，togivesweet-meats，andsuchgoodthings，inanevening，asarenotcommonlygiven，andshewouldfindcompanyenoughcometoher；foreverybodylovestohavethingswhichpleasethepalateputintheirway，withouttroubleorpreparation。’Suchwashisattentiontotheminutiaeoflifeandmanners。
Mr。Burke’sLettertotheSheriffsofBristol，ontheaffairsofAmerica，beingmentioned，Johnsoncensuredthecompositionmuch，andheridiculedthedefinitionofafreegovernment，viz。’Foranypracticalpurpose，itiswhatthepeoplethinkso。’——’IwilllettheKingofFrancegovernmeonthoseconditions，saidhe，foritistobegovernedjustasIplease。’AndwhenDr。Taylortalkedofagirlbeingsenttoaparishworkhouse，andaskedhowmuchshecouldbeobligedtowork，’Why，saidJohnson，asmuchasisreasonable：andwhatisthat？asmuchasSHETHINKSreasonable。’