Though very desirous of obtaining Dr. Johnson's advice and
instructions on the mode of pursuing my studies, I was at this time
so occupied, shall I call it? or so dissipated, by the amusements of
London, that our next meeting was not till Saturday, June 25, when
happening to dine at Clifton's eating-house, in Butcher-row I was
surprized to perceive Johnson come in and take his seat at another
table. The mode of dining, or rather being fed, at such houses in
London, is well known to many to be particularly unsocial, as there is
no Ordinary, or united company, but each person has his own mess, and is
under no obligation to hold any intercourse with any one. A liberal and
full-minded man, however, who loves to talk, will break through this
churlish and unsocial restraint. Johnson and an Irish gentleman got
into a dispute concerning the cause of some part of mankind being black.
'Why, Sir, (said Johnson,) it has been accounted for in three ways:
either by supposing that they are the posterity of Ham, who was cursed;
or that GOD at first created two kinds of men, one black and another
white; or that by the heat of the sun the skin is scorched, and
so acquires a sooty hue.
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