'
He told me afterwards, that the impropriety was, that perhaps some of
the company might have talked on the subject in such terms as might
have shocked him; or he might have been forced to appear in their eyes
a narrow-minded man. The gentleman, with submissive deference, said,
he had only hinted at the question from a desire to hear Dr. Johnson's
opinion upon it. JOHNSON. 'Why then, Sir, I think that permitting men
to preach any opinion contrary to the doctrine of the established church
tends, in a certain degree, to lessen the authority of the church,
and consequently, to lessen the influence of religion.' 'It may be
considered, (said the gentleman,) whether it would not be politick to
tolerate in such a case.' JOHNSON. 'Sir, we have been talking of RIGHT:
this is another question. I think it is NOT politick to tolerate in such
a case.'
BOSWELL. 'Pray, Mr. Dilly, how does Dr. Leland's History of Ireland
sell?' JOHNSON. (bursting forth with a generous indignation,) 'The Irish
are in a most unnatural state; for we see there the minority prevailing
over the majority.
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