He is
mischievous, if you will. He would do no man an essential injury; he
may, indeed, love to make sport of people by vexing their vanity. I,
however, once knew an old gentleman who was absolutely malignant.
He really wished evil to others, and rejoiced at it.' BOSWELL. 'The
gentleman, Mr. Beauclerk, against whom you are so violent, is, I know,
a man of good principles.' BEAUCLERK. 'Then he does not wear them out in
practice.'
Dr. Johnson, who, as I have observed before, delighted in discrimination
of character, and having a masterly knowledge of human nature, was
willing to take men as they are, imperfect and with a mixture of good
and bad qualities, I suppose though he had said enough in defence of his
friend, of whose merits, notwithstanding his exceptional points, he had
a just value; and added no more on the subject.
On Wednesday, April 15, I dined with Dr. Johnson at Mr. Dilly's, and
was in high spirits, for I had been a good part of the morning with
Mr. Orme, the able and eloquent historian of Hindostan, who expressed a
great admiration of Johnson.
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