' Somebody now observed, 'She flatters Garrick.'
JOHNSON. 'She is in the right to flatter Garrick. She is in the right
for two reasons; first, because she has the world with her, who have
been praising Garrick these thirty years; and secondly, because she is
rewarded for it by Garrick. Why should she flatter ME? I can do nothing
for her. Let her carry her praise to a better market. (Then turning to
Mrs. Knowles.) You, Madam, have been flattering me all the evening; I
wish you would give Boswell a little now. If you knew his merit as well
as I do, you would say a great deal; he is the best travelling companion
in the world.'
Somebody mentioned the Reverend Mr. Mason's prosecution of Mr. Murray,
the bookseller, for having inserted in a collection of Gray's Poems,
only fifty lines, of which Mr. Mason had still the exclusive property,
under the statute of Queen Anne; and that Mr. Mason had persevered,
notwithstanding his being requested to name his own terms of
compensation. Johnson signified his displeasure at Mr.
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