Mason's conduct
very strongly; but added, by way of shewing that he was not surprized at
it, 'Mason's a Whig.' MRS. KNOWLES. (not hearing distinctly,) 'What! a
Prig, Sir?' JOHNSON. 'Worse, Madam; a Whig! But he is both.'
Of John Wesley, he said, 'He can talk well on any subject.' BOSWELL.
'Pray, Sir, what has he made of his story of a ghost?' JOHNSON. 'Why,
Sir, he believes it; but not on sufficient authority. He did not take
time enough to examine the girl. It was at Newcastle, where the ghost
was said to have appeared to a young woman several times, mentioning
something about the right to an old house, advising application to be
made to an attorney, which was done; and, at the same time, saying the
attorneys would do nothing, which proved to be the fact. "This (says
John,) is a proof that a ghost knows our thoughts." Now (laughing,) it
is not necessary to know our thoughts, to tell that an attorney will
sometimes do nothing. Charles Wesley, who is a more stationary man, does
not believe the story.
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