" I would
have a man great in great things, and elegant in little things.' He said
to me afterwards, when we were by ourselves, 'Robertson was in a mighty
romantick humour, he talked of one whom he did not know; but I DOWNED
him with the King of Prussia.' 'Yes, Sir, (said I,) you threw a BOTTLE
at his head.'
An ingenious gentleman was mentioned, concerning whom both Robertson
and Ramsay agreed that he had a constant firmness of mind; for after
a laborious day, and amidst a multiplicity of cares and anxieties, he
would sit down with his sisters and he quite cheerful and good-humoured.
Such a disposition, it was observed, was a happy gift of nature.
JOHNSON. 'I do not think so; a man has from nature a certain portion of
mind; the use he makes of it depends upon his own free will. That a man
has always the same firmness of mind I do not say; because every man
feels his mind less firm at one time than another; but I think a man's
being in a good or bad humour depends upon his will.
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