'Sir, (said he,) he was too well-bred a man not to be cheerful in
company; but he was gloomy when alone. He never was cheerful after my
mother's death, and he had met with many disappointments.' Dr. Johnson
observed to me afterwards, 'That this was no favourable account of Dr.
Young; for it is not becoming in a man to have so little acquiescence in
the ways of Providence, as to be gloomy because he has not obtained as
much preferment as he expected; nor to continue gloomy for the loss
of his wife. Grief has its time.' The last part of this censure was
theoretically made. Practically, we know that grief for the loss of a
wife may be continued very long, in proportion as affection has been
sincere. No man knew this better than Dr. Johnson.
Upon the road we talked of the uncertainty of profit with which authours
and booksellers engage in the publication of literary works. JOHNSON.
'My judgement I have found is no certain rule as to the sale of a book.'
BOSWELL. 'Pray, Sir, have you been much plagued with authours sending
you their works to revise?' JOHNSON.
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