' JOHNSON. 'Ay; but we don't know
WHICH half to believe. By his lying we lose not only our reverence for
him, but all comfort in his conversation.' BOSWELL. 'May we not take
it as amusing fiction?' JOHNSON. 'Sir, the misfortune is, that you will
insensibly believe as much of it as you incline to believe.'
It is remarkable, that notwithstanding their congeniality in politicks,
he never was acquainted with a late eminent noble judge, whom I have
heard speak of him as a writer, with great respect. Johnson, I know not
upon what degree of investigation, entertained no exalted opinion of
his Lordship's intellectual character. Talking of him to me one day, he
said, 'It is wonderful, Sir, with how little real superiority of mind
men can make an eminent figure in publick life.' He expressed himself to
the same purpose concerning another law-Lord, who, it seems, once took a
fancy to associate with the wits of London; but with so little success,
that Foote said, 'What can he mean by coming among us? He is not only
dull himself, but the cause of dullness in others.
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