'I had them all as much as they were had;
but it might have been better had there been more company there.'
BOSWELL. 'Might not Mrs. Montagu have been a fourth?' JOHNSON. 'Sir,
Mrs. Montagu does not make a trade of her wit; but Mrs. Montagu is a
very extraordinary woman; she has a constant stream of conversation, and
it is always impregnated; it has always meaning.' BOSWELL. 'Mr. Burke
has a constant stream of conversation.' JOHNSON. 'Yes, Sir; if a man
were to go by chance at the same time with Burke under a shed, to shun a
shower, he would say--"this is an extraordinary man." If Burke should go
into a stable to see his horse drest, the ostler would say--"we have had
an extraordinary man here."' BOSWELL. 'Foote was a man who never failed
in conversation. If he had gone into a stable--' JOHNSON. 'Sir, if he
had gone into a stable, the ostler would have said, "here has been a
comical fellow"; but he would not have respected him.' BOSWELL. 'And,
Sir, the ostler would have answered him, would have given him as good
as he brought, as the common saying is.
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