' The celebrated Heroick Epistle, in which Johnson is
satyrically introduced, has been ascribed both to Mr. Walpole and
Mr. Mason. One day at Mr. Courtenay's, when a gentleman expressed his
opinion that there was more energy in that poem than could be expected
from Mr. Walpole; Mr. Warton, the late Laureat, observed, 'It may have
been written by Walpole, and BUCKRAM'D by Mason.'
Sir Joshua Reynolds having said that he took the altitude of a man's
taste by his stories and his wit, and of his understanding by the
remarks which he repeated; being always sure that he must be a weak
man who quotes common things with an emphasis as if they were oracles;
Johnson agreed with him; and Sir Joshua having also observed that the
real character of a man was found out by his amusements,--Johnson added,
'Yes, Sir; no man is a hypocrite in his pleasures.'
I have mentioned Johnson's general aversion to a pun. He once, however,
endured one of mine. When we were talking of a numerous company in
which he had distinguished himself highly, I said, 'Sir, you were a COD
surrounded by smelts.
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