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MEMOIR OF JAMES BOSWELL. 95
inconvenient to a family that dines ? Can he wish to lie long in
the morning that Queen Mab may be with him, ' tickling the
parson as he lies asleep ' ? or can his wife and daughter not
dress early enough ? Pray guess in your next, with a sacerdotal
sagacity, what this can be. I shall try to learn and let you
know. It is now early in the morning. I am writing in a
great English parlour, to have my letter ready for the post at
nice. It is comfortable to have such an acquaintance as
Palmer — so situated. I have thought of making a good acquaint-
ance in each town on the road. No man has been more
successful in making acquaintance easily than I have been. I
even bring people quickly on to a degree of cordiality. I am a
quick fire, but I know not if I last sufficiently, though surely,
my dear Temple, there is always a warm place for you. With
many people I have compared myself to a taper, which can
light up a great and lasting fire, though itself is soon ex-
tinguished
" Mr. Johnson, when enumerating our club, observed of some
of us that they talked from books, — Langton in particular.
Garrick, he said, would talk from books, if he talked seriously.
' I,' said he, ' do not talk from books ; you do not talk from
books.' This was a compliment to my originality, but I am
afraid I have not read books enough to be able to talk from
them. You are very kind in saying that I may overtake you in
learning. Believe me, though, that I have a kind of impotency
of study ; however, nil desperandum est. . . .
" For my own part, I have continued schemes of publication,
but cannot fix. I am still very unhappy with my father. We
are so totally different that a good understanding is scarcely
possible. He looks on my going to London just now as an
expedition, as idle and extravagant, when in reality it is highly
improving to me, considering the company which I enjoy ; and
I think it is also for my interest, as in time I may get some-
thing. Lord Pembroke was very obliging to me when he was
in Scotland, and has corresponded with me since. I have hopes
from him. How happy should I be to get an independency by
my own influence while my father is alive !
inconvenient to a family that dines ? Can he wish to lie long in
the morning that Queen Mab may be with him, ' tickling the
parson as he lies asleep ' ? or can his wife and daughter not
dress early enough ? Pray guess in your next, with a sacerdotal
sagacity, what this can be. I shall try to learn and let you
know. It is now early in the morning. I am writing in a
great English parlour, to have my letter ready for the post at
nice. It is comfortable to have such an acquaintance as
Palmer — so situated. I have thought of making a good acquaint-
ance in each town on the road. No man has been more
successful in making acquaintance easily than I have been. I
even bring people quickly on to a degree of cordiality. I am a
quick fire, but I know not if I last sufficiently, though surely,
my dear Temple, there is always a warm place for you. With
many people I have compared myself to a taper, which can
light up a great and lasting fire, though itself is soon ex-
tinguished
" Mr. Johnson, when enumerating our club, observed of some
of us that they talked from books, — Langton in particular.
Garrick, he said, would talk from books, if he talked seriously.
' I,' said he, ' do not talk from books ; you do not talk from
books.' This was a compliment to my originality, but I am
afraid I have not read books enough to be able to talk from
them. You are very kind in saying that I may overtake you in
learning. Believe me, though, that I have a kind of impotency
of study ; however, nil desperandum est. . . .
" For my own part, I have continued schemes of publication,
but cannot fix. I am still very unhappy with my father. We
are so totally different that a good understanding is scarcely
possible. He looks on my going to London just now as an
expedition, as idle and extravagant, when in reality it is highly
improving to me, considering the company which I enjoy ; and
I think it is also for my interest, as in time I may get some-
thing. Lord Pembroke was very obliging to me when he was
in Scotland, and has corresponded with me since. I have hopes
from him. How happy should I be to get an independency by
my own influence while my father is alive !
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| Publications by Scottish clubs > Grampian Club > Boswelliana > (129) Page 95 |
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| Permanent URL | https://digital.nls.uk/82552952 |
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| Description | The commonplace book of James Boswell. With a memoir and annotations by the Rev. Charles Rogers, and introductory remarks by the Rt. Hon. Lord Houghton. [With a portrait.] |
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| Shelfmark | SCS.GC.7 |
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| Description | Note: Numbers 24-41 are relative to but not part of the Club's series. |
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| Description | Full text versions of historical texts dating from the 12th to the 19th century. Edited by the Abbotsford, Bannatyne, Grampian, Hunterian, Spalding and New Spalding Clubs, and also the Scottish Text, Spottiswoode and Wodrow Societies. Critical printed editions of manuscripts, including church records, state papers, correspondence, memoirs, diaries, legends and literary texts. |
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