Grampian Club > Boswelliana

MEMOIR OF JAMES BOSWELL. 173
that I have every fear concerning it — that I may get no profit,
nay, may lose — that the public may be disappointed, and think
that I have done it poorly — that I may make many enemies,
and even have quarrels. But, perhaps, the very reverse of all
this may happen."
Boswell adds in reference to his professional aspirations : —
"When my book is launched I shall, if I am alone and in
tolerable health and spirits, have some furniture put into my
chambers in the Temple, and force myself to sit there some
hours a day, and to attend regularly in Westminster Hall. The
chambers cost me £20 yearly, and I may reckon furniture and
a lad to attend them occasionally £20 more. I doubt whether
I shall get fees equal to the expense."
On the 19th April, Boswell thus wrote to his friend Mr.
Dempster : —
" We must not entirely lose sight of one another, or rather,
we must not suffer ' out of sight out of mind ' to be applicable to
two such old friends, who have always lived pleasantly together,
though of principles directly opposite. ... I some time
ago resigned my Eecordership of Carlisle. I perceived that no
advantage would accrue from it. I could satisfy you in conver-
sation that I was right. The melancholy event of losing my
valuable wife will, I fear, never allow me to have real comfort.
You cannot imagine how it hangs upon my spirits ; yet I can
talk and write, and, in short, force mi/self to a wonderfu.1 degree.
I enclose you a poem which I have published upon a subject on
which I never heard your sentiments, but I could lay my life
you are one of the pretty theorists ; however, you will have can-
dour enough to allow that I have worked well. I have a good
house in Great Portland Street. My two eldest daughters live
with me ; my youngest is at a boarding-school at Chelsea ; my
eldest son is at Eton ; my second at Westminster. I am sadly
straitened in my circumstances; I can but exist as to expense;
but they are so good to me here that I have a full share of the
metropolitan advantages.