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BOSWELLIANA. 213
Boswell) are, like my ideas, very irregular, and at a great distance
from each other."
" Sir W. Maxwell * said he was allways affraid (sic) of a clever
man till he knew if he had good nature. ' Yes,' said Boswell ;
' when you see a clever man you see a man brandishing a drawn
sword, and you are uneasy till you know if he intends only to
make it glitter in the sun, or to run you through the body
with it.' "
" A robust Caledonian was telling (in the Scots pronuncia-
tion) that he was born in Emhro. ' Indeed ! ' said an English
physician : ' upon my word, the prettiest abortion I ever saw.' "
Mk. CRAWFUED,f EOTTERDAM.
" Boswell said that men of lively fancies seldom tell a story so
distinctly as those of slower capacity, as they confound the
intellect with an excess of brilliancy. It is a common expres-
sion, I cannot see for the light. It may also be said, I cannot
understand you ; you shine so much."
" Boswell told Mr. Samuel Johnson that a gentleman of their
acquaintance maintained in public company that he could see
no distinction between virtue and vice. ' Sir,' said Mr. Johnson,
' does he intend that we should believe that he is lying, or that
he is in earnest ? If we think him a lyar, that is not honouring
him very much. But if we think him in earnest, when he
leaves our houses let us count our spoons.' "
"Mr. Sheridan, though a man of knowledge and parts, was a
little fancifull (sic) in his projects for establishing oratory and
altering the mode of British education. ' Mr. Samuel Johnson,'
said Sherry, ' cannot abide me, for I allways ask him. Pray sir,
what do you propose to do ? ' " From Mr. Johnson.
* Sir William Maxwell, fourth Baronet of Monreith, Wigtonshire.
He died 22nd August, 1771.
■|- ]Mr. Crawfurd succeeded the Eev. John Home in 1770, as Con-
servator of Scots Privileges at Campvere.