Grampian Club > Boswelliana

224 BOSWELLIANA.
a parcel of sarcastical Scots, dining at Almack's * were enlarging
much on his imprudence. ' I do not know,' said Dempster,
' how Boswell may do in this world, but I am sure he would do
very well in a better.' " From Miss Dempster.-|-
" Boswell complained that he had too good a memory in
trifles, which prevented his remembering things of consequence-
' My head,' said he, ' is like a tavern, in which a club of low
punch-drinkers have taken up the room that might have been
filled with lords who drink Burgundy, but it is not in the land-
lord's power to dispossess them.' "
" A gentleman was complaining that upon a long voyage
their provisions were very bad, and, in particular, that their
beef turned quite green. ' Very right, sir,' said Caleb White-
foord,:j: * you know all flesh is grass, and therefore ought to be
green.' " I was present.
" Boswell says that a man who sets out on the journey of
life with opinions that he has never examined is like a man
who goes a-fowling with a gun that has never been proved."
* Almack's Hotel was thus originated : A sister of Dr. Cullen, the
celebrated physician, was waiting-maid to the Duchess of Hamilton.
She married the duke's valet, whose name was Macall. They were
both favourites of the duke and duchess, who resolved to establish
them comfortably. As they inclined to ojDen an hotel in London,
the duke secured eligible premises. Macall was deemed a name
unsuited for a London landlord, arid on the duke's suggestion it was
changed to Almack.
f Helen Dempster, only sister of George Dempster, M.P., married
General Burrington. On the death of her brother without issue, in
1818, she succeeded to the family estate of Dunnichen.
I An amiable man, but crushing satirist, Caleb Whitefoord was
born at Edinburgh in 1734. He was intended for the Scottish
Church, but preferring the concerns of busi ness, settled in London
as a wine merchant. He contributed satirical poems, in prose and
verse, to the Public Advertiser, directing his shafts chiefly against