Grampian Club > Boswelliana

SiS BOSWELLIANA.
my bill for the money payable in a fortnight,' and actually he
did give his bill and paid him accordingly. A most wonderful
mixture of impiety and honesty." Loed Auchinleck.
" Sir William Gordon would needs make a library because
my Lord Sunderland made one, but all he wanted was just dear
books. He came in one day to Vanderaa's shop, in Leyden,
and asked if he had got any dear new books. Vanderaa showed
him the ' Thesaurus Italiie et Sicilise ' in volumes. Sir
William turned to Dr. Cooper and said, ' Pray, Doctor, have I
got that book ? ' ' No, Sir William, nor do I think you have
occasion for it.' * Mr. Cooper, I cannot be without that book.'
' Upon my word, Sir William, I think you miglit very well be
without it.* ' There, Mr. Cooper, you and I differ. — Mr.
Vanderaa, let that book be packed up and sent for me to
London.'" Lokd Auchinleck.
" Dr. Taylor, the oculist, was one evening supping at William
Earl of Dumfries's, at Edinburgh. He harangued with his usual
fluency and impudence, and boasted that he knew the thoughts
of everybody by looking at their eyes. The first Lady Dumfries,*
who was hurt with his behaviour, asked him with a smile of
contempt, ' Pray, sir, do you know what I am thinking ? '
' Yes, madam,' said he. ' Then,' replied the countess, ' it's very
safe, for I am sure you will not repeat it.' "
Dk. Webster, who was present.
" When the first Lady Dumfries was within a quarter of an
hour of her death, she showed an attention to the interests of
religion, and at the same time an address equal to that of any
statesman. The earl came down from her all in tears, and told
* The first wife of WiUiam, fourth earl of Dumfries, was the Lady
Anne Gordon, only daughter of William, second Earl of Aberdeen.
She died in 1755.