Grampian Club > Boswelliana

BOSWELLIANA. 269
■ kept in equilibrio, like Mahomet's coffin between the two load-
^ stones."
" The celebrated Mr. Banks * before he set sail on his first
expedition was in love with a Miss Blosset ; when he returned he
found himself so enthusiastically fond of roving in search of
unknown regions, that he could not think of matrimony. At the
same time he had shown such an attachment to the lady that it
was matter of great doubt in the world of private news whether he
would think himself bound in honour to marry her. General
Paoli asked Mr. Eichard Owen Cambridge, ' Pray, do you think
Mr. Banks will marry Miss Blosset ? ' * Oh no, sir," said Mr.
Cambridge, ' his thoughts are all beyond Cape Horn.' "
General Paoli.
"Dempster said that Cullen the mimick was to men's characters
like wax to intaglios — to seals cut inwards : That men had
particularities, but that we did not perceive them till the im-
pressions of them were shown, reversed, bold, and prominent (or
words to that purpose), by Cullen's mimickry." I was present.
" In the spring, 1772, Dempster gave me the following lively
representation of Sir William Meredith.t ' He is no longer with
us,' said he, ' nor has he yet joined the ministry. He is like a
wart round which there is a string tied. All circulation is
stopped between him and us ; and he is ready to be cut off
whenever the ministry please.' "
" I was one of Mr. Ross | the player's counsel as a friend.
His spouse, the celebrated Fanny Murray, made me a present of
some very pretty straw mats for setting dishes on. Lord
Auchinleck observed to me, ' Well, James, she cannot say that
then she does not value your advice a siraiv. ' "
" Mr. C. F. told a story in a company in a very confused
* Afterwards Sir Joseph Banks.
t Sir WilKam Meredith, M.P., published a work entitled " His-
torical Remarks on the Taxation of Free States." Lond., 1788, Svo.
X See siqn-a, p. 17.