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Among the members of this celebrated body was one to whom it has
owed the greater part of its celebrity； yet who was regarded with little
respect by his brethren； and had not without difficulty obtained a seat
among them。 This was James Boswell； a young Scotch lawyer； heir to an
honourable name and a fair estate。 That he was a coxcomb and a bore；
weak； vain； pushing； curious； garrulous； was obvious to all who were
acquainted with him。 That he could not reason； that he had no wit； no
humour； no eloquence； is apparent from his writings。 And yet his writings
are read beyond the Mississippi； and under the Southern Cross； and are
likely to be read as long as the English exists； either as a living or as a
dead language。 Nature had made him a slave and an idolater。 His mind
resembles those creepers which the botanists call parasites； and which can
subsist only by clinging round the stems and imbibing the juices of
stronger plants。 He must have fastened himself on somebody。 He might
have fastened himself on Wilkes； and have become the fiercest patriot in
the Bill of Rights Society。 He might have fastened himself on Whitfield；
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
and have become the loudest field preacher among the Calvinistic
Methodists。 In a happy hour he fastened himself on Johnson。 The pair
might seem ill matched。 For Johnson had early been prejudiced against
Boswell's country。 To a man of Johnson's strong understanding and
irritable temper； the silly egotism and adulation of Boswell must have
been as teasing as the constant buzz of a fly。 Johnson hated to be
questioned； and Boswell was eternally catechising him on all kinds of
subjects； and sometimes propounded such questions as 〃What would you
do； sir； if you were locked up in a tower with a baby？〃 Johnson was a
water drinker； and Boswell was a wine…bibber； and indeed little better than
a habitual sot。 It was impossible that there should be perfect harmony
between two such companions。 Indeed； the great man was sometimes
provoked into fits of passion in which he said things which the small man；
during a few hours； seriously resented。 Every quarrel； however； was soon
made up。 During twenty years the disciple continued to worship the master：
the master continued to scold the disciple； to sneer at him； and to love him。
The two friends ordinarily resided at a great distance from each other。
Boswell practised in the Parliament House of Edinburgh； and could pay
only occasional visits to London。 During those visits his chief business
was to watch Johnson； to discover all Johnson's habits； to turn the
conversation to subjects about which Johnson was likely to say something
remarkable； and to fill quarto note books with minutes of what Johnson
had said。 In this way were gathered the materials out of which was
afterwards constructed the most interesting biographical work in the
world。
Soon after the club began to exist； Johnson formed a connection less
important indeed to his fame； but much more important to his happiness；
than his connection with Boswell。 Henry Thrale； one of the most opulent
brewers in the kingdom； a man of sound and cultivated understanding；
rigid principles； and liberal spirit； was married to one of those clever； kind…
hearted； engaging； vain； pert young women； who are perpetually doing or
saying what is not exactly right； but who； do or say what they may； are
always agreeable。 In 1765 the Thrales became acquainted with Johnson；
and the acquaintance ripened fast into friendship。 They were astonished
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
and delighted by the brilliancy of his conversation。 They were flattered by
finding that a man so widely celebrated； preferred their house to any other
in London。 Even the peculiarities which seemed to unfit him for civilised
society； his gesticulations； his rollings； his puffings； his mutterings； the
strange way in which he put on his clothes； the ravenous eagerness with
which he devoured his dinner； his fits of melancholy； his fits of anger； his
frequent rudeness； his occasional ferocity； increased the interest which his
new associates took in him。 For these things were the cruel marks left
behind by a life which had been one long conflict with disease and with
adversity。 In a vulgar hack writer such oddities would have excited only
disgust。 But in a man of genius； learning； and virtue their effect was to add
pity to admiration and esteem。 Johnson soon had an apartment at the
brewery in Southwark； and a still more pleasant apartment at the villa of
his friends on Streatham Common。 A large part of every year he passed in
those abodes； abodes which must have seemed magnificent and luxurious
indeed； when compared with the dens in which he had generally been
lodged。 But his chief pleasures were derived from what the astronomer of
his Abyssinian tale called 〃the endearing elegance of female friendship。〃
Mrs Thrale rallied him； soothed him； coaxed him； and； if she sometimes
provoked him by her flippancy； made ample amends by listening to his
reproofs with angelic sweetness of temper。 When he was diseased in body
and in mind； she was the most tender of nurses。 No comfort that wealth
could purchase； no contrivance that womanly ingenuity； set to work by
womanly compassion； could devise； was wanting to his sick…room。 He
requited her kindness by an affection pure as the affection of a father； yet
delicately tinged with a gallantry； which； though awkward； must have been
more flattering than the attentions of a crowd of the fools who gloried in
the names； now obsolete； of Buck and Maccaroni。 It should seem that a
full half of Johnson's life； during about sixteen years； was passed under the
roof of the Thrales。 He accompanied the family sometimes to Bath； and
sometimes to Brighton； once to Wales； and once to Paris。 But he had at the
same time a hous