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sometimes to Brighton； once to Wales； and once to Paris。 But he had at the
same time a house in one of the narrow and gloomy courts on the north of
Fleet Street。 In the garrets was his library； a large and miscellaneous
collection of books； falling to pieces and begrimed with dust。 On a lower
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
floor he sometimes； but very rarely； regaled a friend with a plain dinner； a
veal pie； or a leg of lamb and spinage； and a rice pudding。 Nor was the
dwelling uninhabited during his long absences。 It was the home of the
most extraordinary assemblage of inmates that ever was brought together。
At the head of the establishment Johnson had placed an old lady named
Williams； whose chief recommendations were her blindness and her
poverty。 But； in spite of her murmurs and reproaches； he gave an asylum
to another lady who was as poor as herself； Mrs Desmoulins； whose
family he had known many years before in Staffordshire。 Room was found
for the daughter of Mrs Desmoulins； and for another destitute damsel； who
was generally addressed as Miss Carmichael； but whom her generous host
called Polly。 An old quack doctor named Levett； who bled and dosed coal…
heavers and hackney coachmen； and received for fees crusts of bread； bits
of bacon； glasses of gin； and sometimes a little copper； completed this
strange menagerie。 All these poor creatures were at constant war with each
other； and with Johnson's negro servant Frank。 Sometimes； indeed； they
transferred their hostilities from the servant to the master； complained that
a better table was not kept for them； and railed or maundered till their
benefactor was glad to make his escape to Streatham； or to the Mitre
Tavern。 And yet he； who was generally the haughtiest and most irritable of
mankind； who was but too prompt to resent anything which looked like a
slight on the part of a purse…proud bookseller； or of a noble and powerful
patron； bore patiently from mendicants； who； but for his bounty； must have
gone to the workhouse； insults more provoking than those for which he
had knocked down Osborne and bidden defiance to Chesterfield。 Year
after year Mrs Desmoulins； Polly； and Levett； continued to torment him
and to live upon him。
The course of life which has been described was interrupted in
Johnson's sixty…fourth year by an important event。 He had early read an
account of the Hebrides； and had been much interested by learning that
there was so near him a land peopled by a race which was still as rude and
simple as in the middle ages。 A wish to become intimately acquainted with
a state of society so utterly unlike all that he had ever seen frequently
crossed his mind。 But it is not probable that his curiosity would have
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
overcome his habitual sluggishness； and his love of the smoke； the mud；
and the cries of London； had not Boswell importuned him to attempt the
adventure； and offered to be his squire。 At length； in August 1773； Johnson
crossed the Highland line； and plunged courageously into what was then
considered； by most Englishmen； as a dreary and perilous wilderness。
After wandering about two months through the Celtic region； sometimes
in rude boats which did not protect him from the rain； and sometimes on
small shaggy ponies which could hardly bear his weight； he returned to his
old haunts with a mind full of new images and new theories。 During the
following year he employed himself in recording his adventures。 About
the beginning of 1775； his Journey to the Hebrides was published； and was；
during some weeks； the chief subject of conversation in all circles in
which any attention was paid to literature。 The book is still read with
pleasure。 The narrative is entertaining； the speculations； whether sound or
unsound； are always ingenious； and the style； though too stiff and
pompous； is somewhat easier and more graceful than that of his early
writings。 His prejudice against the Scotch had at length become little more
than matter of jest； and whatever remained of the old feeling had been
effectually removed by the kind and respectful hospitality with which he
had been received in every part of Scotland。 It was； of course； not to be
expected that an Oxonian Tory should praise the Presbyterian polity and
ritual； or that an eye accustomed to the hedgerows and parks of England
should not be struck by the bareness of Berwickshire and East Lothian。
But even in censure Johnson's tone is not unfriendly。 The most enlightened
Scotchmen； with Lord Mansfield at their head； were well pleased。 But
some foolish and ignorant Scotchmen were moved to anger by a little
unpalatable truth which was mingled with much eulogy； and assailed him
whom they chose to consider as the enemy of their country with libels
much more dishonourable to their country than anything that he had ever
said or written。 They published paragraphs in the newspapers； articles in
the magazines； sixpenny pamphlets； five…shilling books。 One scribbler
abused Johnson for being blear…eyed； another for being a pensioner； a third
informed the world that one of the Doctor's uncles had been convicted of
felony in Scotland； and had found that there was in that country one tree
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capable of supporting the weight of an Englishman。 Macpherson； whose
Fingal had been proved in the Journey to be an impudent forgery；
threatened to take vengeance with a cane。 The only effect of this threat
was that Johnson reiterated the charge of forgery in the most
contemptuous terms； and walked about； during some time； with a cudgel；
which； if the impostor had not been too wise to encounter it； would
assuredly have descended upon him； to borrow the sublime language of
his own epic poem； 〃like a hammer on the red son of the furnace。〃
Of other assailants Johnson took no notice what