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 ��but that she fretted about the colour, and was always desirous to dye it black, which he very judiciously hindered her from doing. His account of their wedding we used to think ludicrous enough ' I was riding to church (says Johnson), and she follow ing on another single horse : she hung back however, and I turned about to see whether she could get her steed along, or what was the matter. I had however soon occasion to see it was only coquetry, and that I despised, so quickening my pace a little, she

mended hers; but I believe there was a tear or two pretty

dear creature x ! '

Johnson loved his dinner exceedingly, and has often said in my hearing, perhaps for my edification, ' that wherever the dinner is ill got there is poverty, or there is avarice, or there is stupidity ; in short, the family is somehow grossly wrong : for (continued he) a man seldom thinks with more earnestness of any thing than he does of his dinner 2 ; and if he cannot get that well dressed, he should be suspected of inaccuracy in other things.' One day when he was speaking upon the subject, I asked him, if he ever huffed his wife about his dinner? ' So often (replied he), that at last she called to me, and said, Nay, hold Mr. Johnson, and do

��1 See Life, i. 96, for the account of faction. " Some people (said he,) the ride which Boswell had from have a foolish way of not minding, Johnson. They rode from Birming- or pretending not to mind, what they ham to Derby, a distance of forty eat. For my part, I mind my belly miles. They would pass through very studiously, and very carefully ; Lichfield. Faujas Saint-Fond, who for I look upon it, that he who does went over the same road more than not mind his belly will hardly mind forty years later, thus describes it : anything else." ' Life, \. 467. 'Nous partimes k midi de Derby, et ' He who makes his belly hisbusi- comme les chemins sont encore fort ness will quickly come to have a mauvais sur toute cette route, nous conscience of as large a swallow as eumes beaucoup de peine k arriver his throat.' South's Sermons, ii. 283. ce jour-Ik a Birmingham : iletait plus 'He wrote to Mrs. Thrale on de neuf heures du soir lorsque nous April 15, 1784. at a time when after entrames dans 1'auberge, apres avoir a long illness his appetite was in- traverse des bruyeres noires et arides ordinate : ' I have now an incli- et un pays extremement sauvage.' nation to luxury which even your Voyage en Angleterre, ii. 393. table did not excite ; for till now my

2 ' At supper this night he talked talk was more about the dishes than of good eating with uncommon satis- my thoughts.' Letters, ii. 389.

not

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