titious character. We may suppose a philosophical day-labourer, who is happy in reflecting that, by his labour, he contributes to the fertility of the earth, and to the support of his fellow-creatures; but we find no such philosophical day-labourer. A merchant may, perhaps, be a man of an enlarged mind; but there is nothing in trade connected with an enlarged mind."

I mentioned that I had heard Dr. Solander say he was a Swedish Laplander. JOHNSON." Sir, I don't believe he is a Laplander. The Laplanders are not much above four feet high. He is as tall as you; and he has not the copper colour of a Laplander." BOSWELL. "But what motive could he have to make himself a Laplander?" JOHNSON. Why, Sir, he must either mean the word Laplander in a very extensive sense, or may mean a voluntary degradation of himself. For all my

66

being the great man that you see me now, I was originally a barbarian;' as if Burke should say, 'I came over a wild Irishman' — which he might say in his present state of exaltation." (1)

Having expressed a desire to have an island like Inchkenneth, Dr. Johnson set himself to think what would be necessary for a man in such a situation.

"Sir, I should build me a fortification, if I came to live here; for, if you have it not, what should hinder a parcel of ruffians to land in the night, and

(1) Solander was born in Nordland, in Sweden, in 1736. In 1768 he accompanied Banks in his voyage with Cook. The Biog. Dict. says, that "he was a short fair man, rather fat, with small eyes, and good-humoured countenance."

C.

carry off every thing you have in the house, which, in a remote country, would be more valuable than cows and sheep? add to all this the danger of having your throat cut." BOSWELL. "I would have a large dog." JOHNSON. "So you may, Sir; but a large dog is of no use but to alarm." He, however, I apprehend, thinks too lightly of the power of that animal. I have heard him say, that he is afraid of no dog. "He would take him up by the hinder legs, which would render him quite helpless; and then knock his head against a stone, and beat out his brains." Topham Beauclerk told me, that at his house in the country, two large ferocious dogs were fighting. Dr. Johnson looked steadily at them for a little while; and then, as one would separate two little boys, who are foolishly hurting each other, he ran up to them, and cuffed their heads till he drove them asunder. But few men have his intrepidity, Herculean strength, or presence of mind. Most thieves or robbers would be afraid to encounter a mastiff.

I observed, that when young Col talked of the hands belonging to his family, he always said "my ands." For this he had a plausible pretence; for he told me, there has been a custom in this family, that the Laird resigns the estate to the eldest son when he comes of age, reserving to himself only a certain life-rent. He said, it was a voluntary custom; but I think I found an instance in the charterroom, that there was such an obligation in a contract of marriage. If the custom was voluntary, it was only curious; but if founded on obligation, it

VOL. V.

might be dangerous; for I have been told, that in Otaheite, whenever a child is born (a son, I think), the father loses his right to the estate and honours, and that this unnatural, or rather absurd custom, occasions the murder of many children.

Young Col told us he could run down a greyhound; "for," said he, "the dog runs himself out of breath, by going too quick, and then I get up with him."() I accounted for his advantage over the dog, by remarking that Col had the faculty of reason, and knew how to moderate his pace, which the dog had not sense enough to do. Dr. Johnson said, "He is a noble animal. He is as complete an islander as the mind can figure. He is a farmer, a sailor, a hunter, a fisher: he will run you down a dog if any man has a tail (2), it is Col. He is hospitable; and he has an intrepidity of talk, whether he understands the subject or not. I regret that he is not more intellectual."

Dr. Johnson observed, that there was nothing of which he would not undertake to persuade a Frenchman in a foreign country. "I'll carry a Frenchman to St. Paul's Churchyard, and I'll tell him, 'by our law you may walk half round the church, but, if you walk round the whole, you will be punished capitally; and he will believe me at once. Now, no Englishman would readily swallow such a thing:

(1) This is not spoken of hare-coursing, where the game is taken or lost before the dog gets out of wind; but in chasing deer with the great Highland greyhound, Col's exploit is feasible enough.- WALTER SCOTT.

(2) In allusion to Monboddo's theory, that a perfect man would have a tail.- C.

he would go and inquire of somebody else." The Frenchman's credulity, I observed, must be owing to his being accustomed to implicit submission; whereas every Englishman reasons upon the laws of his country, and instructs his representatives, who compose the legislature.

This day was passed in looking at a small island adjoining Inchkenneth, which afforded nothing worthy of observation; and in such social and gay entertainments as our little society could furnish.

Voyage to Iona.

CHAPTER III.

·Death of young Col.

Cave. "La Crédulité des Incrédules." —Coast of

Mull.

Nuns' Island. Icolmkill.

from Johnson's Tour. Pitt.- Walpole.

History compared.

Oban.

compared.

-

Inverary.

Return to Mull.- Pulteney. Wilkes.-English and Jewish "Turkish Spy." Moy.

Lochbuy's War-saddle. Sheep's-heads. Sail to Goldsmith's Traveller. Pope and Cowley Letter from Garrick. Hervey's "Meditations.". "Meditation on a Pudding." -Country Neighbours. Castle of Inverary. - Duke and Duchess of Argyle.— Influence of Peers.

Tuesday, Oct. 19.- AFTER breakfast we took leave of the young ladies, and of our excellent companion Col, to whom we had been so much obliged. He had now put us under the care of his chief; and was to hasten back to Sky. We parted from him with very strong feelings of kindness and gratitude, and we hoped to have had some future opportunity of proving to him the sincerity of what we felt; but in the following year he was unfortunately lost in the Sound between Ulva and Mull (1); and this

(1) Just opposite to M'Quarrie's house the boat was swamped by the intoxication of the sailors, who had partaken too largely of M'Quarrie's wonted hospitality.-WALTER SCOTT.-Johnson says in his Journey, "Here we had the last embrace of this amiable man, who, while these pages were preparing to attest