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s most so when the idea is connected with the idea of number； for the notion of infinite numberand infinite number we know there isstretches one's capacity still more than the idea of infinite space。 〃Such a notion； indeed；〃 adds he； 〃can scarcely find room in the human mind。〃 Our English author； on the other hand； exclaims； let no man give himself leave to talk about infinite number； for infinite number is a contradiction in terms； whatever is once numbered； we all see； cannot be infinite。 〃I think；〃 said Mr。 Johnson； after a pause； 〃we must settle the matter thus： numeration is certainly infinite； for eternity might be employed in adding unit to unit； but every number is in itself finite； as the possibility of doubling it easily proves； besides； stop at what point you will； you find yourself as far from infinitude as ever。〃 These passages I wrote down as soon as I had heard them； and repent that I did not take the same method with a dissertation he made one other day that he was very ill； concerning the peculiar properties of the number sixteen； which I afterwards tried； but in vain； to make him repeat。
As ethics or figures； or metaphysical reasoning； was the sort of talk he most delighted in； so no kind of conversation pleased him less； I think； than when the subject was historical fact or general polity。 〃What shall we learn from THAT stuff？〃 said he。 〃Let us not fancy； like Swift； that we are exalting a woman's character by telling how she
〃'Could name the ancient heroes round； Explain for what they were renowned；' etc。〃
I must not； however； lead my readers to suppose that he meant to reserve such talk for men's company as a proof of pre…eminence。 〃He never；〃 as he expressed it； 〃desired to hear of the Punic War while he lived； such conversation was lost time；〃 he said； 〃and carried one away from common life； leaving no ideas behind which could serve LIVING WIGHT as warning or direction。〃
〃How I should act is not the case； But how would Brutus in my place。〃
〃And now；〃 cries Mr。 Johnson； laughing with obstreperous violence； 〃if these two foolish lines can be equalled in folly； except by the two succeeding onesshow them me。〃
I asked him once concerning the conversation powers of a gentleman with whom I was myself unacquainted。 〃He talked to me at club one day；〃 replies our Doctor； 〃concerning Catiline's conspiracy； so I withdrew my attention； and thought about Tom Thumb。〃
Modern politics fared no better。 I was one time extolling the character of a statesman； and expatiating on the skill required to direct the different currents； reconcile the jarring interests； etc。 〃Thus；〃 replies he； 〃a mill is a complicated piece of mechanism enough； but the water is no part of the workmanship。〃 On another occasion； when some one lamented the weakness of a then present minister； and complained that he was dull and tardy； and knew little of affairs： 〃You may as well complain； sir；〃 says Johnson； 〃that the accounts of time are kept by the clock； for he certainly does stand still upon the stair…headand we all know that he is no great chronologer。〃 In the year 1777； or thereabouts； when all the talk was of an invasion； he said most pathetically one afternoon； 〃Alas！ alas！ how this unmeaning stuff spoils all my comfort in my friends' conversation！ Will the people have done with it； and shall I never hear a sentence again without the FRENCH in it？ Here is no invasion coming； and you KNOW there is none。 Let the vexatious and frivolous talk alone； or suffer it at least to teach you ONE truth； and learn by this perpetual echo of even unapprehended distress how historians magnify events expected or calamities endured； when you know they are at this very moment collecting all the big words they can find； in which to describe a consternation never felt； for a misfortune which never happened。 Among all your lamentations； who eats the lesswho sleeps the worse； for one general's ill…success； or another's capitulation？ OH； PRAY let us hear no more of it！〃 No man； however； was more zealously attached to his party； he not only loved a Tory himself； but he loved a man the better if he heard he hated a Whig。 〃Dear Bathurst；〃 said he to me one day； 〃was a man to my very heart's content： he hated a fool； and he hated a rogue； and he hated a WHIG； he was a very good HATER。〃
Some one mentioned a gentleman of that party for having behaved oddly on an occasion where faction was not concerned： 〃Is he not a citizen of London； a native of North America； and a Whig？〃 says Johnson。 〃Let him be absurd； I beg you of you； when a monkey is TOO like a man； it shocks one。〃
Severity towards the poor was； in Dr。 Johnson's opinion （as is visible in his 〃Life of Addison〃 particularly）； an undoubted and constant attendant or consequence upon Whiggism； and he was not contented with giving them relief； he wished to add also indulgence。 He loved the poor as I never yet saw any one else do； with an earnest desire to make them happy。 〃What signifies；〃 says some one； 〃giving halfpence to common beggars？ they only lay it out in gin or tobacco。〃 〃And why should they be denied such sweeteners of their existence？〃 says Johnson； 〃it is surely very savage to refuse them every possible avenue to pleasure； reckoned too coarse for our own acceptance。 Life is a pill which none of us can bear to swallow without gilding； yet for the poor we delight in stripping it still barer； and are not ashamed to show even visible displeasure if ever the bitter taste is taken from their mouths。〃 In consequence of these principles he nursed whole nests of people in his house； where the lame； the blind； the sick； and the sorrowful found a sure retreat from all the evils whence his little income could secure them： and commonly spending the middle of the week at our house； he kept his numerous family in Fleet Street upon a settled allowance； but returned to them every Saturday； to give them three good dinners； and his company； before he came back to us on the Monday nighttreating them with the same； or perhaps more ceremonious civility than he would have done by as many people of fashionmaking the Holy Scriptures thus the rule of his conduct； and only expecting salvation as he was able to obey its precepts。
While Dr。 Johnson possessed； however； the strongest compassion for poverty or illness； he did not even pretend to feel for those who lamented the loss of a child； a parent； or a friend。 〃These are the distresses of sentiment；〃 he would reply； 〃which a man who is really to be pitied has no leisure to feel。 The sight of people who want food and raiment is so common in great cities； that a surly fellow like me has no compassion to spare for wounds given only to vanity or softness。〃 No man； therefore； who smarted from the ingratitude of his friends； found any sympathy from our philosopher。 〃Let him do good on higher motives next time；〃 would be the answer； 〃he will then be sure of his reward。〃 It is easy to observe that the justice of such sentences made them offensive； but we must be careful how we condemn a man for saying what we know to be true； only because it IS so。 I hope that the reason our hearts rebelled a little against h