I PASSED many hours with him on the 17th, [May], of which I find all my memorial is, “much laughing." It should seem he had that day been in a humour for jocularity and merriment, and upon such occasions I never knew a man laugh more heartily. We may suppose that the high relish of a state so different from his habitual gloom produced more than ordinary exertions of that distinguishing faculty of man, which has puzzled philosophers so much to explain. Johnson's laugh was as remarkable as any circumstance in his manner. was a kind of good-humoured growl. Tom Davies described it drolly enough: "He laughs like a rhinoceros.”

66 TO BENNET LANGTON, ESQ.

lt

"I am not sorry that you read Boswell's journal. Is it not a merry piece? There is much in it about poor me. "Do not buy C-'s 2 Travels; they are duller than T- 's 3. W- 4 is too fond of words, but you may read him. I shall take care that Adair's account of America may be sent you, for I shall have it of my own.

"Beattie has called once to see me. He lives grand at the archbishop's."]

"TO JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.

"27th May, 1775. "DEAR SIR, I make no doubt but you are now safely lodged in your own habitation, and have told all your adventures to Mrs. Boswell and Miss Veronica. Pray teach Veronica to love me. Bid her not mind mamma.

"Mrs. Thrale has taken cold, and been very much disordered, but I hope is grown well. Mr. Langton went yesterday to Lincolnshire, and has invited Nicolaida 5 to follow him. Beauclerk talks of going to Bath. I am to set out on Monday; so there is nothing but dispersion.

"I have returned Lord Hailes's entertaining sheets, but must stay till I come back for more, because it will be inconvenient to send them after me in my vagrant state. "I promised Mrs. Macaulay that I

6

2 [Probably "Chandler's Travels in Asia Minor."-ED.]

3 [Probably "Travels through Spain and Portugal in 1772 and 1775, by Richard Twiss, Esq." -ED.]

4 [Probably "Cursory Remarks made in a Tour through some of the Northern Parts of Europe, by Nathaniel Wraxall, jun.”—ED.]

5 A learned Greek.-BoswELL. [Mr. Langton was an enthusiast about Greek.-ED.]

6 Wife of the Reverend Mr. Kenneth Macau| lay, author of "The History of St. Kilda.”— BOSWELL.

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