the most desperate circumstances, I never lost courage, trusting as I
did in Providence." I ventured to object: "But why has not Providence
interposed sooner?" He replied with a noble, serious and devout air,
"Because his ways are unsearchable. I adore him for what he hath done. I
revere him in what he hath not done."

I gave Paoli the character of my revered friend Mr. Samuel Johnson. I
have often regreted that illustrious men such as humanity produces a few
times in the revolution of many ages, should not see each other; and
when such arise in the same age, though at the distance of half the
globe, I have been astonished how they could forbear to meet.

"As steel sharpneth steel, so doth a man the countenance of his friend,"
says the wise monarch. What an idea may we not form of an interview
between such a scholar and philosopher as Mr. Johnson, and such a
legislatour and general as Paoli![125]

[Footnote 125: "On the evening of October 10, 1769, I presented Dr.
Johnson to General Paoli. I had greatly wished that two men, for whom I
had the highest esteem, should meet. They met with a manly ease,
mutually conscious of their own abilities, and of the abilities of each
other."--Boswell's "Johnson."--ED.]

I repeated to Paoli several of Mr. Johnson's sayings, so remarkable for
strong sense and original humour. I now recollect these two.

When I told Mr. Johnson that a certain authour affected in conversation
to maintain, that there was no distinction between virtue and vice, he
said, "Why Sir, if the fellow does not think as he speaks, he is lying;
and I see not what honour he can propose to himself from having the
character of a lyar. But if he does really think that there is no
distinction between virtue and vice, why Sir, when he leaves our houses
let us count our spoons."[126]

[Footnote 126: See Boswell's "Johnson." Date of July 14th, 1763.--ED.]

Of modern infidels and innovatours, he said, "Sir, these are all vain
men, and will gratify themselves at any expence. Truth will not afford
sufficient food to their vanity; so they have betaken themselves to
errour. Truth Sir, is a cow which will yield such people no more milk,
and so they are gone to milk the bull."[127]

[Footnote 127: See Boswell's "Johnson." Date of July 20th, 1763.--ED.]

I felt an elation of mind to see Paoli delighted with the sayings of Mr.
Johnson, and to hear him translate them with Italian energy to the
Corsican heroes.

I repeated