he called unprofitable
chat; and to a gentleman who had disserted some time about the natural
history of the mouse--"I wonder what such a one would have said," cried
Johnson, "if he had ever had the luck to see a _lion_!"

I well remember that at Brighthelmstone once, when he was not present,
Mr. Beauclerc asserted that he was afraid of spirits; and I, who was
secretly offended at the charge, asked him, the first opportunity I could
find, "what ground he had ever given to the world for such a report?" "I
can," replied he, "recollect nothing nearer it than my telling Dr.
Lawrence, many years ago, that a long time after my poor mother's death I
heard her voice call '_Sam_!'" "What answer did the Doctor make to your
story, sir?" said I. "None in the world," replied he, and suddenly
changed the conversation. Now, as Mr. Johnson had a most unshaken faith,
without any mixture of credulity, this story must either have been
strictly true, or his persuasion of its truth the effect of disordered
spirits. I relate the anecdote precisely as he told it me, but could not
prevail on him to draw out the talk into length for further satisfaction
of my curiosity.

As Johnson was the firmest of believers, without being credulous, so he
was the most charitable of mortals, without being what we call an active
friend. Admirable at giving counsel, no man saw his way so clearly; but
he would not stir a finger for the assistance of those to whom he was
willing enough to give advice: besides that, he had principles of
laziness, and could be indolent by rule. To hinder your death, or
procure you a dinner, I mean if really in want of one; his earnestness,
his exertions could not be prevented, though health and purse and ease
were all destroyed by their violence. If you wanted a slight favour, you
must apply to people of other dispositions; for not a step would Johnson
move to obtain a man a vote in a society, to repay a compliment which
might be useful or pleasing, to write a letter of request, or to obtain a
hundred pounds a year more for a friend, who perhaps had already two or
three. No force could urge him to diligence, no importunity could
conquer his resolution of standing still. "What good are we doing with
all this ado?" would he say; "dearest lady, let's hear no more of it!" I
have, however, more than once in my life forced him on such services, but
with extreme difficulty.

We parted at his door one evening when I had tease