master, who, they knew, liked Foote much as a
companion. At last they fixed upon a little black boy, who was rather a
favorite, to be their deputy, and deliver their remonstrance; and,
having invested him with the sole authority of the kitchen, he was to
inform Mr. Fitzherbert, in all their names, upon a certain day, that
they would drink Foote's small-beer no longer. On that day Foote
happened to dine at Fitzherbert's, and this boy served at table; he was
so delighted with Foote's stories, and merriment, and grimace, that when
he went down stairs, he told them, 'This is the finest man I have ever
seen. I will not deliver your message. I will drink his small-beer.'"

... Mr. Wilkes remarked, that "among all the bold flights of
Shakespeare's imagination, the boldest was making Birnam-wood march to
Dunsinane; creating a wood where there never was a shrub; a wood in
Scotland! ha! ha! ha!" And he also observed, that "the clannish slavery
of the Highlands of Scotland was the single exception to Milton's remark
of 'the mountain nymph, sweet Liberty,' being worshipped in all hilly
countries." "When I was at Inverary," said he, "on a visit to my old
friend Archibald, Duke of Argyle, his dependents congratulated me on
being such a favorite of his Grace. I said, 'It is, then, gentlemen,
truly lucky for me; for if I had displeased the Duke, and he had wished
it, there is not a Campbell among you but would have been ready to bring
John Wilkes's head to him in a charger. It would have been only

"'Off with his head! so much for _Aylesbury_.'

"I was then member for Aylesbury."

... Mr. Arthur Lee mentioned some Scotch who had taken possession of a
barren part of America, and wondered why they should choose it.
_Johnson._ "Why, Sir, all barrenness is comparative. The _Scotch_ would
not know it to be barren." _Boswell._ "Come, come, he is flattering the
English. You have now been in Scotland, Sir, and say if you did not see
meat and drink enough there." _Johnson._ "Why, yes, Sir; meat and drink
enough to give the inhabitants sufficient strength to run away from
home." All these quick and lively sallies were said sportively, quite in
jest, and with a smile, which showed that he meant only wit. Upon this
topic he and Mr. Wilkes could perfectly assimilate; here was a bond of
union between them, and I was conscious that as both of them had visited
Caledonia, both were fully satisfied of the strange narrow ignorance of
those who im