Читать книгу The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. - James Boswell - Страница 132

He now refreshed himself by an excursion to Oxford, of which the following short characteristical notice, in his own words, is preserved:—

‘——[1039] is now making tea for me. I have been in my gown ever since I came here[1040]. It was, at my first coming, quite new and handsome. I have swum thrice, which I had disused for many years. I have proposed to Vansittart[1041], climbing over the wall, but he has refused me. And I have clapped my hands till they are sore, at Dr. King’s speech[1042].’

[Page 348: The great CHAM of literature. A.D. 1759.]

His negro servant, Francis Barber, having left him, and been some time at sea, not pressed as has been supposed, but with his own consent, it appears from a letter to John Wilkes, Esq., from Dr. Smollet, that his master kindly interested himself in procuring his release from a state of life of which Johnson always expressed the utmost abhorrence. He said, ‘No man will be a sailor who has contrivance enough to get himself into a jail; for being in a ship is being in a jail, with the chance of being drowned[1043].’ And at another time, ‘A man in a jail has more room, better food, and commonly better company[1044].’ The letter was as follows:—

[Page 349: Johnson’s black servant at sea. Ætat 50.]

‘Chelsea, March 16, 1759.