210 Anecdotes and Remarks
conception of rural beauties ; and, therefore, it is not to be wondered, that he should prefer the conversation of the metro polis to the silent groves and views of Greenwich * ; which, however delightful, he could not see. In his Tour through the Highlands of Scotland, he has somewhere observed, that one mountain was like another 2 ; so utterly unconscious was he of the wonderful variety of sublime and beautiful scenes those mountains exhibited. The writer of this remark was once present when the case of a gentleman was mentioned, who, having with great taste and skill formed the lawns and plan tations about his house into most beautiful landscapes, to complete one part of the scenery, was obliged to apply for leave to a neighbour with whom he was not upon cordial terms 3 ; when Johnson made the following remark, which at once shews what ideas he had of landscape improvement, and how happily he applied the most common incidents to moral instruction. * See how inordinate desires enslave man ! No desire can be more innocent than to have a pretty garden, yet, indulged to excess, it has made this poor man submit to beg a favour of his enemy.' (Page 520.)
This [the statement that 'when Johnson did eat it was voraciously '] is extremely exaggerated. He ate heartily, having a good appetite, but not with the voraciousness described by
��hard with passion struggling for a men, I answered, " Yes, Sir ; but
vent) I was short-sighted. We have not equal to Fleet-street." JOHN-
done with civility. We are to be as SON. " You are right, Sir." ' Ib. i.
rude as we please." PERCY. " Upon 461.
my honour, Sir, I did not mean to 2 'The hills exhibit very little
be uncivil." JOHNSON. " I cannot variety, being almost wholly covered
say so, Sir ; for I did mean to be with dark heath, and even that seems
uncivil, thinking you had been un- to be checked in its growth.' Works,
civil." ' Life, iii. 273. ix. 35. ' The Highlands are very
1 * We walked in the evening in uniform, for there is little variety
Greenwich Park. He asked me, in universal barrenness.' Letters, i.
I suppose, byway of trying my dis- 250.
position, " Is not this very fine ? " 3 Shenstone perhaps is meant,
Having no exquisite relish of the who ' was not upon cordial terms J
beauties of Nature, and being more with his neighbours the Lytteltons.
delighted with the busy hum of Works, viii. 410; ante t ii. 3.
Mr.
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