322 Anecdotes.
��among the Scots, like bread in a besieged town, to every man a mouthful, to no man a bellyful V This story he likewise acknowledged, and said besides, ' that some officious friend had carried it to Lord Bute, who only answered ' Well, well ! never mind what he says he will have the pension all one.'
Another famous reply to a Scotsman who commended the beauty and dignity of Glasgow, till Mr. Johnson stopped him by observing, ' that he probably had never yet seen Brentford Y was one of the jokes he owned : and said himself, ' that when a gentleman of that country once mentioned the lovely prospects common in his nation, he could not help telling him, that the view of the London road was the prospect in which every Scotsman most naturally and most rationally delighted V
Mrs. Brook received an answer not unlike this, when expa tiating on the accumulation of sublime and beautiful objects, which form the fine prospect UP the river St. Lawrence in North America ; * Come Madam (says Dr. Johnson), confess that nothing ever equalled your pleasure in seeing that sight reversed ; and finding yourself looking at the happy prospect DOWN the river St. Lawrence 4 .' The truth is, he hated to hear about
1 ' Their learning is like bread in went soon after their marriage, about a besieged town : every man gets 1756. Diet. Nat. Biog.
a little, but no man gets a full meal.' ' The evening before her departure
Life, ii. 363. to Canada some friends met at her
2 ' I once reminded him that when apartments to take their farewell, Dr. Adam Smith was expatiating on Miss Hannah More, Miss Seward, the beauty of Glasgow, he had cut Mr. Keate, Dr. Johnson and Mr. him short by saying, " Pray, Sir, Boswell were among her visitors. have you ever seen Brentford ? " and As Dr. Johnson was obliged to leave I took the liberty to add, " My dear the company early he rose, and wish- Sir, surely that was shocking" "Why ing her health and happiness went then, Sir (he replied), you have never seemingly away. In a few minutes seen Brentford."' Ib. iv. 186; v. a servant came to acquaint her that 369. a gentleman in the parlour wished
3 For the correct version of this to speak with her. She accordingly story see ib. i. 425. went down stairs, where she found
4 Frances Brooke. Life,\\\. 259, the Doctor, who said to her, " Madam, n. I. Her husband, Rev. John I sent for you down stairs that I Brooke, D.D., was chaplain to the might kiss you, which I did not garrison at Quebec, whither they choose to do before so much com-
prospects
�� �� �
