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The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson, LL.D.

James Boswell · 1785

passage 4 of 228 · (4/109)

↪ you wandered here via “Sir William Scott Commons” — the connecting lines are tinted below

in brief
Boswell describes how Samuel Johnson and associates traveled toward his native city, noting post-chaise travel, and then begins a biographical sketch of Johnson’s religious, moral, political, and literary character.

may be understood, that I insert my own letters, as I relate my own sayings, rather as keys to what is valuable belonging to others, than for their own sake.

Luckily Mr Justice (now Sir Robert) Chambers, who was about to sail for the East Indies, was going to take leave of his relations at Newcastle, and he conducted Dr Johnson to that town. Mr Scott, of University College, Oxford, (now Dr Scott, of the Commons) accompanied him from thence to Edinburgh. With such propitious convoys did he proceed to my native city. But, lest metaphor should make it be supposed he actually went by sea, I choose to mention that he travelled in post-chaises, of which the rapid motion was one of his most favourite amusements.

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topics: education and the training of the young · forms of government · religious persecution and toleration

The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson, LL.D. · James Boswell · 1785