I  have  given  you  the  feelings  of  my  heart,  and  I  can
find  no  help  from  my  head.     To  atone  for  this,  I  send
you  my  journal  of  last  autumn,  which  may  perhaps
amuse  you  a  little :  you  will  laugh  at  my  whim,  and

c  2


20  LETTERS    OF    BOSWELL.
be  sorry  for  my  weakness.  I  insist  on  your  showing
it  to  nobody,  and  I  beg  that  you  may  return  it  when
you  have  read  it.  It  may  be  sent  in  parcels,  enclosed
to  "  George  Dempster,  Esq.,  Member  of  Parliament,
Manchester  Buildings,  Westminster."  I  have  finished
Hume's  History.  Bob  is  well  and  offers  compliments.
Claxton  supped  with  us  last  night ;  I  really  like  him
much.  I  shall  soon  make  you  a  better  answer  to  your
last.
I  ever  am  your  most  sincere  friend,

JAMES  BOSWELL.
Mr.  Dempster  here  mentioned  was,  it  will  be  re-
membered, the  gentleman  who,  according  to  Boswell,
was  so  struck  "  with  the  imperfect  account  I  gave  him
of  Dr.  Johnson's  conversation  that,  to  his  honour  be
it  recorded,  when  I  complained  that  drinking  port  and
sitting  up  late  with  him  affected  my  nerves  for  some
time  after,  he  said,  '  One  had  better  be  palsied  at  eigh-
teen than  not  keep  company  with  such  a  man.' '  He
was  confederated  about  this  time  with  the  Honour-
able Andrew  Erskine  and  Boswell  in  writing  a  pam-
phlet in  abuse  of  the  tragedy  of  '  Elvira,'  by  Mallet.
