650. London’s Golden Age: The Mad Life of Dr Johnson (Part 1)

I drank tea at Davis's in Russell Street, and about seven came in the great Mr. Samuel Johnson, whom I have so long wished to see. Mr. Davis introduced me to him. As I knew his mortal antipathy of the Scotch, I cried to Davis, Don't tell where I come from!

However, he said, From Scotland. Mr Johnson, said I, indeed I come from Scotland, but I cannot help it. Sir, replied he, that I find, is what a very great many of your countrymen cannot help. Mr Johnson is a man of a most dreadful appearance. He's a very big man, is troubled with sore eyes, the palsy, and the king's evil.

He is very slovenly in his dress, and speaks with the most uncouth voice, yet his great knowledge and strength of expression command vast respect, and they render him very excellent company. He has great humour, and he is a worthy man, but his dogmatical roughness of manners is disagreeable. So that is arguably the most famous meeting in British literary history, perhaps all literary history. It took place in Thomas Davis's bookshop off Covent Garden in London on the 16th of May 1763. Now one of these people was then unknown, but the other one was already a celebrity.

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