Boswell the Biographer

by George Mallory

From which hung down such stiff, lank hair,

As might the crows in Autumn scare.

But besides being a somewhat light-headed poet, Boswell was anxious to appear as the 'young Buck.' 'The Epistle of a London Buck to his Friend' is the title of one of his publications in the 'Collection of Original Poems.' There is also a confused story of a club he formed in Edinburgh called the 'Soaping Club,' which existed apparently for Bacchanalian purposes; Boswell was the king of the Soapers and wrote some verses about himself:

Boswell is pleasant and gay,

For frolic by nature designed;

He heedlessly rattles away

When the company is to his mind.

'This maxim,' he says, 'you may see,

We never can have corn without chaff';