“Comes jucundus in via pro vehiculo est.
“To John Wilkes, Esq., as pleasant a companion as ever lived.
From the Author.
“...Will my Wilkes retreat,
And see, once seen before, that ancient seat,” &c.
[83] This satirical allusion to Lord Monboddo is conceived in the very worst taste. His lordship had shown marked attention to Boswell in his youth, and had entertained him and Dr. Johnson at Monboddo, during the progress of their tour. Latterly his lordship and Dr. Johnson had differed, and probably on this account Boswell considered himself entitled to make this offensive allusion to his philosophical opinions.
[84] Boswell’s motion in Court, quare adhæsit pavimento, is preserved as a jest in the courts of Westminster.
[85] Letter from Boswell to Mr. Temple.
[86] Letter to Mr. Temple of 22nd May.
[87] Letter to Mr. Temple.
[88] Henry Seymour Conway, a General in the army, was brother of the first Marquess of Hertford. He was under the Rockingham administration Secretary of State for Ireland, and leader of the House of Commons. He died in 1795.
[89] Pitt was brought into Parliament for the close borough of Appleby by Sir James Lowther, afterwards Lord Lonsdale.