[1159] The rest of this paragraph appears to be a minute of what was told by Captain Irwin. BOSWELL.
[1160] Melchior Canus, a celebrated Spanish Dominican, who died at Toledo, in 1560. He wrote a treatise De Locis Theologicis, in twelve books. BOSWELL.
[1161] D'Argenson's. CROKER.
[1162] See Macaulay's Essays, i. 355, and Mr. Croker's answer in his note on this passage. His notion that 'this book was exhibited purposely on the lady's table, in the expectation that her English visitors would think it a literary curiosity,' seems absurd. He does not choose to remember the 'Bibl. des Fées and other books.' Since I wrote this note Mr. Napier has published an edition of Boswell, in which this question is carefully examined (ii. 550). He sides with Macaulay.
[1163] 'Si quelque invention peut suppléer à la connaissance qui nous est refusée des longitudes sur la mer, c'est celle du plus habile horloger de France (M. Leroi) qui dispute cette invention à l'Angleterre.' Voltaire, Siècle de Louis XV, ch. 43.
[1164] The Palais Marchand was properly only the stalls which were placed along some of the galleries of the Palais. They have been all swept away in Louis Philippe's restoration of the Palais. CROKER.
[1165] 'Petit siège de bois sur lequel on faisait asseoir, pour les interroger, ceux qui étaient accusés d'un délit pouvant faire encourir une peine afflictive.' LITTRÃ.
[1166] The Conciergerie, before long to be crowded with the victims of the Revolution.
[1167] This passage, which so many think superstitious, reminds me of Archbishop Laud's Diary. BOSWELL. Laud, for instance, on Oct. 27, 1640, records:—'In my upper study hung my picture taken by the life; and coming in, I found it fallen down upon the face, and lying on the floor, the string being broken by which it was hanged against the wall. I am almost every day threatened with my ruin in Parliament. God grant this be no omen.' Perhaps there was nothing superstitious in Johnson's entry. He may have felt ill in mind or body, and dreaded to become worse.
[1168] For a brief account of Fréron, father and son, see Carlyle's French Revolution, part ii. bk. 1. ch. 4.