[1083] Voltaire was born in 1694; his Louis XIV. was published in 1751 or 1752.
[1084] A society for debate in Edinburgh, consisting of the most eminent men. BOSWELL. It was founded in 1754 by Allan Ramsay the painter, aided by Robertson, Hume, and Smith. Dugald Stewart (Life of Robertson, ed. 1802, p. 5) says that 'it subsisted in vigour for six or seven years' and produced debates, such as have not often been heard in modern assemblies.' See also Dr. A. Carlyle's Auto. p. 297.
[1085] 'As for Maclaurin's imitation of a made dish, it was a wretched attempt.' Ante, i. 469.
[1086] It was of Lord Elibank's French cook 'that he exclaimed with vehemence, "I'd throw such a rascal into the river."'Ib.
[1087] 'He praised Gordon's palates with a warmth of expression which might have done honour to more important subjects.' Ib.
[1088] For the alarm he gave to Mrs. Boswell before this supper, see ib.
[1089] On Dr. Boswell's death, in 1780, Boswell wrote of him:—'He was a very good scholar, knew a great many things, had an elegant taste, and was very affectionate; but he had no conduct. His money was all gone. And do you know he was not confined to one woman. He had a strange kind of religion; but I flatter myself he will be ere long, if he is not already, in Heaven.' Letters of Boswell, p. 258.
[1090] Johnson had written the Life of 'the great Boerhaave,' as he called him. Works, vi. 292.
[1091] 'At Edinburgh,' he wrote, 'I passed some days with men of learning, whose names want no advancement from my commemoration, or with women of elegance, which, perhaps, disclaims a pedant's praise.' Johnson's Works, ix. 159.
[1092] See ante, iv. 178.