another with some asperity in their writings." Indeed, when Boswell suggested to Mr. Edward Dilly that he invite Dr. Johnson to his house to dine with Mr. Wilkes, Mr. Dilly exclaimed:
"What! with Mr. Wilkes? Not for the world. Dr. Johnson would never forgive me."
Boswell, however, undertook to arrange the meeting.
"Notwithstanding the high veneration which I entertained for Dr. Johnson, I was sensible that he was sometimes a little actuated by the spirit of contradiction, and by means of that I hoped that I should gain my point. I was persuaded that if I had come upon him with a direct proposal, 'Sir, will you dine in company with Jack Wilkes' he would have flown into a passion, and would probably have answered, 'Dine with Jack Wilkes, Sir! I'd as soon dine with Jack Ketch.' I, therefore, while we were sitting quietly by ourselves at his house in an evening, took occasion to open my plan thus:—'Mr. Dilly, Sir, sends his respectful compliments to you, and would be happy if you would do him the honor to dine with him on Wednesday next along with me, as I must soon go to Scotland.' Johnson. 'Sir, I am obliged to Mr. Dilly. I will wait upon him—' Boswell.
