XT. 



IN his celebrated journey to the western islands of 

 Scotland, Dr. Johnson tells us that when at TJlinish, 

 hearing of a cavern by the sea-side remarkable for 

 powerful reverberations of sound, he determined to 

 pay a visit to the spot. After dinner, having pro- 

 cured the services of some boatmen, the doctor, in 

 company with Bozzy, started off on his trip, which, 

 on the whole, appears to have been a pleasant one. 

 There was, however, no echo to be heard; but to 

 make up for this disappointment, Mr. Boswell went 

 angling, and caught a wee c cuddy/ (a fish about the 

 size of a gudgeon), while the doctor was gratified by 

 the sight of some sea- weed growing upon stones, and 

 above all, at witnessing for the first time Mussels 

 in their natural state. 



The impression made by this candid acknowledg- 

 ment upon our minds is one of wonder, that a man 

 like Johnson could have reached his advanced 

 years without having seen so common a sight. But 

 it is possible that even in our day, with its uii- 



