23 SEPTEMBER 1911, Page 25

Dr. Johnson. By Alexander Cross. (St. Catherine Press.)—If a man

is to be judged by what he thinks of Dr. Johnson, Mr. Cross should stand well The contents of this book have been given in the shape of a lecture, and it is well that they should reach readers as well as hearers. It does justice to the subject, and Mr. Cross quite understands that the subject includes BoswelL The great man is duly appreciated, and the little man also, without whom the other could never have found his proper place in the world. Mr. Cross rather spoils the " brewery " story. Johnson did not " define" a brewery as a potentiality of growing rich beyond the dreams of avarice. What he did was to say to someone who was surprised to see him busying himself about the sale of Thrale's brewery, " We are not selling vats, &c., but the potentiality," &c. "As true in recent times as in Dr. Johnson's" goes on Mr. Cross. What does he mean by "recent" ?—hardly present times, for the breweries of England have depreciated more than any other kind of property.