The Appreciation of Nature
Boswell is a man with a longing for natural beauty. In fact he proposes the journey to his friend, Dr. Johnson. He is taking advantage of the trip for two purposes: first to take in the scenery and second to prepare for a biography he intends to write about Johnson. In their travels, Boswell's intense desire to soak in the sights often slows the couple down. Seeing as the purpose of the expedition is to get some sun and take in the scenery, he is justified in his delay but nevertheless remain confrontational. He records meticulous notes about his observations of plants, islands, and animals. There is a marked distinction between how Boswell approaches the people and the nature.
Conflict
Because Boswell is partially taking this trip in order to acquaint himself with Johnson's habits better, he pays careful attention to his friend, often recording the eccentricities of Johnson's occupations. In these notes, he recalls several conflicts in which he engaged with Johnson. They remained first and foremost friends before colleagues, but this doesn't prevent Johnson from becoming annoyed by Boswell's constant note-taking and general reticence to stick to the plan. Additionally, Johnson is not the only person with whom Boswell fails to agree. When they stay with Sir Macdonald on Skye, Boswell nearly avoids a duel -- and then again later after the journal's publishing -- because he paid too close attention to their host's wife. Boswell is a world traveler who is not afraid to test the status quo of his companions.
Admiration
Often in his account of Johnson, Boswell slips into a sort of stupor. He rambles on and on about his friends eccentricities in a way that paints Johnson as a master of intrigue. This trip is taken after Johnson's dictionary has been published, making him a legend among his countrymen. Dwelling largely upon the celebrity status of his friend, Boswell continually takes the opportunity to laud Johnson for his accomplishments and his ability to think independently and retain poise under pressure. These affirmations are prefiguring of Boswell's biography on Johnson which follows not long after the publication of this journal.
