of his stock. This, most probably, was IRENE; but, if then finished, it was doomed to wait for a more happy period. It was of fered to Fleetwood, and rejected. Johnson looked round him for employment. Having, while he remained in the country, corresponded with Cave under a feigned name, he now thought it time to make himself known to a man whom he confidered as a patron of literature. Cave had announced, by public advertisement, a prize of fifty pounds for the best Poem on Life, Death, Judgement, Heaven, and Hell; and this circumftance diffused an idea of his liberality. Johnfon became connected with him in bufinefs, and in a clofe and intimate acquaintance. Of Cave's character it is unneceffary to fay any thing in this place, as Johnson was afterwards the biographer of his first and most useful patron. To be engaged in the tranflation of fome important book was still the object which Johnson had in view. For this purpofe he proposed to give the History of the Council of Trent, with copicus notes then lately added to a French edition. Twelve fheets of this work were printed, for which Johnfon received forty nine pounds, as appears by his receipt in the poffeffion of Mr. Nichols, the compiler of that entertaining and useful work, the Gentleman's Magazine. Johnson's tranflation was never completed; a like defign was offered to the publick, under the patronage of Dr. Zachary Pearce; and by that contention both attempts were fruftrated. Johnson had been commended by Pope for the tranflation of the Meffiah into Latin verfe; but he knew no approach to fo eminent a man. With one, however, who was connected with Pope, he became acquainted at St. John's Gate; and that perfon was no other than the well-known Richard Savage, whofe life was afterwards written by Johnson with great elegance, and a depth of moral reflection. Savage was a man of confiderable talents. His addrefs, his various accomplishments, and, above all, the peculiarity of his misfortunes recommended him to Johnson's notice. They became united in the closest intimacy. Both had great parts, and they were equally under the preffure of want. Sympathy joined them in a league of friendship. Johnfon has been often heard to relate, that he and Savage walked round Grofve nor nor-fquare till four in the morning; in the course of their converfation reforming the world, dethroning princes, establishing new forms of government, and giving laws to the feveral states of Europe, till, fatigued at length with their legislative office, they began to feel the want of refreshment; but could not mufter up more that four pence halfpenny. Savage, it is true, had many vices; but vice could never ftrike its roots in a mind like Johnson's, feasoned early with religion, and the principles of moral rectitude. His firft prayer was composed in the year 1738. He had not at that time renounced the use of wine; and, no doubt, occafionally enjoyed his friend and his bottle. The love of late hours, which followed him through life, was, perhaps, originally contracted in company with Savage. However that may be, their connection was not of long duration. In the year 1738, Savage was reduced to the last distress. Mr. Pope, in a letter to him, expreffed his concern for "the miferable withdrawing of his "penfion after the death of the Queen ;" and gave him hopes that, "in a fhort time, he “ should find himself fupplied with a compeVOL. I. с 66 tence, "tence, without any dependance on those "little creatures, whom we are pleased to call "the Great." The fcheme proposed to him was, that he should retire to Swanfea in Wales, and receive an allowance of fifty pounds a year, to be raised by fubfcription; Pope was to pay twenty pounds. This plan, though finally established, took more than a year before it was carried into execution. In the mean time, the intended retreat of Savage called to Johnfon's mind the third fatire of Juvenal, in which that poet takes leave of a friend, who was withdrawing himfelf from all the vices of Rome. Struck with this idea, he wrote that well-known Poem, called London. The first lines manifeftly point to Savage. 66 Though grief and fondness in my breast rebel, "When injured Thales bids the town farewell; "Yet ftill my calmer thoughts his choice com"mend; "I praise the hermit, but regret the friend. Johufon at that time lodged at Greenwich. He there fixes the fcene, and takes leave of his friend; who, he fays in his Life, parted from him with tears in his eyes. The poem, when finished, was offered to Cave. It happened, however, that the late Mr. Dodfley was the purchaser at the price of ten guineas. It was published in 1738; and Pope, we are told, faid, "The author, whoever he is, will 66 not be long concealed;" alluding to the paffage in Terence, Ubi, ubi eft, diu celari non poteft. Notwithstanding that prediction, it does not appear that, befides the copy-money, any advantage accrued to the author of a poem, written with the elegance and energy of Pope. Johnson, in Auguft 1738, went, with all the fame of his poetry, to offer himself a candidate for the mastership of the fchool at Appleby, in Leicestershire. The ftatutes of the place required, that the perfon chosen should be a master of arts. To remove this objection, the late Lord Gower was induced to write to a friend, in order to obtain for Johnfon a master's degree in the University of Dublin, by the recommendation of Dr. Swift. The letter was printed in one of the magazines, and is as follows: |