TO MR. CAVE.

[No date.] 'SIR, --I am extremely obliged by your kind letter, and will not fail to attend you to-morrow with "Irene," who looks upon you as one of her best friends.

'I was to-day with Mr. Dodsley, who declares very warmly in favour of the paper you sent him, which he desires to have a share in, it being, as he says, a creditable thing to be concerned in. I knew not what answer to make till I had consulted you, nor what to demand on the author's part, but am very willing that, if you please, he should have a part in it, as he will undoubtedly be more diligent to disperse and promote it. If you can send me word to-morrow what I shall say to him, I will settle matters, and bring the poem with me for the press, which, as the town empties, we cannot be too quick with.-I am, sir, yours, etc.,

'SAM. JOHNSON.'

To us who have long known the manly force, bold spirit, and masterly versification of this poem, it is a matter of curiosity to observe the diffidence with which its author brought it forward into public notice, while he is so cautious as not to avow it to be his own production; and with what humility he offers to allow the printer to 'alter any stroke of satire which he might dislike.' That any such alteration was made, we do not know. If we did, we could not but feel an indignant regret; but how painful is it to see that a writer of such vigorous powers of mind was actually in such distress, that the small profit which so short a poem, however excellent, could yield, was courted as a 'relief!'

It has been generally said, I know not with what truth, that Johnson offered his London to several booksellers, none of whom would purchase it. To this circumstance Mr. Derrick alludes in the following lines of his Fortune, a Rhapsody:

Will no kind patron Johnson own?
Shall Johnson friendless range the town?
And every publisher refuse

The offspring of his happy Muse?'

But we have seen that the worthy, modest, and ingenious Mr. Robert Dodsley, had taste enough to perceive its uncommon merit, and thought it creditable to have a share in it. The fact is, that at a future conference he bargained for the whole property of it, for which he gave Johnson ten guineas; who told me, I might perhaps have accepted of less, but that Paul Whitehead had a little before got ten guineas for a poem, and I would not take less than Paul Whitehead.'

I may here observe, that Johnson appeared to me to undervalue Paul Whitehead upon every occasion when he was mentioned, and in my opinion did not do him justice; but when

it is considered that Paul Whitehead was a member of a riotous and profane club,' we may account for Johnson having a prejudice against him. Paul Whitehead was, indeed, unfortunate in being not only slighted by Johnson, but violently attacked by Churchill, who utters the following imprecation :

"May I (can worse disgrace on manhood fall?)
Be born a Whitehead, and baptized a Paul !'

yet I shall never be persuaded to think meanly of the author of so brilliant and pointed a satire as Manners.

Johnson's London was published in May 1738; and it is remarkable that it came out on the some morning with Pope's satire, entitled '1738;' so that England had at once its Juvenal and Horace as poetical monitors. The Reverend Dr. Douglas, now Bishop of Salisbury, to whom I am indebted for some obliging communications, was then a student at Oxford, and remembers well the effect which London produced. Everybody was delighted with it; and there being no name to it, the first buzz of the literary circles was, 'Here is an unknown poet, greater even than Pope.' And it is recorded in the Gentleman's Magazine of that year, that it got to the second edition in the course of a week.'

One of the warmest patrons of this poem on its first appearance was General Oglethorpe, whose strong 'benevolence of soul' was unabated during the course of a very long life; though it is painful to think that he had but too much reason to become cold and callous, and discontented with the world, from the negleet which he experienced of his public and private worth by those in whose power it was to gratify so gallant a veteran with marks of distinction. This extraordinary person was as remarkable for his learning and taste as for his other eminent qualities; and no man was

1 The Beef-Steak Club, which met in Covent Garden. 2 Sir John Hawkins, p. 86, tells us, "The event is ante-dated in the poem of London; but in every particular, except the difference of a year, what is there said of the departure of Thales must be understood of Savage, and looked upon as true history.' This conjecture is, I believe, entirely groundless. I have been assured that Johnson said he was not so much as ac

quainted with Savage when he wrote his London. If the departure mentioned in it was the departure of Savage, the event was not ante-dated, but foreseen; for London was published in May 1738, and Savage did not set out for Wales till July 1739. However well Johnson could defend the credibility of second sight, he did not pretend that he himself was possessed of that faculty.-BosWELL.

The assertion that Johnson was not even acquainted with Savage when he published his London, may be doubtful. Johnson took leave of Savage when he went to Wales in 1739, and must have been acquainted with him before that period. See his Life of Savage.A. CHALMERS.

more prompt, active, and generous in encouraging merit. I have heard Johnson gratefully acknowledge, in his presence, the kind and effectual support which he gave to his London, though unacquainted with its author.

Pope, who then filled the poetical throne without a rival, it may reasonably be presumed, must have been particularly struck by the sudden appearance of such a poet; and to his credit let it be remembered, that his feelings and conduct on the occasion were candid and liberal. He requested Mr. Richardson, son of the painter, to endeavour to find out who this new author was. Mr. Richardson, after some inquiry, having informed him that he had discovered only that his name was Johnson, and that he was some obscure man, Pope said, 'He will soon be déterre.' We shall presently see, from a note written by Pope, that he was himself afterwards more successful in his inquiries than his friend.

That in this justly celebrated poem may be found a few rhymes which the critical position of English prosody at this day would disallow, cannot be denied; but with this small imperfection, which in the general blaze of its excellence is not perceived till the mind has subsided into cool attention, it is undoubtedly one of the noblest productions in our language, both for sentiment and expression. The nation was then in that ferment against the court and the ministry which some years after ended in the downfall of Sir Robert Walpole; and it has been said that Tories are Whigs when out of place, and Whigs Tories when in place: so, as a Whig Administration ruled with what force it could, a Tory Opposition had all the animation and all the eloquence of resistance to power, aided by the common topics of patriotism, liberty, and independence. Accordingly, we find in Johnson's London the most spirited invectives against tyranny and oppression, the warmest predilection for his own country, and the purest love of virtue; interspersed with traits of his own particular character and situation, not omitting his prejudices as 'true born Englishman,' not only against foreign countries, but against Ireland and Scotland. On some of these topics I shall quote a few passages :

The cheated nation's happy fav'rites see;
Mark whom the great caress, who frown on me.'
Has heaven reserv'd, in pity to the poor,
No pathless waste, or undiscover'd shore?

a

No secret island in the boundless main? No peaceful desert yet unclaimed by Spain? Quick let us rise, the happy seats explore, And bear Oppression's insolence no more.' 'How, when competitors like these contend, Can surly Virtue hope to find a friend?' This mournful truth is everywhere confess'd, SLOW RISES WORTH, BY POVERTY DEPRESS'D! We may easily conceive with what feeling a great mind like his, cramped and galled by narrow circumstances, uttered this last line, which he marked by capitals. The whole of the poem is eminently excellent, and there are in it such proofs of a knowledge of the world, and of a mature acquaintance with life, as cannot be contemplated without wonder, when we consider that he was then only in his twentyninth year, and had yet been so little in the 'busy haunts of men.'

Yet, while we admire the poetical excellence of this poem, candour obliges us to allow that the flame of patriotism and zeal for popular resistance with which it is fraught had no just

cause.

There was, in truth, no 'oppression ;' the nation' was not 'cheated.' Sir Robert Walpole was a wise and benevolent minister, who thought that the happiness and prosperity of a commercial country like ours would be best promoted by peace, which he accordingly maintained with credit during a very long period. Johnson himself afterwards [October 21, 1773] honestly acknowledged the merit of Walpole, whom he called a fixed star;' while he characterized his opponent, Pitt, as 'a meteor.' But Johnson's juvenile poem was naturally impregnated with the fire of opposition, and upon every account was universally admired.

Though thus elevated into fame, and conscious of uncommon powers, he had not that bustling confidence, or, I may rather say, that animated ambition, which one might have supposed would have urged him to endeavour at rising in life. But such was his inflexible dignity of character, that he could not stoop to court the great; without which, hardly any man has made his He could not expect way to a high station.

to produce many such works as his London, and he felt the hardships of writing for bread; he was therefore willing to resume the office of a schoolmaster, so as to have a sure though moderate income for his life; and an offer being made to him of the mastership of a school, provided he could obtain the degree of Master of Arts, Dr. Adams was applied to, by a common friend, to know whether that

2 It is, however, remarkable that he uses the epithet which undoubtedly, since the Union between England and Scotland, ought to denominate the natives of both parts of our island :

'Was early taught a Briton's rights to prize.' -BOSWELL.

University of Oxford. But though he had made such a figure in the literary world, it was then thought too great a favour to be asked.

There seems every reason to believe that this was the school of Appleby, in Leicestershire.

Pope, without any knowledge of him but from his London, recommended him to Earl Gower, who endeavoured to procure for him a degree from Dublin, by the following letter to a friend of Dean Swift :

'TRENTHAM, August 1, 1739. 'SIR,-Mr. Samuel Johnson (author of London, a satire, and some other poetical pieces) is a native of this country, and much respected by some worthy gentlemen in his neighbourhood, who are trustees of a charity school now vacant. The certain salary is sixty pounds a year, of which they are desirous to make him master; but, unfortunately, he is not capable of receiving their bounty, which "would make him happy for life," by not being a Master of Arts," which by the

statutes of this school the master of it must be.

'Now these gentlemen do me the honour to think that I have interest enough in you, to prevail upon you to write to Dean Swift, to persuade the University of Dublin to send a diploma to me, constituting this poor man Master of Arts in their University. They highly extol the man's learning and probity, and will not be persuaded that the University will make any difficulty of conferring such a favour upon a stranger, if he is recommended by the Dean. They say he is not afraid of the strictest exami

nation, though he is of so long a journey, and will venture it if the Dean thinks it necessary; choosing rather to die upon the road "than be starved to death in translating for booksellers," which has been his only subsistence for some time past.

there, without a doctor's degree in Civil Law. | ‘I am,' said he,‘a total stranger to these studies; but whatever is a profession, and maintains numbers, must be within the reach of common abilities and some degree of industry.' Dr. Adams was much pleased with Johnson's design to employ his talents in that manner, being confident he would have attained to great eminence. And, indeed, I cannot conceive a man better qualified to make a distinguished figure as a lawyer; for he would have brought to his profession a rich store of various knowledge, an uncommon acuteness, and a command of language, in which few could have equalled, and none have surpassed, him. He who could display eloquence and wit in defence of the decision of the House of Commons upon Mr. Wilkes's election for Middlesex, and of the unconstitutional taxation of our fellow-subjects in America, must have been a powerful advocate But here also the want of a in any cause. degree was an insurmountable bar. He was therefore under the necessity of persevering in that course into which he had been forced; and we find that his proposal from Greenwich to Mr. Cave, for a translation of Father Paul Sarpi's History, was accepted.1

Some sheets of this translation were printed off, but the design was dropped; for it happened, oddly enough, that another person of the name in-the-Fields, and curate of that parish, engaged of Samuel Johnson, Librarian of St. Martin'sin the same undertaking, and was patronized by the clergy, particularly by Dr. Pearce, afterwards Bishop of Rochester. Several light skirmishes passed between the rival translators, in

giving you so much trouble about an impracticable thing; but if you think there is a probability of obtaining the favour asked, I am sure your humanity, and propensity to relieve merit in distress, will incline you to serve the poor man, without my adding any more to the trouble I have already given you, than assuring you that I am, with great truth, sir, your faithful servant, 'GOWER.'

It was, perhaps, no small disappointment to Johnson that this respectable application had not the desired effect; yet how much reason has there been, both for himself and his country, to rejoice that it did not succeed, as he might probably have wasted in obscurity those hours in which he afterwards produced his incomparable works!

About this time he made one other effort to emancipate himself from the drudgery of authorship. He applied to Dr. Adams, to consult Dr. Smalbroke of the Commons, whether a person might be permitted to practise as an advocate

was that they destroyed each other, for neither of them went on with the work. It is much to

1 In the Weekly Miscellany, October 21, 1738, there appeared the following advertisement :-'Just published, proposals for printing the History of the Council of Trent, translated from the Italian of Father Paul Sarpi, with the author's life, and notes, theological, historical, and critical, from the French edition of Dr. Le Courayer; to which are added, observations on the

history, and notes and illustrations from various authors, both printed and manuscript. By S. Johnsan. 1. The work will consist of two hundred sheets, and be two volumes in quarto, printed on good paper and letter. 2. The price will be 18s. each volume, to be paid, half a guinea at the delivery of the first volume, and the rest at the delivery of the second volume in sheets. 3. Twopence to be abated for every sheet less than two hundred. It may be had on a large paper, in three volumes, at the price of three guineas; one to be paid at the time of subscribing, another at the delivery of the first, and the rest at the delivery of the other volumes. The work is now in the press, and will be diligently prosecuted. Subscriptions are taken in by Mr. Dodsley in Pall Mall, Mr. Rivington in St. Paul's Churchyard; by E. Cave, at St. John's Gate; and the Translator, at No. 6 in Castle Street, by Cavendish Square.'-BosWELL.

C

celebrated genius, Fra Paolo, lost the advantage of being incorporated into British literature by the masterly hand of Johnson.

I have in my possession, by the favour of Mr. John Nichols, a paper in Johnson's handwriting, entitled, 'Account between Mr. Edward Cave and Sam. Johnson, in relation to a version of Father Paul, etc., begun August the 2d, 1738;' by which it appears, that from that day to the 21st of April 1739, Johnson received for this work £49, 7s., in sums of one, two, three, and sometimes four guineas at a time, most frequently two. And it is curious to observe the minute and scrupulous accuracy with which Johnson had pasted upon it a slip of paper, which he has entitled 'Small Account,' and which contains one article, 'Sept. 9th, Mr. Cave laid down 2s. 6d.' There is subjoined to this account a list of some subscribers to the work, partly in Johnson's handwriting, partly in that of another person; and there follows a leaf or two, on which are written a number of characters which have the appearance of a short-hand, which perhaps Johnson was then trying to learn.

'TO MR. CAVE.

'Wednesday.

'SIR,-I did not care to detain your servant while I wrote an answer to your letter, in which you seem to insinuate that I had promised more than I am ready to perform. If I have raised your expectations by anything that may have escaped my memory, I am sorry; and if you remind me of it, shall thank you for the favour. If I made fewer alterations than usual in the debates, it was only because there appeared, and still appears to be, less need of alteration. The verses to Lady Firebrace may be had when you please, for you know that such a subject neither deserves much thought, nor requires it. "The Chinese Stories 2 may be had folded down when you please to send, in which I do not recollect that you desired any alterations to be made.

'An answer to another query I am very willing to write, and had consulted with you about it last night, if there had been time; for I think it the most proper way of inviting such a correspondence as may be an advantage to the paper, not a load upon it.

'As to the Prize Verses, a backwardness to determine their degrees of merit is not peculiar to me. You may, if you please, still have what I can say; but I shall engage with little spirit in an affair which I shall hardly end to my

They afterwards appeared in the Gentleman's Magazine, with this title: 'Verses to Lady Firebrace at Bury Assizes.'-BOSWELL.

2 Du Halde's Description of China was then publishing by Mr. Cave in weekly numbers, whence Johnson was to select pieces for the embellishment of the Magazine.-NICHOLS.

own satisfaction, and certainly not to the satisfaction of the parties concerned.1

As to Father Paul, I have not yet been just to my proposal, but have met with impediments, which, I hope, are now at an end; and if you find the progress hereafter not such as you have a right to expect, you can easily stimulate a negligent translator.

'If any or all of these have contributed to your discontent, I will endeavour to remove it; and desire you to propose the question to which you wish for an answer.-I am, sir, your humble servant, 'SAM. JOHNSON.'

'TO MR. CAVE,

[No date.]

'SIR,-I am pretty much of your opinion, that the Commentary cannot be prosecuted with any appearance of success: for, as the names of the authors concerned are of more weight in the performance than its own intrinsic merit, the public will be soon satisfied with it. And I think the Examen should be pushed forward with the utmost expedition. Thus, "This day, etc. An Examen of Mr. Pope's Essay, etc., containing a succinct Account of the Philosophy of Mr. Leibnitz on the system of the Fatalists, with a Confutation of their Opinions and an illustration of the Doctrine of Free-will" (with what else you think proper).

'It will, above all, be necessary to take notice that it is a thing distinct from the Commentary.

'I was so far from imagining they stood still, that I conceived them to have a good deal beforehand, and therefore was less anxious in providing them more. But if ever they stand still on my account, it must doubtless be charged to me; and whatever else shall be reasonable, I shall not oppose; but beg a suspense of judgment till morning, when I must entreat you to send me a dozen proposals, and you shall then have copy to spare.-I am, sir, yours, impransus,

'SAM. JOHNSON.

'Pray muster up the proposals if you can, or let the boy recall them from the booksellers.'

But although he corresponded with Mr. Cave concerning a translation of Crousaz's Examen of Pope's Essay on Man, and gave advice as one anxious for its success, I was long ago convinced by a perusal of the preface that this translation was erroneously ascribed to him; and I have found this point ascertained beyond all doubt by the following article in Dr. Birch's manuscripts in the British Museum :

1 The premium of forty pounds proposed for the best poem on the Divine Attributes is here alluded to. -NICHOLS.

2 The compositors in Mr. Cave's printing office, who appear by this letter to have then waited for copy.NICHOLS.

'ELISE CARTERÆ S. P. D. THOMAS BIRCH. 'Versionem tuam Examinis Crousaziani jam perlegi. Summam styli et elegantiam, et in re difficillima proprietatem, admiratus.

'Dabam Novemb. 27°, 1738.'1

Indeed, Mrs. Carter has lately acknowledged to Mr. Seward that she was the translator of the Examen.

It is remarkable that Johnson's last quoted letter to Mr. Cave concludes with a fair confession that he had not a dinner; and it is no less remarkable, that though in this state of want himself, his benevolent heart was not insensible to the necessities of an humble labourer in literature, as appears from the very next letter:

'TO MR. CAVE.

[No date.] 'DEAR SIR,-You may remember I have formerly talked with you about a Military Dictionary. The eldest Mr. Macbean, who was with Mr. Chambers, has very good materials for such a work, which I have seen, and will do it at a very low rate.2 I think the terms of war and navigation might be comprised, with good explanations, in one 8vo pica, which he is willing to do for twelve shillings a sheet, to be made up a guinea at the second impression. If you think on it, I will wait on you with him.-I am, sir, your humble servant, 'SAM. JOHNSON.

'Pray lend me Topsel on Animals.

I must not omit to mention that this Mr. Macbean was a native of Scotland.

In the Gentleman's Magazine of this year Johnson gave a life of Father Paul[*]; and he wrote the preface to the volume [+], which, though prefixed to it when bound, is always published with the appendix, and is therefore the last composition belonging to it. The ability and nice adaptation with which he could draw up a prefatory address was one of his peculiar excellences.

It appears, too, that he paid a friendly attention to Mrs. Elizabeth Carter; for, in a letter from Mr. Cave to Dr. Birch, November 28th, this year, I find 'Mr. Johnson advises Miss C. to undertake a translation of Boethius de Cons., because there is prose and verse, and to put her name to it when published.' This advice was not followed, probably from an apprehension that the work was not sufficiently popular for an extensive sale. How well Johnson himself could have executed a translation of this philosophical poet we may judge from the following specimen which he has given in the Rambler (Motto to No. 7) :

O qui perpetuâ mundum ratione gubernas,
Terrarum cœlique sator!-

Birch мss. Brit. Mus. 4323.-BOSWELL. 2 This book was published.-BOSWELL.

Disjice terrenæ nebulas et pondera molis, Atque tuo splendore mica! Tu namque serenum, Tu requies tranquilla piis. Te cernere finis, Principium, vector, dux, semita, terminus, idem.' 'O Thou whose power o'er moving worlds presides, Whose voice created, and whose wisdom guides, On darkling man in pure effulgence shine, And cheer the clouded mind with light divine. 'Tis thine alone to calm the pious breast With silent confidence and holy rest: From thee, great God, we spring, to thee we tend, Path, motive, guide, original, and end!'

In 1739, beside the assistance which he gave to the 'Parliamentary Debates,' his writings in the Gentleman's Magazine were, 'The Life of Boerhaave '[*], in which it is to be observed that he discovers that love of chemistry which never forsook him; 'An Appeal to the Public in behalf of the Editor' [t]; 'An Address to the Reader '[+]; 'An Epigram both in Greek and Latin to Eliza '[*]; and also English verses to her [*]; and 'A Greek Epigram to Dr. Birch' [*]. It has been erroneously supposed that an essay, published in that Magazine this year, entitled "The Apotheosis of Milton,' was written by Johnson; and on that supposition it has been improperly inserted in the edition of his works by the booksellers after his decease. Were there no positive testimony as to this point, the style of the performance, and the name of Shakspeare not being mentioned in an essay professedly reviewing the principal English poets, would ascertain it not to be the production of Johnson. But there is here no occasion to resort to internal evidence; for my Lord Bishop of Salisbury (Dr. Douglas) has assured me that it was written by Guthrie. His separate publications were, 'A complete Vindication of the Licensers of the stage from the malicious and scandalous Aspersions of Mr. Brooke, author of "Gustavus Vasa "'[*], being an ironical attack upon them for their suppression of that tragedy; and Marmor Norfolciense; or, an Essay on an Ancient Prophetical Inscription, in Monkish Rhyme, lately discovered near Lynne, in Norfolk, by Probus Britannicus' [*]. In this performance he, in a feigned inscription supposed to have been found in Norfolk, the county of Sir Robert Walpole, then the obnoxious Prime Minister of this country, inveighs against the Brunswick succession, and the measures of Government consequent upon it. To this supposed prophecy he added a Commentary, making each expression apply to the times, with warm anti

Hanoverian zeal.

This anonymous pamphlet, I believe, did not make so much noise as was expected, and therefore had not a very extensive circulation. Sir John Hawkins relates, that 'warrants were issued and messengers employed to apprehend

1 The inscription and the translation of it are preserved in the London Magazine for the year 1739, p. 244.-BOSWELL.