those too of whom I have a high opinion; one of them I believe I may venture to name to you,--the author of Maxims and Characters, who spent a day or two he.e; he is quite agreeable in conversation, and seems to have much knowledge and quick parts, however I could have quarrelled with several things in his book.

"You do not satisfy me by what you say of Rasselas, with which I am highly delighted, though the author has represented life rather in an undesirable light; but truth will be truth, and be thought content only another word for happiness I suppose. However when I first read it, I hoped for some such conclusion, and my vanity would by that have been gratified to the utmost; since if I might mention in the same page so fine a work with so childish a one as my poor Allegory, I would say that, that was my destination for my travellers, who you know being disappointed of the palace of happiness, were received at last into the house of content.

"I do not think that I have much more time for reading than you, at present, but am going to begin the Life of Clarendon, yet expect continual interruptions of the pleasurable kind, and I give way to them the rather as they conduce to my health; and as you say fall so unavoidably in my way, that it would be quite blameable not to join in the frequent dissipation. I have been twice at the Assembly, and as I knew a great many there, and especially the last time had an agreeable partner for dancing, it was more pleasing than I expected, but can by no means say it was conducive to my health, since any sitting up disagrees with me woefully. I am

*«Maxims, Characters, and Reflections ; Critical, Satyrical, and Moral."-8vo. Tonson, 1756.

too often tempted to that in this house, where a thousand charming subjects of conversation allure me from sleep, at the hour sleep ought to be courted.

"We have had great rejoicings here on the late success in Germany, but all the events of war are so dreadful, attended with such destruction, and complicated distress that I am greatly affected with it, and while others gave way to joy, 1 could not restrain some tears; and Dr. Hawkesworth, who was not less affected, moralised with me upon the occasion; yet who can account for such a horrid evil in the world? One dares not enquire nor think too far upon it.".

The last paragraph in this letter is curious, as it shews: the disposition for abstract speculations on theological subjects, which even then occupied the mind and employed the conversation of Dr. Hawkesworth, and which afterwards when more amply expressed in print, cost him so dear: such subjects should be avoided; Milton has very justly assigned them to the followers of Satan.

Soon after the publication of the Adventurer, Dr. Hawkesworth was rewarded by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Herring, with the degree of Doctor of Civil Laws. An empty title, which seems to have produced him only disappointment and loss of valuable friends. Considering himself qualified by this degree to practice as a civilian in the ecclesiastical courts, after some preparatory study he made the attempt, but met with so much opposition that he was induced to desist. A worse consequence was the loss of Johnson's friendship, which happened at the same time, and seems to have had some connection with this elevation. Sir John Hawkins accuses Hawkesworth of assuming

too much consequence. "His success," he remarks, "wrought no good effects upon his mind and conduct: it elated him too much, and betrayed him into a forgetfulness of his origin, and a neglect of his early acquantance; and on this I have heard Johnson remark, · in terms that sufficiently express a knowledge of his character, and a resentment of his behaviour. It is probable that he might use the same language to Hawkesworth himself, and also reproach him with the acceptance of an academical honour to which he could have no pretensions, and which Johnson, conceiving it to be irregular, as many yet do, held in great contempt; thus much is certain, that soon after the attainment of it, the intimacy between them ceased."-On this passage we may be permitted to remark, that it is exceedingly probable that at least an equal share of blame in this separation may if the truth were exactly known, rest with Johnson, whose harsh, magisterial, and overbearing disposition is well known. If he reproached Hawkes-: worth with having accepted a honorary degree, it is at. least equally probable that it might have proceeded from jealousy in him, as from a contempt of such an honour; and Johnson, if he accused Hawkesworth of vanity, may eventually be accused of the same failing when he accepted that conferred upon him by the university, for which he was no better qualified by the study of the law than Hawkesworth himself. In the estimation of all thinking men it surely can signify but little, whether such a compliment be conveyed to the party complimented by a person in authority as an archbishop, or by a corporation of persons in authority as an university. The intention in both instances being the same; not to point out the qualification of the

individual dignified for any particular pursuit, nor his proficiency in any particular science, but simply as a reward for literary exertions, and talents employed to useful and ornamental purposes. If Johnson was entitled to the degree of L.L.D. so was Hawkesworth. That Hawkesworth neglected his early acquaintance is not probable, it is even less credible that he should have assumed any airs of superiority over such a man as Johnson whom he had always looked upon as his master. But it is exceedingly probable that having succeeded in the world, acquired reputation, and some wealth, he considered that he had a character to sustain and was not disposed to submit to taunts, insults, or reproaches even from this self elevated despot; more particularly when conscious that he had not deserved them.

There are some reasons to hope that the breach of friendship between Johnson and Hawkesworth was not so complete as this account of Sir John Hawkins would lead us to suspect. We shall have occasion to shew that Johnson employed himself in writing marginal notes to one of Hawkesworth's dramatic performances, offered to Garrick, and that, after his death, the widow of Dr. Hawkesworth submitted the "regulations" of an intended publication to his memory, to Dr. Johnson.

After the conclusion of the Adventurer, Dr. Hawkesworth turned his attention to the stage, and produced an Oratorio with the title of " Zimri," which was favourably received; he also made some alterations in a comedy of Dryden's, and in Southern's tragedy of Oroonoko.

In 1761 he brought forward upon the stage of Drury Lane an entertainment with the title of "Edgar

and Emmeline;" a fairy tale which still retains slight possession of the stage, and is an elegant work of its kind.

Dr. Hawkesworth had acquired, as he well deserved, considerable reputation for the construction of the eastern tales published in the Adventurer, which induced him to apply to the composition of a romance of that description at more extended length. This was rublished in 1761 with the title of "Almoran and Hamet," and is too well known to require further notice in this place. This production was originally of the dramatic kind, and we have before us, the following account of it in a letter from Mrs. Hawkesworth to Mrs. Duncombe, of the date of December 1781. "Mr. Pratt has availed himself of the story of Almoran and Hamet, by which he is supposed to have gained 5 or 6007. I have not yet read although I saw the performance, but have the pleasure to hear those parts particularly applauded, where the sentiments were clothed in their original dress: and indeed the language was in many places verbatim; at least I think on comparing the play with the story, I shall find it so. The original story was written for the stage in three acts: but the transformations and machinery staggered M. Garrick, who had just lost 30007. in scenes and decorations for the Chinese Festival, which was not suffered to be exhibited on account of some French dancers, it being the beginning of a French war; the whole was destroyed, and the house was so damaged, that Garrick made a kind of a vow that he never would risk such an expence again. But I have the play with Johnson's and Garrick's marginal notes; and if Dr. Hawkesworth would have expunged the machinery, it