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came head of the college, and was esteemed tion. He appears, by his modest and unaffected through life for his learning, his talents, and his narration, to have described things as he saw amiable character. Johnson grew more regular them; to have copied nature from the life; and in his attendance. Ethics, theology, and classic to have consulted his senses, not his imagination. literature, were his favourite studies. He disco-He meets with no basilisks, that destroy with vered, notwithstanding, early symptoms of that their eyes; his crocodiles devour their prey, withwandering disposition of mind, which adhered out tears; and his cataracts fall from the rock, to him to the end of his life. His reading was without deafening the neighbouring inhabitants. by fits and starts, undirected to any particular The reader will here find no regions cursed with science. General philology, agreeably to his irremediable barrenness, or blessed with sponcousin Ford's advice, was the object of his am- taneous fecundity; no perpetual gloom, or unbition. He received, at that time, an early im- ceasing sunshine: nor are the nations, here depression of picty, and a taste for the best authors, scribed, either void of all sense of humanity, or ancient and modern. It may, notwithstanding, consummate in all private and social virtues : be questioned whether, except his Bible, he ever here are no Hottentots without religion, polity, read a book entirely through. Late in life, if any or articulate language; no Chinese perfectly poman praised a book in his presence, he was sure lite, and completely skilled in all sciences: he to ask, “Did you read it through?” If the answer will discover, what will always be discovered by was in the affirmative, he did not seem willing to a diligent and impartial inquirer, that, wherever believe it. He continued at the university till the human nature is to be found, there is a mixture want of pecuniary supplies obliged him to quit of vice and virtue, a contest of passion and reathe place. He obtained, however, the assistance son; and that the Creator doth not appear partial of a friend, and returning in a short time, was in his distributions, but has balanced, in most able to complete a residence of three years. The countries, their particular inconveniences by parhistory of his exploits, at Oxford, he used to say, ticular favours."--We have here an early spewas best known to Dr. Taylor and Dr. Adams. cimen of Johnson's manner; the vein of thinkWonders are told of his memory, and, indeed, ing and the frame of the sentences are maniall who knew him late in life, can witness that festly his: we see the infant Hercules. The he retained that faculty in the greatest vigour. translation of Lobo's Narrative has been reFrom the university Johnson returned to printed lately in a separate volume, with some Litchfield. His father died soon after, Decem-other tracts of Dr. Johnson's, and therefore ber 1731; and the whole receipt out of his effects, as appeared by a memorandum in the son's hand-writing, dated 15th June, 1732, was no more than twenty pounds. In this exigence, determined that poverty should neither depress Father Lobo, the Portuguese Missionary, emhis spirit nor warp his integrity, he became un- barked, in 1622, in the same fleet with the der-master of a grammar-school at Market-Bos- Count Fidigueira, who was appointed, by the worth in Leicestershire. That resource, how-king of Portugal, Viceroy of the Indies. They. ever, did not last long. Disgusted by the pride arrived at Goa; and, in January 1624, Father of Sir Wolstan Dixie, the patron of that little Lobo set out on the mission to Abyssinia. Two seminary, he left the place in discontent, and of the Jesuits, sent on the same commission, were ever after spoke of it with abhorrence. In 1733 murdered in their attempt to penetrate into that he went on a visit to Mr. Hector, who had been empire. Lobo had better success; he surais school-fellow, and was then a surgeon at mounted all difficulties, and made his way into Birmingham, lodging at the house of Warren, a the heart of the country. Then follows a debookseller. At that place Johnson translated a scription of Abyssinia, formerly the largest emvoyage to Abyssinia, written by Jerome Lobo, pire of which we have an account in history. It a Portuguese missionary. This was the first extended from the Red Sea to the kingdom of literary work from the pen of Dr. Johnson. His Congo, and from Egypt to the Indian Sea, confriend Hector was occasionally his amanuensis. taining no less than forty provinces. At the The work was, probably, undertaken at the de- time of Lobo's mission, it was not much larger sire of Warren, the bookseller, and was printed than Spain, consisting then but of five kingdoms, at Birmingham; but it appears in the Literary of which part was entirely subject to the Em-. Magazine, or History of the Works of the peror, and part paid him a tribute, as an acLearned, for March 1735, that was published knowledgment. The provinces were inhabited by Bettesworth and Hitch, Paternoster-row. It by Moors, Pagans, Jews, and Christians. The contains a narrative of the endeavours of a com- last was, in Lobo's time, the established and pany of missionaries to convert the people of reigning religion. The diversity of people and Abyssinia to the Church of Rome. In the pre-religion is the reason why the kingdoin was unface to this work Johnson observes, "that the Portuguese traveller, contrary to the general view of his countrymen, has amused his readers with no romantic absurdities, or incredible fic

The entry of this is remarkable, for his early resolu

tion to preserve through life a fair and upright character. "1732, Junii 15. Undecim aureos deposui, quo die, quidquid ante matris funus (quod serum sit precor) de paternis bonis sperare licet, viginti scilicet libras, accepi. Usque adeo mihi mea fortuna fingenda est interea, et ne paupertate vires animi languescaut, ne in flagitia egestas adigat, cavendum."

forms no part of this edition; but a compendious account of so interesting a work as Father Lobo's discovery of the head of the Nile will not, it is imagined, be unacceptable to the reader,

der different forms of government, with laws
and customs extremely various. Some of the
people neither sowed their lands, nor improved
them by any kind of culture, living upon milk
and flesh, and, like the Arabs, encamping with-
out any settled habitation, In some places.
they practised no rites of worship, though they
believed that, in the regions above, there dwells
a Being that governs the world.
This Deity
they call in their language Oul. The Christi-
anity professed by the people in some parts, is
corrupted with superstitious errors, and here-

"As to the course of the Nile, its waters, af ter the first rise, run towards the East, about the length of a musket-shot: then, turning northward, continue hidden in the grass and weeds for about a quarter of a league, when they reappear amongst a quantity of rocks. The Nile from its source proceeds with so inconsiderable a current, that it is in danger of being dried up by the hot season; but soon receiving an increase from the Gemma, the Keltu, the Bransa, and the other smaller rivers, it expands to such a breadth, in the plains of Boad, which is not above three days' journey from its source, that a musketball will scarcely fly from one bank to the other. Here it begins to run northward, winding, how

sies, and so mingled with ceremonies borrowed from the Jews, that little, besides the name of Christianity, is to be found among them. The Abyssins cannot properly be said to have either cities or houses; they live in tents or cottages made of straw or clay, very rarely building with stone. Their villages or towns consist of these huts; yet even of such villages they have but few; because the grandees, the viceroys, and the emperor himself, are always in camp, that they may be prepared, upon the most sudden alarm, to meet every emergence, in a country which is engaged every year either in foreign wars or intestine commotions. Ethiopia produces very near the same kinds of provision as Portugal, though, by the extreme laziness of the inhabit-ever, a little to the East for the space of nine or ants, in a much less quantity. What the an- ten leagues, and then enters the so-much-talkedcients imagined of the torrid zone being a part of Lake of Dambia, flowing with such violent of the world uninhabitable, is so far from being rapidity, that its waters may be distinguished true, that the climate is very temperate. The through the whole passage, which is no less than blacks have better features than in other coun- six leagues. Here begins the greatness of the tries, and are not without wit and ingenuity. Nile. Fifteen miles further, in the land of Alata, Their apprehension is quick, and their judgment it rushes precipitately from the top of a high rock, sound. There are in the climate two harvests and forms one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the year: one in winter, which lasts through in the world. Lobo says, he passed under it the months of July, August and September; without being wet, and resting himself, for the the other in the Spring. They have, in the sake of the coolness, was charmed with a thougreatest plenty, raisins, peaches, pomegranates, sand delightful rainbows, which the sunbeams sugar-canes, and some figs. Most of these are painted on the water, in all their shining and ripe about Lent, which the Abyssins keep with lively colours.* The fall of this mighty stream,. great strictness. The animals of the country from so great a height, makes a noise that may are the lion, the elephant, the rhinoceros, the uni- be heard at a considerable distance; but it was corn, horses, mules, oxen, and cows without not found, that the neighbouring inhabitants number. They have a very particular custom, were deaf. After the cataract, the Nile collects. which obliges every man, that has a thousand its scattered stream among the rocks, which are cows, to save every year one day's milk of all so near each other, that in Lobo's time, a bridge his herd, and make a bath with it for his rela- of beams, on which the whole imperial army tions. This they do so many days in each year, passed, was laid over them. Sultan Sequed has as they have thousands of cattle; so that, to ex- since built a stone bridge of one arch, in the press how rich a man is, they tell you he bathes same place, for which purpose he procured ma so many times. sons from India. Here the river alters its course, "Of the river Nile, which has furnished so and passes through various kingdoms, such as. much controversy, we have a full and clear de- Amhara, Olaca, Choaa, Damot, and the king scription. It is called by the natives, Abavi, dom of Goiama, and, after various windings, the Father of Water. It rises in Sacala, a pro- returns within a short day's journey of its spring. vince of the kingdom of Goiama, the most fer- To pursue it through all its mazes, and accom tile and agreeable part of the Abyssinian do- pany it round the kingdom of Goiama, is a jourminions. On the Eastern side of the country, ney of twenty-nine days. From Abyssinia, the on the declivity of a mountain, whose descent is river passes into the countries of Fazulo and so easy, that it seems a beautiful plain, is that Ombarca, two vast regions little known, inha-. source of the Nile, which has been sought after bited by nations entirely different from the Abysat so much expense and labour. This spring, sins. Their hair, like that of the other blacks in or rather these two springs, are two holes, each those regions, is short and curled. In the year about two feet diameter, a stone's cast distant 1615, Rassela Christos, Lieutenant-General to from each other. One of them is about five Sultan Sequed, entered those kingdoms in a hosfeet and a half in depth. Lobo was not able to tile manner; but, not being able to get intellisink his plummet lower, perhaps, because it was gence, returned without attempting any thing. stopped by roots, the whole place being full of As the empire of Abyssinia terminates at these trees. A line of ten feet did not reach the bot-descents, Lobo followed the course of the Nile tom of the other. These springs are supposed no farther, leaving it to range over barbarous by the Abyssins to be the vents of a great sub- kingdoms, and convey wealth and plenty into terraneous lake. At a small distance to the Egypt, which owes to the annual inundations South, is a village called Guix, through which you ascend to the top of the mountain, where *This, Mr. Bruce, the late traveller, avers to be a downthere is a little hill, which the idolatrous Agaci | right falsehood. He says, a deep pool of water reaches to hold in great veneration, Their priest calls the very foot of the rock; and allowing that there was a them together to this place once a year: and seat or bench (which there is not) in the middle of the every one sacrifices a cow, or more, according to the different degrees of wealth and devotion Hence we have sufficient proof, that these nations always paid adoration to the Deity of this famous river.

pool, it is absolutely impossible, by any exertion of human strength, to have arrived at it. But it may be asked, can Mr. Bruce say, what was the face of the country in the year 1622, when Lobo saw the magnificent sight which he formed since; and Lobo, perhaps, was content to sit down, has described? Mr. Bruce's pool of water may have been,

without a bench.

of this river its envied fertility.* Lobo knows want of encouragement. Johnson, it seems, nothing of the Nile in the rest of its passage, differed from Boileau, Voltaire, and D'Alembert, except that it receives great increase from many who had taken upon them to proscribe all moother rivers, has several cataracts like that al-dern efforts to write with elegance in a dead ready described, and that few fish are to be language. For a decision pronounced in so found in it; that scarcity is to be attributed to high a tone, no good reason can be assigned. the river horse and the crocodile, which destroy The interests of learning require that the dicthe weaker inhabitants of the river. Something, tion of Greece and Rome should be cultivated likewise, must be imputed to the cataracts, where with care; and he who can write a language fish cannot fall without being killed. Lobo adds, with correctness, will be most likely to underthat neither he, nor any with whom he conversed stand its idiom, its grammar, and its peculiar about the crocodile, ever saw him weep; and graces of style. What man of taste would willtherefore all that hath been said about his tears ingly forego the pleasure of reading Vida, Framust be ranked among the fables invented for castorius, Sannazaro, Strada, and others, down the amusement of children. to the late elegant productions of Bishop Lowth? As to the causes of the inundations of the The history which Johnson proposed to himself Nile, Lobo observes, that many an idle hypothe-would, beyond all question, have been a valuable sis has been framed. Some theorists ascribe it addition to the history of letters; but his project to the high winds, that stop the current, and failed. His next expedient was to offer his as force the water above its banks. Others pre- sistance to Cave, the original projector of the tend a subterraneous communication between Gentleman's Magazine. For this purpose he the Ocean and the Nile, and that the sea, when sent his proposals in a letter, offering, on rea violently agitated, swells the river. Many are sonable terms, occasionally to fill some pages of opinion, that this mighty flood proceeds from with poems and inscriptions never printed be the melting of the snow on the mountains of fore; with fugitive pieces that deserved to be reEthiopia; but so much snow and such prodigious vived, and critical remarks on authors ancient heat are never met with in the same region. and modern. Cave agreed to retain him as a Lobo never saw snow in Abyssinia, except on correspondent and contributor to the Magazine. Mount Semen in the kingdom of Tigre, very What the conditions were cannot now be remote from the Nile; and on Namara, which known; but certainly they were not sufficient is, indeed, not far distant, but where there never to hinder Johnson from casting his eyes about falls snow enough to wet, when dissolved, the him in quest of other employment. According foot of the mountain. To the immense labours ly, in 1735, he made overtures to the Rev. Mr. of the Portuguese, mankind is indebted for the Budworth, Master of a Grammar-school at knowledge of the real cause of these inundations, Brerewood, in Staffordshire, to become his asso great and so regular. By them we are in- sistant. This proposition did not succeed. Mr. formed, that Abyssinia, where the Nile rises, is Budworth apprehended, that the involuntary full of mountains, and in its natural situation, is motions, to which Johnson's nerves were submuch higher than Egypt; that in the winter, from ject, might make him an object of ridicule with June to September, no day is without rain; that his scholars, and, by consequence, lessen their the Nile receives in its course, all the rivers, respect for their master. Another mode of adbrooks, and torrents, that fall from those moun- vancing himself presented itself about this time. tains, and, by necessary consequence, swelling Mrs. Porter, the widow of a mereer in Birmingabove its banks, fills the plains of Egypt with ham, admired his talents. It is said that she had inundations, which come regularly about the about eight hundred pounds; and that sum to a month of July, or three weeks after the begin-person in Johnson's circumstances was an affluning of the rainy season in Ethiopia. The different degrees of this flood are such certain indications of the fruitfulness or sterility of the ensuing year, that it is publicly proclaimed at Cairo how much the water hath gained during the night."

ent fortune. A marriage took place, and to turn his wife's money to the best advantage, he pro jected the scheme of an academy for education, Gilbert Walmsley, at that time Registrar of the Eeclesiastical Court of the Bishop of Litchfield, Such is the account of the Nile and its inun- was distinguished by his erudition, and the po dations, which it is hoped will not be deemed an liteness of his manners. He was the friend of improper or tedious digression, especially as the Johnson, and, by his weight and influence en whole is an extract from Johnson's translation. deavoured to promote his interest. The cele He is all the time the actor in the scene, and in brated Garrick, whose father, Captain Garrick, his own words relates the story. Having finish-lived at Litchfield, was placed in the new semied this work, he returned, in February 1734, to nary of education, by that gentleman's advice.his native city, and, in the month of August fol- Garrick was then about eighteen years old. An lowing, published proposals for printing by sub-accession of seven or eight pupils was the most scription the Latin Poems of Politian, with the History of Latin Poetry, from the Era of Petrarch, to the time of Politian; and also the life of Politian, to be added by the Editor, Samuel Johnson. The book to be printed in thirty octavo sheets, price five shillings. It is to be regretted that this project failed for

*After comparing this description with that lately given by Mr. Bruce, the reader will judge whether Lobo is to lose the honour of having been at the head of the Nile Dear two centuries before any other European traveller.

that could be obtained, though notice was given by a public advertisement,f that at Edial, near Litchfield, in Staffordshire, young gentlemen are boarded and taught the Latin and Greek Languages, by Samuel Johnson.

The undertaking proved abortive. Johnson having now abandoned all hopes of promoting his fortune in the country, determined to become

an adventurer in the world at large. His young pupil, Garrick, had formed the same resolution;

See the Gentleman's Magazine for 1736, p. 418

pleted: a like design was offered to the public, under the patronage of Dr. Zachary Pearce; and by that contention both attempts were frustrated. Johnson had been commended by Pope for the translation of the Messiah into Latin verse; but he knew no approach to so eminent a man. With one, however, who was connected

and, accordingly, in March, 1737, they arrived in London together. Two such candidates for fame, perhaps never before that day entered the metropolis together. Their stock of money was soon exhausted. In his visionary project of an academy, Johnson had probably wasted his wife's substance; and Garrick's father had little more than his half-pay. The two fellow-with Pope, he became acquainted at St. John's travellers had the world before them, and each Gate; and that person was no other than the was to choose his road to fortune and to fame. well-known Richard Savage, whose life was afThey brought with them genius, and powers of terwards written by Johnson, with great elemind, peculiarly formed by nature for the differ- gance, and a depth of moral reflection. Savage ent vocations to which each of them felt himself was a man of considerable talents. His adinclined. They acted from the impulse of young dress, his various accomplishments, and, above minds, even then meditating great things, and all, the peculiarity of his misfortunes, recom with courage anticipating success. Their friend mended him to Johnson's notice. They beMr. Walmsley, by a letter to the Rev. Mr. Col- came united in the closest intimacy. Both had son, who, it seems, was a great mathematician, great parts, and they were equally under the exerted his good offices in their favour. He gave pressure of want. Sympathy joined them in a notice of their intended journey. "Davy Gar-league of friendship. Johnson has been often rick," he said, "will be with you next week; heard to relate, that he and Savage walked and Johnson, to try his fate with a tragedy, and round Grosvenor-square till four in the mornto get himself employed in some translation ing; in the course of their conversation reformeither from the Latin or French. Johnson is a ing the world, dethroning princes, establishing very good scholar and a poet, and I have great new forms of government, and giving laws to hopes will turn out a fine tragedy writer. If it the several states of Europe; till, fatigued at should be in your way, I doubt not but you will length with their legislative office, they began to be ready to recommend and assist your country-feel the want of refreshment, but could not musmen." Of Mr. Walmsley's merit, and the ex- ter up more than fourpence-halfpenny. Sa cellence of his character, Johnson has left a vage, it is true, had many vices: but vice could beautiful testimonial at the end of the Life of never strike its roots in a mind like Johnson's, Edward Smith. It is reasonable to conclude, seasoned early with religion, and the principles of that a mathematician, absorbed in abstract spe- moral rectitude. His first prayer was composed culations, was not able to find a sphere of action in the year 1738. He had not at that time refor two men who were to be the architects of nounced the use of wine; and, no doubt, occa-. their own fortune. In three or four years after-sionally enjoyed his friend and his bottle. The wards Garrick came forth, with talents that as- love of late hours, which followed him through. tonished the public. He began his career at life, was, perhaps, originally contracted in comGoodman's-fields, and there, monstratus fatis pany with Savage. However that may be, their Vespasianus! he chose a lucrative profession, connexion was not of long duration. In the and consequently soon emerged from all his dif-year 1738, Savage was reduced to the last disficulties. Johnson was left to toil in the hum-tress. Mr. Pope, in a letter to him, expressed ble walks of literature. A tragedy, as appears his concern for "the miserable withdrawing of by Walmsley's letter, was the whole of his stock. This, most probably, was IRENE; but, if then finished, it was doomed to wait for a more happy period. It was offered 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 considered as a patron of literature. Cave had announced, by public advertisement, a prize of fifty pounds for the best poem on Life, Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell; and this circumstance diffused an idea of his liberality. Johnson became connected with him in business, and in a close and intimate acquaintance. Of Cave's character it is unnecessary to say any thing in this place, as Johnson was afterwards the biographer of his first and most useful patron. To be engaged in the translation of some important book was still the object which Johnson had in view. For this purpose he proposed to give the History of the Council of Trent, with copious notes, then lately added to a French edition. Twelve sheets of this work were printed, for which Johnson received forty-nine pounds, as appears by his receipt in the possession of Mr. Nichols, the compiler of that entertaining and useful work, the Gentleman's Magazine. Johnson's translation was never com

his pension after the death of the Queen;" and
gave him hopes that, "in a short time, he should
find himself supplied with a competence, with
out any dependence on those little creatures.
whom we are pleased to call the Great. The
scheme proposed to him was, that he should re-
tire to Swansea in Wales, and receive an allow-
ance of fifty pounds a year, to be raised by sub-
scription; 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 Johnson's mind the third Satire of Ju-
venal in which that poet takes leave of a friend,
who was withdrawing himself from all the vices
of Rome. Struck with this idea, he wrote that
well-known poem, called London. The first
lines manifestly point to Savage.

"Though grief and fondness in my breast rebel
When injured Thales bids the town farewell;
Yet still my calmer thoughts his choice commend,
I praise the hermit, but regret the friend,
Resolved at length, from Vice and London far
To breathe in distant fields a purer air;
And fixed on Cambria's solitary shore,
Give to St. David one true Briton more."

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Johnson at that time lodged at Greenwich He there fixes the scene, and takes leave of his friend; who, he says in his Life, parted from

him with tears in his eyes. The poem, when This scheme miscarried. There is reason to finished, was offered to Cave. It happened, think, that Swift declined to meddle in the busihowever, that the late Mr. Dodsley was theness; and to that circumstance Johnson's known purchaser, at the price of ten guineas. It was dislike of Swift has been often imputed. published in 1738; and Pope, we are told, said, It is mortifying to pursue a man of merit The author, whoever he is, will not be long through all his difficulties; and yet this narraconcealed:" alluding to the passage in Terence, tive must be, through many following years, the Ubi, ubi est, diu celari non potest. Notwithstand-history of Genius and Virtue struggling with ing that prediction, it does not appear that, be- Adversity. Having lost the school at Appleby, sides the copy-money, any advantage accrued Johnson was thrown back on the metropolis. to the author of a poem, written with the ele- Bred to no profession, without relations, friends. gance and energy of Pope. Johnson, in Au- or interest, he was condemned to drudgery in gust 1733, went, with all the fame of his poetry, the service of Cave, his only patron. In Novem to offer himself a candidate for the mastership of ber 1738 was published a translation of Crouthe school at Appleby, in Leicestershire. The saz's Examen of Pope's Essay on Man; "constatutes of the place required, that the person taining a succinct View of the System of the chosen should be a Master of Arts. To remove Fatalists, and a Confutation of their Opinions; this objection, the then Lord Gower was induced with an Illustration of the Doctrine of Freeto write to a friend, in order to obtain for John- Will; and an Inquiry, what view Mr. Pope son a Master's degree in the University of Dub- might have in touching upon the Leibnitzian lin, by the recommendation of Dr. Swift. The Philosophy, and Fatalism. By Mr. Crousaz, letter was printed in one of the Magazines, and Professor of Philosophy, and Mathematics at was as follows: Lausanne." This translation has been generally thought a production of Johnson's pen; but it is now known, that Mrs. Elizabeth Carter has acknowledged it to be one of her early per

"SIR,

"Mr. Samuel Johnson (author of London, a Satire, and some other poetical pieces,) is a na-formances. It is certain, however, that Johntive of this county, and much respected by some worthy gentlemen in the neighbourhood, who are trustees of a charity-school, now vacant; the certain salary of which is sixty pounds per year, of which they are desirous to inake 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 the school, the master of it must be.

son was eager to promote the publication. He considered the foreign philosopher as a man zealous in the cause of religion; and with him he was willing to join against the system of the Fatalists, and the doctrine of Leibnitz. It is well known that Warburton wrote a vindication of Mr. Pope, but there is reason to think that Johnson conceived an early prejudice against the Essay on Man; and what once took root in a mind like his, was not easily eradicated. His "Now, these gentlemen do me the honour to letter to Cave on this subject is still extant, and think, that I have interest enough in you, to pre-may well justify Sir John Hawkins, who inferred vail 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 examination, though he is of so long a journey; and yet he will venture it, if the Dean thinks it necessary, choosing rather to die upon the road, than to be starved to death in translating for booksellers, which has been his only subsistence for some time past.

that Johnson was the translator of Crousaz. The conclusion of the letter is remarkable. "I am yours, IMPRANSUS." If by that Latin word was meant that he had not dined, because he wanted the means, who can read it, even at this hour, without an aching heart?

With a mind naturally vigorous, and quick ened by necessity, Johnson formed a multiplici ty of projects; but most of them proved abortive. A number of small tracts issued from his pen with wonderful rapidity; such as "MARMOR NORFOLCIENSE; or an Essay on an ancient prophetical Inscription, in Monkish Rhyme, discovered at Lynn in Norfolk. By Probus Britannicus." This was a pamphlet against Sir Robert Walpole. According to Sir John Hawkins, a warrant was issued to apprehend the Author, who retired with his wife to an obscure lodging near Lambeth Marsh, and there cluded the search of the messengers. But this story has no foundation in truth. Johnson was never

"I fear there is more difficulty in this affair than these good-natured gentlemen apprehend, especially as their election cannot be delayed longer than the 11th of next month. If you see this matter in the same light that it appears to ine, I hope you will burn this, and pardon me for giving you so much trouble about an imprac-known to mention such an incident in his life; ticable thing; but, if you think there is a proba- and Mr. Steele (late of the Treasury) caused bility of obtaining the favour asked, I am sure diligent search to be made at the proper offices, 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,

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and no trace of such a proceeding could be found. In the same year (1739) the Lord Chamberlain prohibited the representation of a tragedy, called GUSTAVUS VASA, by Henry Brooke. Under the mask of irony, Johnson published "A Vindication of the Licenser from the malicious and scandalous Aspersions of Mr. Brooke." Of these two pieces Sir John Hawkins says, "they have neither learning nor wit,

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