1756. this time his fancied activity was for the moment fo vigorous, that he Etat. 47. promifed his work fhould be published before Christmas, 1757. Yet nine years elapfed before it faw the light. His throes in bringing it forth had been severe and remittent, and at last we may almost conclude that the Cæfarian operation was performed by the knife of Churchill, whose upbraiding fatire, I dare fay, made Johnson's friends urge him to dispatch. 1757. "He for fubfcribers bates his hook, "And takes your cash; but where's the book? "Forbids the robbing of a foe; "But what, to serve our private ends, "Forbids the cheating of our friends?” About this period he was offered a living of confiderable value in Lincolnfhire, if he were inclined to enter into holy orders. It was a rectory in the gift of Mr. Langton, the father of his much valued friend. But he did not accept of it; partly I believe from a conscientious motive, being perfuaded that his temper and habits rendered him unfit for that affiduous and familiar inftruction of the vulgar and ignorant, which he held to be an effential duty in a clergyman; and partly because his love of a London life was fo strong, that he would have thought himself an exile in any other place, particularly if refiding in the country. Whoever would wish to fee his thoughts upon that fubject displayed in their full force, may peruse the Adventurer, No. 126. In 1757 it does not appear that he published any thing, except some of those articles in the Literary Magazine, which have been mentioned. That magazine, after Johnson ceased to write in it, gradually declined, though the popular epithet of Antigallican was added to it; and in July 1758 it expired. He probably prepared a part of his Shakspeare this year, and he dictated a fpeech on the subject of an Address to the Throne, after the expedition to Rochfort, which was delivered by one of his friends, I know not in what publick meeting. It is printed in the Gentleman's Magazine for October 1785 as his, and bears fufficient marks of authenticity. By the favour of Mr. Walker, of the Treafury, Dublin, I have obtained a copy of the following letter from Johnson to the venerable authour of "Differtations on the History of Ireland." Το "SIR, To CHARLES O'CONOR, Efq. "I HAVE lately, by the favour of Mr. Faulkner, seen your account of Ireland, and cannot forbear to folicit a profecution of your design. Sir William Temple complains that Ireland is lefs known than any other country, as to its ancient ftate. The natives have had little leifure, and little encouragement for enquiry; and strangers, not knowing the language, have had no ability.. "I have long wished that the Irish literature were cultivated. Ireland is known by tradition to have been once the feat of piety and learning; and furely it would be very acceptable to all those who are curious either in the original of nations, or the affinities of Languages, to be further informed of the revolutions of a people fo ancient, and once fo illuftrious. "What relation there is between the Welch and Irish languages, or between the language of Ireland and that of Biscay, deferves enquiry. Of these provincial and unextended tongues, it seldom happens that more than one are understood by any one man; and, therefore, it feldom happens that a fair comparison can be made. I hope you will continue to cultivate this kind of learning, which has lain too long neglected, and which, if it be fuffered to remain in oblivion for another century, may, perhaps, never be retrieved. As I wish well to all useful undertakings, I would not forbear to let you know how much you deserve, in my opinion, from all lovers of study, and how much pleasure your work has given to, Sir, 1757L Ætat. 48. " DR. MARSELI of Padua, a learned gentleman, and good Latin poet, has a mind to fee Oxford. I have given him a letter to Dr. Huddesford'; and fhall be glad if you will introduce him, and fhew him any thing in Oxford, 1757. Etat. 48. "I am printing my new edition of Shakspeare. You might "I long to fee you all, but cannot conveniently come yet. write to me now and then, if you were good for any thing. Profeffors forget their friends. I fhall certainly complain to mutant mores. Mifs Jones 3. I am "[London,] June 21, 1754. "Your, &c. SAM. JOHNSON. "Please to make my compliments to Mr. Wife." Mr. Burney having enclosed to him an extract from the review of his Dictionary in the Bibliotheque des Savans, and a lift of fubfcribers to his Shakspeare, which Mr. Burney had procured in Norfolk, he wrote the following answer: " SIR, To Mr. BURNEY, in Lynne, Norfolk. "THAT I may fhow myself sensible of your favours, and not commit the fame fault a fecond time, I make hafte to answer the letter which I received this morning. The truth is, the other likewife was received, and I wrote an answer; but being defirous to tranfmit you fome proposals and receipts, I waited till I could find a convenient conveyance, and day was paffed after day, till other things drove it from my thoughts, yet not so, but that I remember with great pleasure your commendation of my Dictionary. Your praise was welcome, not only because I believe it was fincere, but because praise has been very scarce. A man of your candour will be surprised when I tell you, that among all my acquaintance there were only two, who upon the publication of my book did not endeavour to depress me with threats of cenfure from the publick, or with objections learned from those who had learned them from my own Preface. Yours is the only letter of good-will that I 2" Mr. Warton was elected Profeffor of Poetry at Oxford in the preceding year." 3" Mifs Jones lived at Oxford, and was often of our parties. She was a very ingenious poetefs, and publifhed a volume of poems; and, on the whole, was a most fenfible, agreeable, and amiable woman. She was fifter of the Reverend River Jones, Chanter of Christ Church cathedral at Oxford, and Johnson used to call her the Chantress. I have heard him often address her in this paffage from IL PENSEROSO:' have received, though, indeed I am promised something of that sort from Sweden. "How my new edition will be received I know not; the fubfcription has not been very successful. I fhall publish about March. "If you can direct me how to fend propofals, I should wish that they were in fuch hands. "I remember, Sir, in some of the first letters with which you favoured me, you mentioned your lady. May I enquire after her? In return for the favours which you have fhewn me, it is not much to tell you, that I wish you and her all that can conduce to your happiness. I am, Sir, "Your most obliged 1757 Etat. 48. "And most humble fervant, "Gough-fquare, Dec. 24, 1757 SAM. JOHNSON." In 1758 we find him, it should feem, in as easy and pleasant a state of 1758 existence, as constitutional unhappiness ever permitted him to enjoy. "SIR, To Mr. BURNEY, at Lynne, Norfolk. "YOUR kindness is fo great, and my claim to any particular regard from you fo little, that I am at a lofs how to exprefs my sense of your favours; but I am, indeed, much pleased to be thus diftinguished by you. "I am ashamed to tell you that my Shakspeare will not be out fo foon as I promised my subscribers; but I did not promise them more than I promised myself. It will, however, be published before fummer. "I have sent you a bundle of propofals, which, I think, do not profess more than I have hitherto performed. I have printed many of the plays, and have hitherto left very few paffages unexplained; where I am quite at a loss, I confefs my ignorance, which is seldom done by commentators. "I have, likewise, inclosed twelve receipts; not that I mean to impofe upon you the trouble of pushing them with more importunity than may seem proper, but that you may rather have more than fewer than you fhall want. The proposals you will diffeminate as there fhall be opportunity. I once printed them at length in the Chronicle, and fome of my friends (I believe s Of Shakspeare. • This letter was an answer to one in which was enclosed a draft for the payment of some subfcriptions to his Shakspeare. 1758. Arat. 49. Mr. Murphy, who formerly wrote the Gray's-Inn Journal) introduced them with a fplendid encomium. "Since the Life of Browne, I have been a little engaged, from time to time, in the Literary Magazine, but not very lately. I have not the collection by me, and therefore cannot draw out a catalogue of my own parts, but will do it, and fend it. Do not buy them, for I will gather all thofe that have any thing of mine in them, and send them to Mrs. Burney, as a small--token of gratitude for the regard which fhe is pleased to bestow upon me. I am, Sir, "Your most obliged "London, March 8, 1758. "And most humble fervant, SAM. JOHNSON." Dr. Burney has kindly favoured me with the following memorandum, which I take the liberty to infert in his own genuine easy style. I love to exhibit fketches of my illuftrious friend by various eminent hands. "Soon after this, Mr. Burney, during a vifit to the capital, had an interview with him in Gough-square, where he dined and drank tea with him, and was introduced to the acquaintance of Mrs. Williams. After dinner, Mr. Johnfon propofed to Mr. Burney to go up with him into his garret, which being accepted, he there found about five or fix Greek folios, a deal writingdesk, and a chair and a half. Johnson giving to his guest the entire seat, tottered himself on one with only three legs and one arm. Here he gave Mr. Burney Mrs. Williams's history, and fhewed him some volumes of his Shakfpeare already printed, to prove that he was in earnest. Upon Mr. Burney's opening the first volume, at the Merchant of Venice, he observed to him, that he seemed to be more fevere on Warburton than Theobald. O poor Tib.! (faid Johnson) he was ready knocked down to my hands; Warburton ftands between me and him.' But, Sir, (faid Mr. Burney,) you'll have Warburton upon your bones, won't you?' No, Sir; he'll not come out : he'll only growl in his den.' But you think, Sir, that Warburton is a fuperiour critick to Theobald?'-O, Sir, he'd make two-and-fifty Theobalds, cut into flices! The worst of Warburton is, that he has a rage for saying something, when there's nothing to be faid.'-Mr. Burney then asked him whether he had feen the letter which Warburton had written in answer to a pamphlet addreffed To the most impudent Man alive.' He answered in the negative. Mr. Burney told him it was fuppofed to be written by Mallet. The controverfy now raged between the friends of Pope and Bolingbroke; and Warburton and Mallet were the leaders of the feveral parties. Mr, Burney asked him then |