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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 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's 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 fullowing 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;1 and it is remarkable that it came out on the same morning with Pope's satire, entitled '1738'; so that England had at once its Juvenal and Horace as

1 Sir John Hawkins, p. 86, tells us, 'The event is antedated 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 acquainted with Savage when he wrote his London. If the departure mentioned in it was the departure of Savage, the event was not antedated 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. [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. C.]

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all never be pers led to think meauly of of so brilliant and pointed a satire as Minners. tion's Jonion was published in May 1788;1 is remarkable that it came out on the some In or ng with Pope's satire, or “Blod (1728'; so that Hagad mad at once its Juvenal and Horace as

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AJ John Hawkins, p. 86, tells us, 'The event is antedated in the per 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 beebe, entirely groundless. I have been assured that Johnson said be was not so much as acquainted with Savage when he wrote his If the departure mentioned in it was the rture of Sage, the event was not antedated but foreseen ; for Spe was ghlabel in May 1735, and Savage did not set out for Winne However well Johnson could defend the credibi ́as 1,4%, he did not pretend that he himself was presessed of the Can wese mod that Johnson was not even acquainted a sekant te vazhausted his London may be doubtful. Johnson Sangan wand we went to Wales in 1739, and must have bee dire that period. See his Life of Savage.-A.

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