as I could before engaging in a state of life which would probably keep me more in Scotland, and prevent me seeing him so often as when I was a single man; but I found he was at Brighthelmstone with Mr. and Mrs. Thrale. I was very sorry that I had not his company with me at the Jubilee, in honour of Shakespeare, at Stratford-upon-Avon, the great poet's native town. Johnson's connection both with Shakespeare and Garrick founded a double claim to his presence; and it would have been highly gratifying to Mr. Garrick. Upon this occasion I particularly lamented that he had not that warmth of friendship for his brilliant pupil, which we may suppose would have had a benignant effect on both. When almost every man of eminence in the literary world was happy to partake in this festival of genius, the absence of Johnson could not but be wondered at and regretted. The only trace of him there was in the whimsical advertisement of a haberdasher, who sold Shakesperian ribands of various dyes; and, by way of illustrating their appropriation to the bard, introduced a line from the celebrated Prologue at the opening of Drury Lane Theatre:

'Each change of many colour'd life he drew.'

From Brighthelmstone Dr. Johnson wrote me the following letter, which they who may think that I ought to have suppressed, must have less ardent feelings than I have always avowed: 1

1 In the Preface to my Account of Corsica, published in 1768, I thus express myself:

He who publishes a book affecting not to be an author, and professing an indifference for literary fame, may possibly impose upon many people such an idea of his consequence as he wishes may be received. For my part, I should be proud to be known as an author,

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR, LENOX

TILDIN FOUNDATIONS

is in a very high degree curious fund
between the History and the Joo,
there will always be found between and
without, and notions generated within
copied from books: your fourasdir.
ence and observation. You enmuss

strongly upon yourself, and row. I use ang great force upon yes readers.

name any narrative by woich enzoshi

better gratified.

'I am glad that you are gaanp to be mari da na as E wish, you well in things of less importance, with you well

portionate ardour in this crisds of year lite.

contribute to your happiness I should be ve
withhold; for I have always Loon and valid pot, and
love you and value you still room, as

and useful: effects which a happy aarriage will hardly
to produce.

and I have an ardunt ambition for "itoma vizur I should imagine literary fan, to be the dar has been able to furnish a pot, which

has established himself as a resenta
without any danger of banag that cl
tion of his weaknesses. To preserve
who see us every day is hardly pow
under the fetters of perpetual restrin
book may allow his fatural disporation a neasy play, and y
the pride of superior genius, when be considers that by
know him only as a mother he never negros, ta e respe
author, when in his hours of gloom zhu discontent, dey ha
solation to think that his writin, sure at think von

to numbers; and such an author may cherish the hope of
bered after death, which has been a great ofjout to be
in all
ages.

Puscal Papli