fices in their favour.

intended journey.

faid, "will be with you next week; and Johnson, to try his fate with a tragedy, "and to get himself employed in some trans"lation either from the Latin or French. "Johnfon is a very good scholar and a poet, "and, I have great hopes, will turn out a "fine tragedy-writer. If it should be in your 66 way, I doubt not but you will be ready to "recommend and affift your countrymen." Of Mr. Walmfley's merit, and the excellence of his character, Johnson has left a beautiful teftimonial at the end of the Life of Edward Smith. It is reasonable to conclude, that a mathematician, absorbed in abstract speculations, was not able to find a sphere of action for two men who were to be the architects of their own fortune. In three or four years afterwards Garrick came forth with talents that astonished the publick. He began his career at Goodman's-fields, and there, monftratus fatis Vefpafianus ! he chofe a lucrative profeffion, and confequently foon emerged from all his difficulties. Johnfon was left to toil in the humble walks of literature. A tragedy, as appears by Walmfley's letter, was

the

the whole of his ftock. 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, correfponded with Cave under a feigned name, he now thought it time to make himfelf known to a man whom he confidered as a patron of literature. Cave had announced, by public advertisement, a prize of fifty pounds for the best poem on Life, Death, Judgement, Heaven, and Hell; and this circumftance diffused an idea of his liberality. Johnfon became connected with him in bufinefs, and in a clofe and intimate acquaintance. -Of Cave's character it is unneceffary to say any thing in this place, as Johnfon was afterwards the biographer of his first and most useful patron. To be engaged in the translation of fome important book was still the object which Johnfon 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 fheets of this work were printed, for which Johnson received forty-nine pounds,

as

as appears by his receipt in the poffeffion of Mr. Nichols, the compiler of that en tertaining and ufeful work, the Gentleman's Magazine. Johnson's translation was never completed; a like defign was offered to the publick, under the patronage of Dr. Zachary Pearce; and by that contention both attempts were fruftrated. Johnson had been commended by Pope for the transla tion of the Meffiah into Latin verfe; but he knew no approach to fo eminent a man.With one, however, who was connected with Pope, he became acquainted at St. John's Gate; and that perfon was no other than the well-known Richard Sävage, whose life was afterwards written by Johnson with great elegance, and a depth of moral reflection. Savage was a man of confiderable talents. His addrefs, his various accomplishments, and, above all, the peculiarity of his misfortunes, recommended him to Johnfon's notice. They became united in the clofeft intimacy. Both had great parts, and they were equally under the preffure of want. Sympathy joined them in a league of friendfhip. Johnfon has been often heard to relate, that he and Savage walked round Grofve

nor

nor-fquare till four in the morning; in the courfe of their converfation reforming the world, dethroning princes, eftablishing new forms of government, and giving laws to the several states of Europe, till, fatigued at length with their legislative office, they began to feel the want of refreshment, but could not mufter up more than four-pencehalfpenny. Savage, it is true, had many vices; but vice could never ftrike its roots in a mind like Johnson's, feafoned early with religion, and the principles of moral rectitude. His first prayer was compofed in the year 1738. He had not at that time renounced the ufe of wine; and, no doubt, occafionally enjoyed his friend and his bot

tle.

The love of late hours, which followed him through life, was, perhaps, originally contracted in company with Savage. However that may be, their connection was not of long duration. In the year 1738, Savage was reduced to the laft diftrefs. Mr. Pope, in a letter to him, expreffed his concern for "the miferable withdrawing of his penfion "after the death of the Queen ;" and gave him hopes that, "in a fhort time, he should "find himfelf fupplied with a competence,

VOL. I.

D

with

"without any dependance on those little "creatures, whom we are pleased to call the "Great." The fcheme proposed to him was, that he fhould retire to Swanfea in Wales, and receive an allowance of fifty pounds a year, to be raised by subscription; 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 Johnfon's mind the third fatire of Juvenal, 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 manifeftly point to Savage.

"Though grief and fondness in my breaft rebel, "When injur'd Thales bids the town farewell; "Yet ftill my calmer thoughts his choice com"mend;

"I praise the hermit, but regret the friend :

"Refolv'd at length, from Vice and London far, "To breathe in diftant fields a purer air;

And, fix'd on Cambria's folitary shore,

"Give to St. David one true Briton more.”

Johnfon