Johnfon till the month of March, 1742-3. From that time the Magazine was conducted by Dr. Hawkesworth. In 1743-4, Ofborne, the book feller, who kept a fhop in Gray's-Inn, purchased the Earl of Oxford's library, at the price of thirteen thousand pounds. He projected a catalogue in five octavo volumes, at five fhillings each. Johnson was employed in that painful drudgery. He was likewife to collect all fuch small tracts, as were in any degree worth preferving, in order to reprint and publish the whole in a collection, called "The Harleian Mifcellany." The catalogue was completed; and the Miscellany in 1749 was published in eight quarto volumes. In this bufinefs Johnfon was a day-labourer for immediate fubfiftence, not unlike Gustavus Vafa working in the mines of Dalicarlia. What Wilcox, a bookfeller of eminence in the Strand, faid to Johnfon, on his first arrival in town, was now almoft confirmed. He lent our author five guineas, and then asked him, "How do you mean to earn your livelihood in "this town?” "By my literary labours," was the answer. Wilcox, ftaring at him, fhook his head: "6 By your literary labours! -You had better buy a porter's knot." Johnfon ufed to tell this anecdote to Mr. Nichols; but he faid, "Wilcox was one of my best friends, " and he meant well." In fact, Johnson, while employed in Gray's-Inn, may be faid to have carried a porter's knot. He paufed occafionally, to peruse the book that came to his hand. Ofborne thought that fuch curiofity tended to nothing but delay, and objected to it with all the pride and infolence of a man, who knew that he paid daily wages. In the difpute that of course enfued, Osborne, with that roughness which was natural to him, enforced,his argument by giving the lie. Johnson feized a folio, and knocked the bookfeller down. This story has been related as an inftance of Johnson's ferocity; but merit cannot always take the fpurns of the unworthy with a patient fpirit. That the hiftory of an author must be found. in his works is, in general, a true obfervation; and was never more apparent than in the present narrative. Every æra of Johnson's life is fixed by his writings. In 1744, he published the Life of Savage; and then projected a new edition 66 edition of Shakspeare. As a prelude to this defign, he published, in 1745, Mifcellaneous Obfervations on the Tragedy of Macbeth, with Remarks on Sir Thomas Hanmer's Edition; to which were prefixed, Propofals for a new Edition of Shakspeare, with a Specimen. Of this pamphlet Warburton, in the Preface to Shakfpeare, has given his opinion: "As to all "those things, which have been published "under the title of Effays, Remarks, Obfervations, &c. on Shakspeare, if you except fome critical notes on Macbeth, given as a fpecimen of a projected edition, “and written, as appears, by a man of parts "and genius, the rest are abfolutely below a "ferious notice." But the attention of the publick was not excited; there was no friend to promote a subscription; and the project died, to revive at a future day. A new undertaking, however, was foon after proposed; namely, an English Dictionary, upon an enlarged plan. Several of the most opulent bookfellers had meditated a work of this kind; and the agreement was foon adjusted between the parties. Emboldened by this connection, Johnson thought of a better habitation than he had hitherto known. known. He had lodged with his wife in courts and alleys about the Strand; but now, for the purpose of carrying on his arduous undertaking, and to be near his printer and friend Mr. Strahan, he ventured to take a houfe in Gough-fquare, Fleet-ftreet. He was told that the Earl of Chefterfield was a friend to his undertaking; and, in confequence of that intelligence, he published, in 1747, The Plan of a Dictionary of the English Language, addreffed to the Right Honourable Philip Dormer, Earl of Chesterfield, one of his Majefty's principal Secretaries of State. Mr. Whitehead, afterwards Poet Laureat, undertook to convey the manuscript to his Lordship: the confequence was an invitation from Lord Chefterfield to the author. Aftronger contraft of characters could not be brought together; the Nobleman, celebrated for his wit, and all the graces of polite behaviour; the Author, conscious of his own merit, towering in idea above all competition, verfed in fcholaftic logic, but a stranger to the arts of polite converfation, uncouth, vehement, and vociferous. The coalition was too unnatural. Johnfon expected a Mæcenas, and was difappointed. No patronage, no affiftance followed. Vifits VOL. I. d were were repeated; but the reception was not cordial. Johnson one day was left a full hour, waiting in an anti-chamber, till a gentleman should retire, and leave his Lordship at leisure. This was the famous Colley Cibber. Johnson faw him go, and, fired with indignation, rushed out of the house. What Lord Chesterfield thought of his vifitor may be feen in a paffage in one of that Nobleman's letters to his fon *, "There ❝is a man, whose moral character, deep learn"ing, and fuperior parts, I acknowledge, admire, and refpect; but whom it is so im 66 66 66 poffible for me to love, that I am almost in a fever whenever I am in his company. His figure (without being deformed) feems made "to difgrace or ridicule the common structure "of the human body. His legs and arms "are never in the position which, according "to the fituation of his body, they ought to "be in, but conftantly employed in commit"ting acts of hoftility upon the Graces. He "throws any where, but down his throat, whatever he means to drink; and mangles "what he means to carve. Inattentive to all "the regards of focial life, he mistimes and *Letter CCXII. |