"Pray lend me Topsel on Animals." I must not omit to mention, that this Mr. Macbean was a native of Scotland.' In the "Gentleman's Magazine" of this year, Johnson gave a Life of Father Paul*; and he wrote the Preface to the volumef, which, though prefixed to it when bound, is always published with the appendix, and is therefore the last composition belonging to it. The ability and nice adaptation with which he could draw up a prefatory address was one of his peculiar excellencies. It appears, too, that he paid a friendly attention to Mrs. Elizabeth Carter; for in a letter from Mr. Cave to Dr. Birch, November 28. this year, I find "Mr. Johnson advises Miss C. to undertake a translation of Boethius de Cons., because there is prose and verse, and to put her name to it when published." This advice was not followed; probably from an apprehension that the work was not sufficiently popular for an extensive sale. How well Johnson himself could have executed a translation of this philosophical poet we may judge from the following specimen, which he has given in the "Rambler" (Motto to No. 7.) : — "O qui perpetuâ mundum ratione gubernas, Terrarum cœlique sator! Disjice terrenæ nebulas et pondera molis, "O Thou whose power o'er moving worlds presides, From thee, great God! we spring, to thee we tend, Path, motive, guide, original, and end!" 1 Mr. Boswell is glad to record that Johnson's national prejudices did not prevent his employing and recommending a Scotchman; but I suspect Johnson's prejudice against the Scotch was of a later date. See post, p. 52. n. 1.- CROKER. 2 Mr. Boswell here confounds the years 1738 and 1739. The Greek and Latin epigram to Eliza (Miss Carter) were in the Magazine for April 1738; and another in July to the same lady, on gathering laurels in Pope's garden, is no doubt his. "Elysios Popi dum ludit læta per hortos, "In Pope's Elysian scenes Eliza roves, And spoils with greedy hands his laurel groves; A needless theft-a laurel wreath to thee Should Pope deny, Apollo would decree. — C. Johnson may have accompanied his young friend to Twickenham, and witnessed the incident. The same year's Magazine also contains the celebrated Latin epigram (see post, p. 611) "To a Lady (Miss Maria Ashton) who spoke in Defence of Liberty," the neatest of Johnson's couplets. Liber ut esse velim suasisti pulera Maria. and a Greek epigram to "Dr. Birch." I can find in the In 1739, beside the assistance which he gave to the Parliamentary Debates, his writings in the "Gentleman's Magazine" were "The Life of Boerhaave,"* in which it is to be observed, that he discovers that love of chemistry which never forsook him; "An Appeal to the Public in Behalf of the Editor;"" An Address to the Reader;"† "An Epigram both in Greek and Latin to Eliza" (2)*, and also English Verses to her (3)*; and “A Greek Epigram to Dr. Birch."* It has been erroneously supposed that an essay published in that Magazine this year, entitled "The Apotheosis of Milton," was written by Johnson; and on that supposition it has been improperly inserted in the edition of his works by the booksellers, after his decease. Were there no positive testimony as to this point, the style of the performance, and the name of Shakspeare not being mentioned in an Essay professedly reviewing the principal English poets, would ascertain it not to be the production of Johnson. But there is here no occasion to resort to internal evidence; for my Lord Bishop of Salisbury (Dr. Douglas) has assured me, that it was written by Guthrie. His separate publications were, "A Complete Vindication of the Licensers of the Stage, from the malicious and scandalous Aspersions of Mr. Brooke+, Author of Gustavus Vasa,"* being an ironical attack upon them for their suppression of that Tragedy; and " Marmor Norfolciense 5; or, an Essay on an ancient prophetical Inscription, in monkish Rhyme, lately discovered nearLynne, in Norfolk, by Probus Britannicus.” * In this performance, he, in a feigned inscription, supposed to have been found in Norfolk, the county of Sir Robert Walpole, then the obnoxious prime minister of this country, inveighs against the Brunswick succession, and the measures of government consequent upon it. To this supposed prophecy he added a Commentary, making each expression apply to the times, with warm anti-Hanoverian zeal. This anonymous pamphlet, I believe, did not Magazine for 1739 but one copy of English verses to Eliza. They are in December, and signed Amasius, a signature used by Dr. Swan, the translator of Sydenham, and by Collins upon one occasion in the same magazine. - CRoker. 3 And, probably, the following Latin epigram to Dr. Birch: "IN BIRCHIUM. "Arte nova rarâque fide perscripserat ausus Et placido tandem hæc edidit ore, Dea: This is a version of his Greek epigram in the preceding Magazine, and he had followed his Greek epigram on Eliza with a Latin paraphrase in the same style as this. - CROKER. 4 Henry Brooke, the author of the celebrated novel of The Fool of Quality, was a native of Ireland. In 1738, his tragedy of Gustavus Vasa was rehearsed at Drury Lane; but, it being supposed to satirize Sir Robert Walpole, an order came from the Lord Chamberlain to prohibit its appearance. This, however, did Brooke no injury, as he was encouraged to publish the play by a subscription, which amounted to 8001. He died in 1783.- CROKER. 5 The mention of this pasquinade in Pope's undated note (p. 41.) makes it worth while to notice that it seems to have been printed in May, 1739.- CRoker. ÆT. 30. BOSWELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON. make so much noise as was expected, and, therefore, had not a very extensive circulation. Sir John Hawkins relates, that "warrants were issued, and messengers employed to apprehend the author; who, though he had forborne to subscribe his name to the pamphlet, the vigilance of those in pursuit of him had discovered:" and we are informed, that he lay concealed in Lambeth-marsh till the scent after him grew cold. This, however, is altogether without foundation; for Mr. Steele, one of the Secretaries of the Treasury, who, amidst a variety of important business, politely obliged me with his attention to my enquiry, informed me, that "he directed every possible search to be made in the records of the Treasury and Secretary of State's Office, but could find no trace whatever of any warrant having been issued to apprehend the author of this pamphlet." "Marmor Norfolciense" became exceedingly scarce, so that I, for many years, endeavoured in vain to procure a copy of it. At last I was indebted to the malice of one of Johnson's "Now," said he, "here is somebody who thinks 66 As Mr. Pope's note concerning Johnson, alluded to in a former page, refers both to his London," and his "Marmor Norfolciense," I I am inhave deferred inserting it till now. debted for it to Dr. Percy, the bishop of Dromore, who permitted me to copy it from the original in his possession. It was presented to hi. 1ordship by Sir Joshua Reynolds, to whom it was given by the son of Mr. Richardson the painter, the person to whom it is addressed. I have transcribed it with minute exactness, that the peculiar mode of writing, and imperfect spelling of that celebrated poet, may be exhibited to the curious in literature. It justifies Swift's epithet of "paper-sparing Pope,"3 for it is written on a slip no larger than a common message-card, and was sent to Mr. Richardson, along with the imitation of Juvenal. "This is imitated by one Johnson who put in for a Public-school in Shropshire, but was disap kind, that attacks him sometimes, so as to make Him a sad Spectacle. Mr. P. from the merit of This Work which was all the knowledge he had of Him endeavour'd to serve Him without his own application; & wrote to my L. gore, but he did not succeed. Mr. Johnson published afterwds. another Poem in Latin with Notes the whole very Humerous call'd the Norfolk Prophecy. P." numerous petty adversaries, who, in 1775, published a new edition of it, "with Notes and a Dedication to Samuel Johnson, LL.D., by Tri-pointed. He has an infirmity of the convulsive bunus;" in which some puny scribbler invidiously attempted to found upon it a charge of inconsistency against its author, because he had accepted of a pension from his present Majesty, and had written in support of the measures of government. As a mortification to such impotent malice, of which there are so many instances towards men of eminence, I am happy to relate, that this telum imbelle did not reach its exalted object, till about a year after it thus appeared, when I mentioned it to him, supposing that he knew of the republication. To my surprise, he had not yet heard of it. He requested me to go directly and get He looked at it and it for him, which I did. laughed, and seemed to be much diverted with the feeble efforts of his unknown adversary, who, I hope, is alive to read this account. 1 The inscription and the translation of it are preserved in the London Magazine for the year 1739, p. 244. BOSWELL. Of these two satirical pamphlets, Hawkins observes that "they display neither learning nor wit, nor, indeed, any ray of their author's genius; and were prompted by the principle which Johnson frequently declared to be the only true geHe was nuine motive to writing, namely, pecuniary profit. never greedy of money, but without money could not be stimulated to write. Yet was he not so indifferent to the subjects that he was requested to write on, as at any time to abandon either his religious or political principles. He would no more have put his name to an Arian or Socinian tract than to a defence of Atheism. At the time when Faction Detected came out, a pamphlet of which the late Lord Egmont is now generally understood to have been the author, Osborne, the bookseller, held out to him a strong temptation to answer it, which he refused, being convinced, as he assured me, that the charge contained in it was made good, and that the argument grounded thereon was unanswerable. The truth is, that Johnson's political prejudices were a mist that the eye of his judgment could not penetrate: in all the measures of Walpole's government, he could see nothing right; nor could he be convinced, in his invectives against a standing army, as the Jacobites affected to call it, that the peasantry of a country was not an adequate defence against an invasion of it by an armed force. He almost asserted in terms, that the succession to the crown had been illegally interrupted, and that from whig politics none of the benefits of government could be expected. From hence it appears, and to his honour be it said, his Johnson had been told of this note; and Sir Joshua Reynolds informed him of the compliment which it contained, but, from delicacy, avoided showing him the paper itself. When Sir Joshua observed to Johnson that he seemed very desirous to see Pope's note, he answered, "Who would not be proud to have such a man as Pope so solicitous in inquiring about him?” The infirmity to which Mr. Pope alludes, appeared to me also, as will be hereafter observed, of his talents could not, in justice, be imputed to him.". principles co-operated with his necessities, and prostitution Life, 78. 84. - CROKER. 3 "Get all your verses printed fair, Lend these to paper-sparing Pope; No letter with an envelope Advice to Grub-Street Writers. The original MS. of Pope's Homer (preserved in the British 4 It is clear that, as Johnson advanced in life, these convulnever entirely absent, were so far subdued, that he could sive infirmities, part no doubt of his hereditary disease, though not be called a sad spectacle. We have seen that he was rejected from two schools on account of these distortions, which in his latter years were certainly not violent enough to excite disgust.CROKER. 5 This is hardly consistent with the story (antè, p. 13. n. 7.) of Pope's high approbation of Johnson's translation of his Messiah. - CROKER. to be of the convulsive kind, and of the nature of that distemper called St. Vitus's dance; and in this opinion I am confirmed by the description which Sydenham gives of that disease. "This disorder is a kind of convulsion. It manifests itself by halting or unsteadiness of one of the legs, which the patient draws after him like an idiot. If the hand of the same side be applied to the breast, or any other part of the body, he cannot keep it a moment in the same posture, but it will be drawn into a different one by a convulsion, notwithstanding all his efforts to the contrary." Sir Joshua Reynolds, however, was of a different opinion, and favoured me with the following Paper. "Those motions or tricks of Dr. Johnson are improperly called convulsions. He could sit motionless, when he was told so to do, as well as any other man. My opinion is, that it proceeded from a habit which he had indulged himself in, of ac companying his thoughts with certain untoward actions; and those actions always appeared to me as if they were meant to reprobate some part of his past conduct. Whenever he was not engaged in conversation, such thoughts were sure to rush into his mind; and, for this reason, any company, any employment whatever, he preferred to being alone. The great business of his life (he said) was to escape from himself. This disposition he considered as the disease of his mind, which nothing cured but company. "One instance of his absence and particularity, as it is characteristic of the man, may be worth relating. When he and I took a journey together into the West, we visited the late Mr. Bankes, of Dorsetshire; the conversation turning upon pictures, which Johnson could not well see, he retired to a corner of the room, stretching out his right leg as far as he could reach before him, then bringing up his left leg, and stretching his right still The old gentleman, observing him, went up to him, and in a very courteous manner assured him, though it was not a new house, the flooring was perfectly safe. The Doctor started further on. 1 Sir Joshua Reynolds's notion on this subject is confirmed by what Johnson himself said to a young lady, the niece of his friend Christopher Smart. See a note by Mr. Boswell on some particulars communicated by Reynolds, under March 30. 1783. — MALONE. 2 Of Kingston Hall, near Corfe Castle. CROKER. 3 See post, under April 22. 1764, and March 27. 1774, and in Miss Reynolds's Recollections, in the Appendix, notices of some strange antics which he used to perform on various occasions. CROKER. 4 Impartial posterity may, perhaps, be as little inclined as Dr. Johnson was, to justify the uncommon rigour exercised in the case of Dr. Archibald Cameron. He was an amiable and truly honest man; and his offence was owing to a generous, though mistaken, principle of duty. Being obliged, after 1746, to give up his profession as a physician, and to go into foreign parts, he was honoured with the rank of Colonel, both in the French and Spanish service. He was a son of the ancient and respectable family of Cameron of Lochiel ; and his brother, who was the chief of that brave clan, distinguished himself by moderation and humanity, while the Highland army marched victorious through Scotland. It is remarkable of this chief, that though he had earnestly remonstrated against the attempt as hopeless, he was of too heroic a spirit not too venture his life and fortune in the cause, when personally asked by him whom he thought his prince. BosWELL. Sir Walter Scott states, in his Introduction to Redgauntlet (Waverley Novels, vol. xxxv. p. viii. &c.), that the govern from his reverie, like a person waked out of his sleep, but spoke not a word."3 While we are on this subject, my readers may not be displeased with another anecdote, communicated to me by the same friend, from the relation of Mr. Hogarth. Johnson used to be a pretty frequent visitor at the house of Mr. Richardson, author of Clarissa, and other novels of extensive reputation. Mr. Hogarth came one day to see Richardson, soon after the execution of Dr. Cameron for having taken arms for the house of Stuart in 1745-6; and being a warm partisan of George the Second, he observed to Richardson, that certainly there must have been some very unfavourable circumstances lately discovered in this particular case, which had induced the King to approve of an execution for rebellion so long after the time when it was committed, as this had the appearance of putting a man to death in cold blood, and While he was talking, he perceived a person was very unlike his Majesty's usual clemency. standing at a window in the room, shaking his head, and rolling himself about in a strange He concluded that he was ridiculous manner. an idiot, whom his relations had put under the care of Mr. Richardson, as a very good man. To his great surprise, however, this figure stalked forwards to where he and Mr. Richardson were sitting, and all at once took up the argument, and burst out into an invective against George the Second, as one who, upon all occasions, was unrelenting and barbarous; mentioning many instances; particularly, that when an officer of high rank had been acquitted by a court martial, George the Second had, with his own hand, struck his name off the list.5 In short, he displayed such a power of eloquence, that Hogarth looked at him with astonishment, and actually imagined that this idiot had been at the moment inspired. Neither Hogarth nor Johnson were made known to each other at this interview.6 ment of George II. were in possession of sufficient evidence that Dr. Cameron had returned to the Highlands, not, as he alleged on his trial, for family affairs merely, but as the secret agent of the Pretender in a new scheme of rebellion: the ministers, however, preferred trying this indefatigable partisan on the ground of his undeniable share in the insurrection of 1745, rather than rescuing themselves and their master from the charge of harshness, at the expense of making it universally known, that a fresh rebellion had been in agitation so late as 1752.- LOCKHART. No 5 Dr. Cameron was executed on the 7th of June, 1753, instance can be traced in the War or Admiralty Offices, of any officer of high rank being struck out of the list about that period, after acquittal by a court martial, It may be surmised that Mr. Hogarth's statement, or Sir Joshua's report of it, was not quite accurate in details, and that Johnson might have alluded to the case of his friend General Oglethorpe, who, after acquittal by a court-martial, was (to use a vulgar but expressive phrase) put upon the shelf. — See antè, p. 35. n. 6, and post, p. 105. n. 3.- CROger. 6 Mrs. Piozzi says, "Mr. Hogarth, among the variety of kindnesses shown to me, was used to be very earnest that I should obtain the acquaintance, and, if possible, the friendship, of Dr. Johnson, whose conversation was (he said) to the talk of other men, like Titian's painting compared to Hudson's. Of Dr. Johnson, when my father and Hogarth were talking together about him one day, "That man, the latter, is not contented with believing the Bible, but he fairly resolves, I think, to believe nothing but the Bible. said In 1740, Dr. Johnson wrote for the Gentleman's Magazine the "Preface,"† the "Life of Admiral Blake," ,"* and the first parts of those of Sir Francis Drake,"* and *" Philip Barretier," *both which he finished the following year. He also wrote an "Essay on Epitaphs," and an "Epitaph on Philips, a Musician," which was afterwards published, with some other pieces of his, in Mrs. Williams's Miscellanies. This Epitaph is so exquisitely beautiful, that I remember even Lord Kames3, strangely prejudiced as he was against Dr. Johnson, was compelled to allow it very high praise. It has been ascribed to Mr. Garrick, from its appearing at first with the signature G.; but I have heard Mr. Garrick declare, that it was written by Dr. Johnson, and give the following account of the manner in which it was composed. Johnson and he were sitting together; when, amongst other things, Garrick repeated an Epitaph upon this Philips by a Dr. Wilkes, in these words: "Exalted soul! whose harmony could please The love-sick virgin, and the gouty ease; Could jarring discord, like Amphion, move To beauteous order and harmonious love; Rest here in peace, till angels bid thee rise, And meet thy blessed Saviour in the skies." Johnson shook his head at these commonplace funeral lines, and said to Garrick, "I think, Davy, I can make a better." Then, stirring about his tea for a little while, in a state of meditation, he almost extempore produced the following verses: "Philips, whose touch harmonious could remove Johnson (added he), though so wise a fellow, is more like King David than King Solomon; for he says, in his haste, that all men are liars." Dr. Johnson made four lines on the death of poor Hogarth, which were equally true and pleasing: 'The hand of him here torpid lies, "I know not," adds Mrs. Piozzi, "why Garrick's were preferred to them." See this question answered, and the lines correctly given, post, sub December 12. 1771. CROKER. 1 This preface is nothing but a few lines, no doubt by Johnson, introducing a learned essay on the "Acta Diurna of the old Romans," by some other hand. - CROKER. His attention was probably drawn to Barretier by Miss Carter, with whom that young man, who is represented as having been from his infancy a prodigy of learning, corresponded. Johnson seems to have been somewhat, and yet not sufficiently, incredulous as to the almost miraculous extent of his acquirements, and confesses that he had few materials but those furnished by Barretier's father; and certainly what bas heen preserved of his correspondence in the Life of Mrs. Carter (70-94.), does not justify the extraordinary accounts which we read of his learning and genius. He died in 1740, t. 19. CROKER. 3 Henry Home, one of the Lords of Session in Scotland, anthor of the Elements of Criticism," "Sketches of the History of Man," and other ingenious works. - CROKER. The epitaph of Philips is in the porch of Wolverhampton church. The prose part of it is curious: Near this place lies Charles Claudius Philips, whose absolute contempt of riches, and inimitable performances upon the violin, made him the admiration of all that knew him. He was born in Wales, made the tour of Europe, and, after the experience of both kinds of fortune, died in 1732." Mr. Garrick appears not to have recited the verses correctly, the original being as follows. One of the various "St. John's Gate, January 31st, 1740-41. "SIR, - Dr. James presses me with great would exert your interest with Mr. Warren to warmth to remind you of your promise, that you bring their affairs to a speedy conclusion; this you know, Sir, I have some right to insist upon, as Mr. Cave was, in some degree, diverted from attending to the arbitration by my assiduity in expediting the agreement between you; but I do not imagine many arguments necessary to prevail upon Mr. Warren to do what seems to be no less desired by him than the Doctor. If he entertains any suspicion that I shall endeavour to enforce the Doctor's arguments, I am willing, and more than barely willing, to forbear all mention of the question. He that desires only to do right, can oblige nobody by acting, and must offend every man that expects favours. It is perhaps for this reason that Mr. Cave seems very much inclined to resign the office of umpire; and since I know not whom to propose in his place equally qualified and disinterested, and am yet desired to propose somebody, I believe the most eligible method of determining this vexatious affair will be, that each readings is remarkable, as it is the germ of Johnson's concluding line: "Exalted soul, thy various sounds could please By consort, in the above lines, I suppose concert is meant ; but still I do not see the germ of Johnson's thought. CROKER. 5 This is the first of a dozen letters or notes of Johnson (communicated to me by Mr. Peter Cunningham) addressed, two in 1741, and the rest in 1755-6, to a Mr. Lewis Paul, of Birmingham and subsequently of Brook Green, Hammersmith. They relate to some question of business between Paul, Warren the Birmingham bookseller, Dr. James, and Cave, Johnson acting as a common friend of all the parties. The case seems to have been that Paul had invented what Cave calls "a machine for making the new spindles for spinning wool and cotton.' Towards trying this, Warren and James appear to have advanced money; and on some difference between them, Cave, at Johnson's request, consented to be an umpire. Cave, however, who, as Johnson says in his Life, impaired his fortune by innumerable projects, of which none succeeded," had himself some pecuniary interest in the con cernas landlord, it seems, of the mill in which the machine. was worked; and in 1756, Johnson was again mediating between Paul and Cave's representatives. The whole affair is very obscure, and the letters, though marked with Johnson's usual good sense, are perhaps hardly worth inserting; yet I am willing to preserve them as additional proefs of his kindness to his friends, and as affording glimpses of his life at periods of which Boswell knew nothing. The originals are in the possession of Mr. Lewis Pocock.- CROKER, Ists. party should draw up in a narrow compass his own state of the case, and his demand upon the other; and each abate somewhat, of which himself or his friends may think due to him by the laws of rigid justice. This will seem a tedious method, but will, I hope, be shortened by the desire, so often expressed on each side, of a speedy determination. If either party can make use of me in this transaction, in which there is no opportunity for malevolence or prejudice to exert themselves, I shall be well satisfied with the employment. Mr. Cave, who knows to whom I am writing, desires me to mention his interest', of which I need not remind you that it is complicated with yours; and therefore cannot be neglected by you without opposition to motives, far stronger than the persuasions of, Sir, your humble servant, Pocock, MSS. "SAM. JOHNSON." JOHNSON TO PAUL, "At the Black Boy, over against Durham Yard, - "Strand, March 31st, 1741. “SIR, The hurry of removing and some other hindrances, have kept me from writing to you since you left us, nor should I have allowed myself the pleasure of doing it now, but that the Doctor [James] has pressed me to offer you a proposal, which I know not why he does not rather make himself; but his request, whatever be the reason of it, is too small to be denied. He proposes, 1. To pay you immediately, or give you satisfactory security for the speedy payment of £100. 2. To exchange general releases with Mr. Warren. These proposals he makes upon the conditions formerly offered, that the bargain for spindles shall be vacated. The securities for Mr. Warren's debts released, and the debt of £65 remitted with the addition of this new article, that Mr. Warren shall give him the books bought for the carrying on of their joint undertaking. What difference this new demand may make, I cannot tell, nor do I intend to be understood in these proposals to express any of my own sentiments, but merely to write after a dictation. I believe I have expressed the Doctor's meaning, but being disappointed of an interview with him, cannot shew him this, and he generally hints his intentions somewhat obscurely. He is very impatient for an answer, and desires me to importune you for one by the return of the post. I am not willing, in this affair, to request anything on my own account; for you know already, that an agreement can only be made by a communication of your thoughts, and a speedy agreement only by an expeditious communication. I hope to write soon on some more agreeable subject; for though, perhaps, a man cannot easily "I have no encouragement to mention anything of my affairs to Mr. Paul, after such a letter as he sent to Mr. Johnson, who had made some mention or enquiry for me. Though I am to be kept in the dark, I suppose you who are on the spot must know what hopes you have of being reimbursed your money, and shall be glad of a line on that head." Cave to Mr. Warren, in Birmingham, April 9. 1741.-P. CUNNINGHAM. 2 This is an arrangement of the report of a debate between Cromwell and a committee of the Parliament. It is to be regretted that Johnson did not rather reprint the original report, which the editors of the Parliamentary History do not appear to have seen. - CROKER. 3 Boswell must mean that the sole and exclusive composition by Johnson began at this date; because we have seen that he had been employed on these debates as early as zine the "Preface;"+"Conclusion of his Lives In 1741 he wrote for the Gentleman's Magaof Drake and Barretier ;"*"A free Translation of the Jests of Hierocles, with an Introduction;" and, I think, the following pieces: "Debate on the Proposal of Parliament to Cromwell, to assume the Title of King, abridged modified, and digested;"2+ "Translation of Abbé Guyon's Dissertation on the Amazons ;"† "Translation of Fontenelle's Panegyric on Dr. Morin." Two notes upon this appear to me undoubtedly his. He this year, and the two following, wrote the Parliamentary Debates. He told me himself, that he was the sole composer of them for those three years only. He was not, however, precisely exact in his statement, which he mentioned from hasty recollection; for it is sufficiently evident, that his composition of them began November 19. 1740, and ended February 23. 1742-3.3 Birch, that Cave had better assistance for that It appears from some of Cave's letters to Dr. branch of his Magazine, than has been generally supposed; and that he was indefatigable in getting it made as perfect as he could. Thus, 21st July, 1735, "I trouble you with the inclosed, because you said you could easily correct what is here given for Lord Chesterfield's speech. I beg you will do so as soon as you can for me, because the month is far advanced." 1738. I, however, see abundant reason to believe that he wrote them from the time (June 1738) that they assumed the Lilliputian title, and even the "Introduction to this new form is evidently his; and when Mr. Boswell limits Johnson's share to the 23d of Feb. 1743, he refers to the date of the debate itself, and not to that of the report, for the debates on the Gin Act (certainly reported by Johnson), which took place in Feb. 1743, were not concluded in the Magazine till February, 1744: so that instead of two years and nine months, according to Mr. Boswell's reckoning, we have, I think, Johnson's own evidence that he was employed in this way for near six years from 1738 to 1744. CROKER. I suppose, in another compilation of the same kind. BOSWELL. 5 Doubtless, Lord Hardwicke. - BOSWELL. |
