LETTER S.

SIR,

LETTER I.

To MR. CAVE.

Nov. 25, 1734.

S you appear no less fenfible than your readers of the defects of your poetical article, you will not he displeased, if, in order to the improvement of it, I communicate to you the fentiments of a perfon, who will undertake on reasonable terms fometimes to fill a column.

His opinion is, that the public would not give you a bad reception, if, befide the current wit of the month, which a critical examination would generally reduce to a narrow compafs, you admitted not only poems, infcriptions, &c. never printed before, which he will fometimes fupply you with; but likewife fhort literary differtations in Latin or English, critical remarks on authors ancient or modern, forgotten poems that deferve revival, or lcofe pieces, like Floyer's*, worth preferving. By this method your literary article, for fo it might be called, will, he thinks, be better recommended to the public, than by low jefts, awkward buffoonery, or the dull fourrilities of either party.

If fuch a correfpondence will be agreeable to you, be pleased to inform me in two pofts †, what the conditions

See Gent. Mag. 1734, p. 197. Sir John Floyer's Letter to Mr. King in recommendation of the Cold Bath.

+ " Anfwered, December 2."

E. CAVE.

are

are on which you shall expect it. Your late offer* gives me no reason to diftruft your generofity. If you engage in any literary projects befides this paper, I have other defigns to impart, if I could be fecure from having others reap the advantage of what I fhould hint.

Your letter, by being directed to S. Smith, to be left at the Castle in Birmingham, Warwickshire, will reach Your humble fervant.

LETTER II.

To MR. CAVE.

Greenwich, next door to the Golden-Heart, Church-street, July 12, 1737.

SIR,

HAVING obferved in your papers very uncommon offers of encouragement to men of letters, I have chofen, being a stranger in London, to communicate to you the following defign, which, I hope, if you join in it, will be of advantage to both of us.

The History of the Council of Trent having been lately translated into French, and published with large notes by Dr. Le Courayer, the reputation of that book is fo much revived in England, that, it is prefumed, a

A prize of fifty pounds for the best poem, " on Life, Death, Judg"ment, Heaven, and Hell." See Gent. Mag. vol. IV. p. 560. N.

new

new translation of it from the Italian, together with Le Courayer's notes from the French, could not fail of a favourable reception.

If it be answered, that the history is already in Englifh; it must be remembered, that there was the fame objection against Le Courayer's undertaking, with this disadvantage, that the French had a verfion by one of their best translators, whereas you cannot read three pages of the English History, without discovering that the style is capable of great improvements; but whether those improvements are to be expected from this attempt, you must judge from the fpecimen, which, if you approve the proposal, I fhall fubmit to your examination.

Suppose the merit of the verfions equal, we may hope that the addition of the notes will turn the balance in our favour, confidering the reputation of the annotator. Be pleased to favour me with a speedy answer, if you are not willing to engage in this scheme; and appoint me a day to wait upon you, if you are.

I am, SIR,

Your humble fervant,

SAM. JOHNSON.

LETTER III.

To MR. CAVE.

No. 6, Caftle-street, Wednesday Morning.

SIR,

[No Date, 1738.]

WHEN I took the liberty of writing to you a few days ago, I did not expect a repetition of the fame plea

fure fo foon; for a pleasure I fhall always think it to converse in any manner with an ingenious and candid man; but having the inclosed poem in my hands to difpofe of for the benefit of the author (of whose abilities I fhall fay nothing, fince I fend you his performance), I believed I could not procure more advantageous terms from any person than from you, who have so much diftinguished yourself by your generous encouragement of poetry; and whofe judgment of that art nothing but your commendation of my trifle can give me any occafion to call in queftion. I do not doubt but you will look over this poem with another eye, and reward it in a different manner, from a mercenary bookfeller, who counts the lines he is to purchase, and confiders nothing but the bulk. I cannot help taking notice, that, befides what the author may hope for on account of his abilities, he has likewise another claim to your regard, as he lies at prefent under very disadvantageous circumstances of fortune. I beg therefore that you will favour me with a letter to-morrow, that I may know what you can afford to allow him, that he may either part with it to you, or find out (which I do not expect) fome other way more to his fatisfaction.

I have only to add, that as I am fenfible I have transcribed it very coarsely, which, after having altered it, I was obliged to do, I will, if you please to transmit the fheets from the prefs, correct it for you; and will take the trouble of altering any ftroke of fatire which you may dislike.

His Ode "Ad Urbanum" probably. N.

By

By exerting on this occafion your ufual generofity, you will not only encourage learning, and relieve diftrefs, but (though it be in comparison of the other motives of very small account) oblige in a very fenfible manner, SIR,

I AM to return you thanks for the prefent you were fo kind as to fend by me, and to intreat that you will be pleased to inform me by the penny-poft, whether you refolve to print the Poem t. If you please to send it me by the post, with a note to Dodfley, I will go and read the lines to him, that we may have his confent to put his name in the title-page. As to the printing, if it can be fet immediately about, I will be fo much the author's friend, as not to content myfelf with meer

* The poem, or fatire, mentioned in this and the following letters, muft doubtless have been our author's own " London," which was publifhed by R. Dodfley in May 1738, and is recorded in Gent. Mag. vol. VIII. p. 269, as "being remarkable for having got to the "fecond edition in the space of a week." N.

+ London.

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