the fame fermon before the Univerfity: Yes, Sir, (fays Johnfon) but the The following letter was written by Dr. Johnson to Mr. Chambers, of "DEAR SIR, To Mr. CHAMBERS, of Lincoln College. "THE commiffion which I delayed to trouble you with at your departure, I am now obliged to fend you; and beg that you will be fo kind as to carry it to Mr. Warton, of Trinity, to whom I fhould have written immediately, but that I know not if he be yet come back to Oxford. "In the Catalogue of MSS. of Gr. Brit. fee vol. I. pag. 18. MSS. Bodl. MARTYRIUM Xv. martyrum fub Juliano, auctore Theophylatto. "It is defired that Mr. Warton will inquire, and fend word, what will be the cost of transcribing this manufcript. "Vol. II. pag. 32. Num. 1022. 58. COLL. Nov.-Commentaria in Alta Apoftol.-Comment. in Septem Epiftolas Catholicas. "He is defired to tell what is the age of each of these manufcripts; and what it will coft to have a transcript of the two first pages of each. If Mr. Warton be not in Oxford, you may try if you can get it done by any body elfe; or stay till he comes, according to your own convenience. It is for an Italian literato. "The answer is to be directed to his Excellency Mr. Zon, Venetian Refident, Soho-fquare. "I hope, dear Sir, that you do not regret the change of London for Oxford. Mr. Baretti is well, and Mifs Williams; and we shall all be glad to hear from you, whenever you shall be so kind as to write to, Sir, 1754. Etat. 45. 1 Nov. 21, 1754. "Your most humble fervant, SAM. JOHNSON." The Communicated by the Reverend Mr. Thomas Warton, who has the original. I presume she was a relation of Mr. Zachariah Williams, who died in his eighty-third year, July 12, 1755. When Dr. Johnson was with me at Oxford, in 1755, he gave to the Bodleian 1754. Etat. 45. The degree of Master of Arts, which, it has been obferved, could not be obtained for him at an early period of his life, was now confidered as an honour of confiderable importance, in order to grace the title-page of his Dictionary ; and his character in the literary world being by this time defervedly high, his friends thought that if proper exertions were made, the University of Oxford would pay him the compliment, To the Reverend Mr. THOMAS WARTON. "DEAR SIR, "I AM extremely obliged to you and to Mr. Wife, for the uncommon care which you have taken of my intereft: if you can accomplish your kind defign, I fhall certainly take me a little habitation among you. "The books which I promised to Mr. Wife', I have not been able to procure but I fhall fend him a Finnick Dictionary, the only copy, perhaps, in England, which was presented me by a learned Swede: but I keep it back, that it may make a fet of my own books of the new edition, with which I fhall accompany it, more welcome. You will affure him of my gratitude. Poor dear Collins'!-Would a letter give him any pleafure? I have a mind to write. "I am glad of your hindrance in your Spenferian defign', yet I would not have it delayed. Three hours a day ftolen from fleep and amufement will Bodleian Library a thin quarto of twenty-one pages, a work in Italian, with an English translation on the oppofite page. The English title-page is this: An Account of an Attempt to afcertain the Longitude at Sea, by an exact Variation of the Magnetical Needle, &c. By Zachariah Williams. London, printed for Dodfley, 1755. The English tranflation, from the strongest internal marks, is unquestionably the work of Johnson. In a blank leaf, Johnson has written the age, and time of death, of the authour Z. Williams, as I have faid above. On another blank leaf, is pafted a paragraph from a newfpaper, of the death and character of Williams, which is plainly written by Johnfon. He was very anxious about placing this book in the Bodleian: and, for fear of any omission or mistake, he entered, in the great Catalogue, the title-page of it, with his own hand.” "In procuring him the degree of Master of Arts by diploma at Oxford.” "Lately Fellow of Trinity College, and at this time Radclivian librarian, at Oxford. He was a man of very confiderable learning, and eminently skilled in Roman and Anglo-Saxon antiquities. He died in 1767.” 2" Collins (the poet) was at this time at Oxford, on a visit to Mr. Warton; but labouring under the moft deplorable languor of body, and dejection of mind." 3 Of publishing a volume of Observations on the best of Spenfer's works. It was hindered by my taking pupils in this College," 1754. produce it. Let a Servitour tranfcribe the quotations, and interleave them with references, to fave time. This will shorten the work, and leffen the tat. 45. fatigue. "Can I do any thing to promoting the diploma? I would not be wanting to co-operate with your kindness; of which, whatever be the effect, I shall be, dear Sir, "Your most obliged, &c. "[London,] Nov. 28, 1754. SAM. JOHNSON." To the fame. "DEAR SIR, 5 "I AM extremely fenfible of the favour done me, both by Mr. Wife and yourself. The book cannot, I think, be printed in less than fix weeks, nor probably fo foon; and I will keep back the title-page, for fuch an infertion as you feem to promise me. Be pleased to let me know what money I shall send you, for bearing the expence of the affair: and I will take care that you may have it ready at your hand. "I had lately the favour of a letter from your brother, with fome account of poor Collins, for whom I am much concerned. I have a notion, that by very great temperance, or more properly abftinence, he may yet recover. "There is an old English and Latin book of poems by Barclay, called The Ship of Fools;' at the end of which are a number of Eglogues, fo he writes it, from Egloga, which are probably the first in our language. If you cannot find the book, I will get Mr. Dodsley to fend it you. " I shall be extremely glad to hear from you again, to know if the affair proceeds. I have mentioned it to none of my friends, for fear of being laughed at for my disappointment. "You know poor Mr. Dodfley has loft his wife; I believe he is much affected. I hope he will not fuffer fo much as I yet fuffer for the lofs of mine. Οΐμι, τι δ' οἶμι ; Θνῆτα γὰρ πεπόνθαμην. I have ever fince feemed to myself broken off from mankind; a kind of folitary wanderer in the wild of life, without any direction, or fixed point of view: a gloomy gazer on a world to which I have little relation. Yet I would endeavour, by the help of you and your brother, to supply the want of 4.66 Young ftudents of the lowest rank at Oxford are fo called." 5" His Dictionary." "Of the degree at Oxford.” clofer 1754. Atat. 45. clofer union, by friendship: and hope to have long the pleasure of being, dear Sir, "Moft affectionately your's, [London,] Dec. 21, 1754. SAM. JOHNSON." 1755. In 1755 we behold him to great advantage; his degree of Master of Arts conferred upon him, his Dictionary published, his correfpondence animated, his benevolence exercised. To the Reverend Mr. THOMAS WARTON. "DEAR SIR, "I WROTE to you fome weeks ago, but believe did not direct accurately, and therefore know not whether you had my letter. I would, likewise, write to your brother, but know not where to find him. I now begin to fee land, after having wandered, according to Mr. Warburton's phrase, in this vaft fea of words. What reception I fhall meet with on the fhore, I know not; whether the found of bells, and acclamations of the people, which Ariofto talks of in his laft Canto, or a general murmur of diflike, I know not: whether I fhall find upon the coaft a Calypfo that will court, or a Polypheme that will refift. But if Polypheme comes, have at his eyes. I hope, however, the criticks will let me be at peace; for though I do not much fear their skill and strength, I am a little afraid of myself, and would not willingly feel fo much ill-will in my bofom as literary quarrels are apt to excite. "Mr. Barretti is about a work for which he is in great want of Crefcimbeni, which you may have again when you please. There is nothing confiderable done or doing among us here. We are not, perhaps, as innocent as villagers, but most of us feem to be as idle. I hope, however, you are bufy; and fhould be glad to know what you are doing. I am, dearest Sir, [London,] Feb. 1, 1755. "DEAR SIR, "Your most humble fervant, To the fame. SAM. JOHNSON." "I RECEIVED your letter this day, with great fenfe of the favour that has been done me7; for which I return my moft fincere thanks: and 7 "His degree had now paft, according to the ufual form, the fuffrages of the heads of Colleges; but was not yet finally granted by the Univerfity. It was carried without a fingle diffentient voice." 4 entreat entreat you to pay to Mr. Wife fuch returns as I ought to make for fo much kindness fo little deferved. "I fent Mr. Wife the Lexicon, and afterwards wrote to him; but know not whether he had either the book or letter. Be fo good as to contrive to enquire. "But why does my dear Mr. Warton tell me nothing of himfelf? Where hangs the new volume? Can I help? Let not the past labour be loft, for want of a little more: but fnatch what time you can from the Hall, and the pupils, and the coffee-house, and the parks, and complete your defign. I am, dear Sir, &c. "[London,] Fe 4, 1755 SAM. JOHNSON." 1755. Etat. 46. To the fame. "DEAR SIR, "I HAD a letter laft week from from Mr. Wife, but have yet heard nothing from you, nor know in what state my affair stands; of which I beg you to inform me, if you can, to-morrow, by the return of the post. "Mr. Wife fends me word, that he has not had the Finnick Lexicon yet, which I fent fome time ago; and if he has it not, you must enquire after it. However, do not let your letter stay for that. "Your brother, who is a better correfpondent than you, and not much better, fends me word, that your pupils keep you in College: but do they keep you from writing too? Let them, at least, give you time to write to, dear Sir, "DR. KING' was with me a few minutes before your letter; this, however, is the first inftance in which your kind intentions to me have ever been frustrated. I have now the full effect of your care and benevolence; Principal of Saint Mary Hall at Oxford. He brought with him the diploma from Oxford." I fuppofe Johnson means that my kind intention of being the first to give him the good news of the degree being granted was frustrated, becaufe Dr. King brought it before my intelligence arrived." |