&c. [1707] If you are sure it was published by Fenton, I shall take notice of it."*

15. MR. JOHNSON desires Mr. Nichols to send him Ruffhead's Life of Pope, Pope's Works, Swift's Works, with Dr. Hawkesworth's Life, Lyttelton's Works; and with these he hopes to have done. The first to be got is Lyttelton.

16. MR. JOHNSON, being now at home, desires the last leaves of the Criticism on Pope's Epitaphs, and he will cor rect them. Mr. N. is intreated to save the proof sheets of Pope, because they are promised to a Lady,t who desires to have them.

17. IN reading Rowe in your edition, which is very impudently called mine,‡ I observed a little piece unnaturally and odiously obscene. I was offended, but was still more offended when I could not find it in Rowe's genuine volumes. To admit it, had been wrong; to interpolate it, is surely worse. If I had known of such a piece in the whole. collection, I should have been angry. What can be done?

18. MR. JOHNSON is obliged to Mr. Nichols for his communication, and must have Hammond again. Mr. Johnson would be glad of Blackmore's Essays for a few days.

May 24, 1780,

19. I HAVE been out of order, but by bleeding and physic think I am better, and can go again to work. Your note on Broome will do me much good. Can you give me a few dates for A. Philips? I wrote to Cambridge about them, but have had no answer.

June 16, 1780.

20. DR. WARTON tells me, that Collins's first piece**is in the Gent. Mag. for August, 1739. In August there is no

* See Lives of the Poets, Vol. III.

+ Probably to Miss Burney.

See the note on No. 10.

The Epigram on a lady who at the tragedy of Cato, which has not only appeared in the works of Rowe, but has been transplanted by Pope, into the "Miscellanies" he published in his own name, and that of Dean Swift. Lives of the Poets, Vol. III. p. 185.

Select Collection, Vol. IV. p. 283.

[** His verses to Miss Aurelia Cr, on her weeping at her Sister's Wedding, are in an earlier number, viz. that for January, 1739, E.]

such thing. Amasius was at that time the poetical name of Dr. Swan, who translated Sydenham. Where to find Collins, I know not. I think I must make some short addition to Thomson's sheet, but will send it to-day.

21. THIS Life of Dr. Young was written by a friend of his son [Mr. Croft.] What is crossed with black, is expunged by the author; what is crossed with red, is expunged by me. If you find any thing more that can be well omitted, I shall not be sorry to see it yet shorter.

22. I EXPECTED to have found a Life of Lord Lyttelton prefixed to his works. Is there not one before the quarto edition? I think there is; if not, I am, with respect to him, quite aground.

Aug. 16.

23. I THINK you never need send back the revises, unless something important occurs. Little things, if I omit them, you will do me the favour of setting right yourself. Our post is awkward, as you will find, and I fancy you will find it best to send two sheets at once.

Brighthelmstone, Oct. 26, 1780.

24. MR. JOHNSON desires Mr. Nichols, to send him a set of the last Lives, and would be glad to know how the octavo edition goes forward.

April 16, 1781.

25. An

Account of the Lives and Works

of some of the most eminent

English Poets. By, &c.

26. The English Poets

Biographically and Critically considered.

By SAM. JOHNSON.

Let Mr. Nichols take his choice, or make another* to his mind.

May, 1781.

27. My desire being to complete the set of Lives which

* Another was made.~

I have formerly presented to my friends, I have occasion for a few of the first volumes; of which, by some misapprehension, I have received a great number, which I desire to exchange for the latter volumes. I wish success to the new edition. Please to deliver to Mr. Steevens, a complete set of the Lives in 12mo.

June 10, 1781.

28. MR. JOHNSON, being much out of order, sent in search of the book, but it is not found. He will, if he is better, look himself diligently to-morrow. He thanks Mr. Nichols for all his favours.

Dec. 26, 1781.

29. DEAR SIR, You somehow forgot the advertisement for the new edition. It was not inclosed. Of Gay's Letters*, I see not that any use can be made, for they give no information of any thing. That he was a member of the Philosophical Society is something, but surely he could be but a corresponding member. However, not having his Life here, I know not how to put it in, and it is of little importance.

What will the booksellers give me for this new edition? I know not what to ask. I would have 24 sets bound in plain calf, and figured with the number of the volumes. For the rest, they may please themselves.

Oct. 28, 1782.

30. THIS is all that I can think ont, therefore send it to the press, and fare it well.

1785, Jan.

SAM. JOHNSON.

XXXVII. Sir William Herbert, of St. Julian's in Monmouthshire, (father-in-law to the famous Lord Herbert of Cherbury,) to a gentleman of the hame of

SIR,

Morgan, in the same County.

PERUSE this letter in God's name. Be not disquieted. I reverence your hoary hairs. Although in your son I find too

To the Spalding Society. See them in Bib. Top. Brit. No. XX. ✦ The advertisement prefixed to the second edition, in 8vo.

"

much folly and lewdness, yet in you I expect gravity and wisdom. It hath pleased your son, late of Bristol, to deliver a challenge to a man of mine, on the behalf of a gentleman, he said, as good as myself. Who he was he namednot, neither do I know. But if he be as good as myself, it must either be for virtue, for birth, for ability, or for calling and dignity: for virtue, I think he meant not; for it is a matter that exceeds his judgment. If for birth, he must be the heir male of an earl, the heir in blood of ten earls, (for in testimony thereof I bear their several coats) besides he must be of the blood royal: for by my grandmother Devereux, I am lineally and legitimately descended out of the body of Edward IV. If for ability, he must have a thousand pound a year in possession, a thousand pound a year more in expectation, and must have some thousands in substance besides; if for calling and dignity, he must be a knight, a lord of several seniories in several Kingdoms, a lieutenant of his county, and a counsellor of a province.

Now to lay all circumstances aside, be it known to your son, or to any man else, that if there be any one, who beareth the name of a gentleman, and whose words are of reputation in his country, that doth say, or dare say, that I have done unjustly, spoken an untruth, stained my credit and reputation, in this matter, or any matter else, wherein your son is exasperated, I say he lieth in his throat, and my sword shall maintain my word upon him in any place or province, wheresoever he dare, and where I stand not sworn to observe the peace. But if they be such as be within my governance, and over whom I have authority, I will for their reformation, chastise them with justice, and for their malapert misdemeanour, bind them to their good behaviour. Of this sort I account your son, and his like, against whom I will shortly issue my warrant, if this my warning doth not reform them. And so I thought fit to advertise you hereof and leave you to God.

1785, Jan.

W. HERBERT,

XXXVIII. Dr. Johnson to the Rev. Mr. Wilson, and a
Dedication to his late Majesty.

MR. URBAN,

As every thing which has fallen from the pen of that great luminary of learning, Dr. Johnson, is sought with avidity,

and will be perused with satisfaction, I here present you with a letter which he wrote to the author of the Archæological Dictionary.

T. W.

To the Rev. Mr. Wilson, Clitheroe, Lancashire.

Bolt-court, Fleet-street, London, Dec, 31, 1782.

REVEREND SIR,

THAT I have so long omitted to return you thanks for the honour conferred upon me by your Dedication, I entreat you with great earnestness, not to consider as more faulty than it is. A very importunate and oppressive disorder has for some time debarred me from the pleasures, and obstructed me in the duties of life. The esteem and kindness of wise and good men is one of the last pleasures which I can be content to lose; and gratitude to those from whom this pleasure is received, is a duty of which I hope never to be reproached with their final neglect.

I therefore now return you thanks for the notice which I have received from you, and which I consider has given to my name not only more bulk, but more weight; not only as extending its superficies, but as increasing its value.

Your book was evidently wanted, and will, I hope, find its way into the schools; to which, however, I do not mean to confine it: for no man has so much skill in ancient rites and practices as not to want it.

As I suppose myself to owe part of your kindness to my excellent friend Dr. Patten, he has likewise a just claim to my acknowledgments, which I hope you, Sir, will transmit.

There will soon appear a new edition of my Poetical Biography. If you will accept of a copy to keep me in your mind, be pleased to let me know how it may be conveyed to you. The present is small, but it is given with good will, by Reverend Sir, your most obliged and most humble

servant,

SAM. JOHNSON.

MR. URBAN,

You have invited the friends of your agreeable Miscel Jany to contribute the correspondence they may possess of the matchless Johnson. The following nervous address to his late Majesty, prefixed to Mr. Adams's "Treatise on the