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self by the publication of a series of essays, excellently calculated to form the manners of the people, and in which the cause of religion and morality has been maintained and recommended by the strongest powers of argument and elegance of language, reflected an equal degree of lustre upon the University itself.

"The many learned labours which have since that time employed the attention and displayed the abilities of that great man, so much to the advancement of literature and the benefit of the community, render him worthy of more distinguished honours in the republick of letters and I persuade myself, that I shall act agreeably to the sentiments of the whole University, in desiring that it may be proposed in Convocation to confer on him the degree of Doctor in Civil Law by diploma, to which I readily give my consent; and am, "Mr. Vice-Chancellor and Gentlemen,

"Downing-street, March 23, 1775."

"Your affectionate friend and servant,

DIPLOMA.

"NORTH."

"CANCELLARIUS, Magistri, et Scholares Universitatis Oxoniensis, omnibus ad quos præsentes Litera pervenerint, Salutem in Domino Sempiternam.

"SCIATIS, virum illustrem, SAMUELEM JOHNSON, in omni humaniorum literarum genere eruditum, omniumque scientiarum comprehensione, felicissimum, scriptis suis, ad popularium mores formandos summâ verborum elegantiâ ac sententiarum gravitate compositis, ita olim inclaruisse, ut dignus videretur cui ab Academiâ suâ eximia quædam laudis præmia deferentur, quique venerabilem Magistrorum Ordinem summâ cum dignitate cooptaretur:

"Cùm verò eundem clarissimum virum tot posteà tantique labores, in patriâ præsertim linguâ ornandâ et stabiliendâ feliciter impensi, ita insigniverint, ut in Literarum Republicâ PRINCEPS jam et PRIMARIUS jure habeatur; Nos CANCELLARIUS, Magistri et Scholares Universitatis Oxoniensis, quò talis viri merita pari honoris remuneratione exæquentur, et perpetuum suæ simul laudis, nostræque erga literas propensissimæ voluntatis extet monumentum, in solenni Convocatione Doctorum et Magistrorum regentium et non regentium, prædictum SAMUELEM JOHNSON Doctorem in Jure Civili renunciavimus et constituimus, eumque virtute præsentis Diplomatis singulis juribus, privilegiis et honoribus, ad istum gradum quàquà pertinentibus, frui et gaudere jussimus. In cujus rei testimonium commune Universitatis Oxoniensis sigillum præsentibus apponi fecimus.

• Extracted from the Convocation Register, Oxford.

"Datum in Domo nostra Convocationis die tricesimo mensis Martii, Anno Domini Millesimo, septingentesimo, septuagesimo quinto."

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"Viro reverendo THOME FOTHERGILL, S. T. P. Universitatis Oxoniensis Vice-Cancellario.

“S. P. D.

"SAM. JOHNSON.

"MULTIS non est opus, ut testimonium quo, te præside, Oxonienses nomen meum posteris commendârunt, quali animo acceperim compertum faciam. Nemo sibi placens non lætatur; nemo sibi non placet, qui vobis, literarum arbitris, placere potuit. Hoc tamen habet incommodi tantum beneficium, quod mihi nunquam posthac sine vestræ famæ detrimento vel labi liceat vel cessare; semperque sit timendum, ne quod mihi tam eximia laudi est, vobis aliquando fiat opprobrio. Vale."D

"7 Id. Apr. 1775."

The original is in my possession.

Added for third Edition.-[He shewed me the diploma, and allowed me to read it, but would not consent to my taking a copy of it, fearing perhaps that I should blaze it abroad in his life-time. His objection to this appears from his 99th letter to Mrs. Thrale, whom in that letter he thus scolds for the grossness of her flattery of him.-"The other Oxford news is, that they have sent me a degree of Doctor of Laws, with such praises in the Diploma as perhaps ought to make me ashamed; they are very like your praises. I wonder whether I shall ever shew it to you."

It is remarkable that he never, so far as I know, assumed his title of Doctor, but called himself Mr. Johnson, as appears from many of his cards or notes to myself, and I have seen many from him to other persons, in which he uniformly takes that designation.-I once observed on his table a letter directed to him with the addition of Esquire, and objected to it as being a designation inferiour to that of Doctor; but he checked me, and seemed pleased with it, because, as I conjectured, he liked to be sometimes taken out of the class of literary men, and to be merely genteel,-un gentilhomme comme un autre.]1

"The original is in the hands of Dr. Fothergill, then Vice-Chancellor, who made this transcript.

"T. WARTON."

The words between "crotchets " are found only in Malone's and later editions

END OF VOL. I.

Just published, in large 12mo, cloth, uncut edges, price 10s.; in emblematically gilt cloth and gilt edges, or in morocco, emblematically tooled, 18s.; and in best plain morocco, 215.,

THE

BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER

44

COMMONLY CALLED

Queen Elizabeth's Prayer Book."

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With all the latest alterations, and finely executed Woodcut Borders round every page;
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ALBERT DURER'S "Lite of Christ;" HOLBEIN'S "Dance of Death;" "The Cardinal
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ONDON: BICKERS & SON, LEICESTER SQUARE,

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Now published,

NEW COPYRIGHT EDITIONS OF SHAKESPEARE'S PLAYS

AND POEMS.

Shakespeare's Plays and Poems.

EDITED BY

CHARLES AND MARY COWDEN CLARKE

In Four Volumes, Demy Octavo, price £111s. 6d.

ALSO,

The Same Text.

In One Volume, Royal Octavo, price 128.

LONDON: BICKERS & SON, I LEICESTER SQUARE.

The PUBLISHERS have much pleasure in announcing the publication of the above Editions of Shakespeare's Plays and Poems. Mrs Cowden Clarke's Edition of Shakespeare, recently published by Messrs Appleton & Co. of New York, has been made the basis of Mr and Mrs Cowden Clarke's joint labours. The original Edition, produced after long and careful preparation, has met with great and deserved success in America. As the present issue, in addition to the careful revision of Mrs Cowden Clarke, has had the benefit of the labours of Mr Charles Cowden Clarke, one of the most zealous and successful illustrators of the great Dramatist now living, they believe they are presenting Editions of Shakespeare's Works distinguished by an amount of mature judgment in collating the earlier copies which will vindicate their claim to the rank of STANDARD EDITIONS.

In projecting Editions of Shakespeare without note or comment, the PUBLISHERS believe that they will be acceptable to the general public who desire to become acquainted with the writings of the author, free from the distraction which a multiplicity of notes is so apt to produce, and to those also who prefer being their own interpreters of the meaning of the passages which appear obscure.

As the value of these Editions will lie in the discrimination exercised in the selection of the text by the Editors, it will be conceded

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