ing, published Propofals for printing by fubfcription the Latin Poems of Politian, with the History of Latin Poetry, from the Era of Petrarch to the time of Politian; and alfo the Life of Politian, to be added by the Editor, Samuel Johnfon. The book to be printed in thirty octavo fheets, price five fhillings. It is to be regretted that this project failed for want of encouragement. Johnfon, it feems, differed from Boileau, Voltaire, and D'Alembert, who have taken upon them to profcribe all modern efforts to write with elegance in a dead language. For a decifion pronounced in fo high a tone, no good reafon can be affigned. The interefts of learning require, that the diction of Greece and Rome fhould be cultivated with care; and he who can write a language with correctnefs, will be moft likely to understand its idiom, its grammar, and its peculiar graces of ftyle. What man of tafte would willingly forego the pleasure of reading Vida, Fracaftorius, Sannazaro, Strada, and others, down to the late elegant productions of Bifhop Lowth? The hiftory which Johnson proposed to himself would, beyond all queftion, have been a valuable addition to the history history of letters; but his project failed. His next expedient was to offer hi affiftance to Cave, the original projector of the Gentleman's Magazine. For this purpose he tent his propofals in a letter, offering, on reasonable terms, occafionally to fill fome pages with poems and infcriptions never printed before; with fugitive pieces that deferved to be revived, and critical remarks on authors ancient and modern. Cave agreed to retain him as a correspondent and contributor to the Magazine. What the conditions were cannot now be known; but, certainly, they were not fufficient to hinder Johnfon from cafting his eyes about him in quest of other employment. Accordingly, in 1735, he made overtures to the reverend Mr. Budworth, Master of a Grammar-school at Brerewood, in Staffordshire, to become his affiftant. This propofition did not fucceed. Mr. Budworth apprehended, that the involuntary motions, to which Johnfon's nerves were fubject, might make him an object of ridicule with his fcholars, and, by confequence, leffen their refpect for their mafter. Another mode of advancing himself prefented itself about this time. Mrs. Porter, the widow of a mer a mercer in Birmingham, admired his talents. It is faid that she had about eight hundred pounds; and that fum to a person in Johnson's circumstances was an affluent fortune. A marriage took place; and, to turn his wife's money to the best advantage, he projected the fcheme of an academy for education. Gilbert Walmsley, at that time Registrar of the Ecclefiaftical Court of the Bishop of Lichfield, was distinguished by his erudition and the politenefs of his manners. He was the friend of Johnfon, and, by his weight and influence, endeavoured to promote his interest. The celebrated Garrick, whofe father, Captain Garrick, lived at Lichfield, was placed in the new feminary of education by that gentleman's advice. Garrick was then about eighteen years old. An acceffion of feven or eight pupils was the most that could be obtained, though notice was given by a public advertisement * that at Edial, near Lichfield, in Staffordfhire, young Gentlemen are boarded and taught the Latin and Greek Languages, by Samuel Johnfon. * See the Gentleman's Magazine for 1736, p. 418. The The undertaking proved abortive. Johnfon, having now abondoned all hopes of promoting his fortune in the country, determined to become an adventurer in the world at large. His young pupil, Garrick, had formed the fame refolution; and, accordingly, in March, 1737, they arrived in London together. Two fuch candidates for fame perhaps never, before that day, entered the metropolis together. Their ftock of money was foon exhausted. In his visionary project of an academy Johnson had probably wafted his wife's fubftance; and Garrick's father had little more than his half-pay. The two fellow-travellers had the world before them, and each was to choose his road to fortune and to fame. They brought with them genius, and powers of mind, peculiarly formed by nature for the different vocations to which each of them felt himself inclined. They acted from the impulfe of young minds, even then meditating great things, and with courage anticipating fuccefs. Their friend Mr. Walmfley, by a letter to the Rev. Mr. Coifon, who, it feems, was a great mathematician, exerted his good offi ces ces in their favour. He gave notice of their intended journey. "Davy Garrick," he faid, "will be with you next week; and 66 Johnson, to try his fate with a tragedy, "and to get himself employed in some tranf"lation either from the Latin or French. Johnfon is a very good scholar and a poet, "and, I have great hopes, will turn out a "fine tragedy-writer. If it thould be in your 66 way, I doubt not but you will be ready to "recommend and affift your countrymen." Of Mr. Walmsley's merit, and the excellence. of his character, Johnfon has left a beautiful testimonial at the end of the Life of Edward Smith. It is reasonable to conclude, that a mathematician, abforbed in abstract fpeculations, was not able to find a sphere of action for two men who were to be the architects of their own fortune. In three or four years. afterwards Garrick came forth with talents that astonished the publick. He began his career at Goodman's-fields, and there, monftratus fatis Vefpafianus! he chofe a lucrative profeffion, and confequently foon emerged from all his difficulties. Johnfon was left to toil in the humble walks of literature. A tragedy, as appears by Walmfley's letter, was the |