66 66 SIR, "Mr. Samuel Johnfon (author of Lon“don, a fatire, and fome other poetical pieces,) is a native of this county, and "much respected by fome worthy gentle"men in the neighbourhood, who are truf"tees of a charity-fchool, now vacant; the "certain falary of which is fixty pounds per 16 year, of which they are defirous to make "him master; but unfortunately he is not capable of receiving their bounty, which "would make him happy for life, by not being a master of arts, which, by the sta"tutes of the school, the mafter of it must be. 66 "Now these gentlemen do me the honour to think, that I have interest enough "in you, to prevail upon you to write to "Dean Swift, to perfuade the University of "Dublin to fend a diploma to me, confti 66 tuting this poor man mafter of arts in "their University. They highly extol the "man's learning and probity; and will not "be perfuaded, 'that the University will "make any difficulty of conferring such a favour upon a ftranger, if he is recom"mended by the Dean. They fay, he is "" not 66 "not afraid of the strictest examination, though he is of fo long a journey; and yet he will venture it, if the Dean thinks "it neceffary, chufing rather to die upon. "the road, than to be ftarved to death in tranflating for bookfellers, which has been "his only subsistence for some time past. 66 "I fear there is more difficulty in this af “fair than these good-natured gentlemen "apprehend, especially as their election "cannot be delayed longer than the 11th "of next month. If you fee this matter in "the fame light that it appears to me, I 66 hope you will burn this, and pardon me "for giving you so much trouble about an "impracticable thing; but, if you think "there is a probability of obtaining the "favour asked, I am fure your humanity "and propensity to relieve merit in distress "will incline you to ferve the poor man, "without my adding any more to the trou"ble I have already given you, than assu"ring you, that I am, with great truth, Sir, "Your faithful humble fervant, "Trentham, Aug. ft." c3 "GOWER." This This fcheme mifcarried. There is reafon to think, that Swift declined to meddle in the business; and to that circumstance Johnson's known dislike of Swift has been often imputed. It is mortifying to pursue a man of merit through all his difficulties; and yet this narrative must be, through many following years, the history of Genius and Virtue struggling with Adverfity. Having loft the school at Appleby, Johnson was thrown back on the metropolis. Bred to no profeffion, without relations, friends, or intereft, he was condemned to drudgery in the service of Cave, his only patron. In November 1738 was published a tranflation of Croufaz's Examen of Pope's Effay on Man; "con 66 66 taining a fuccinct View of the System of "the Fatalifts, and a Confutation of their Opinions; with an Illuftration of the "Doctrine of Free Will; and an Enquiry, "what view Mr. Pope might have in touch ing upon the Leibnitzian Philosophy, and "Fatalifm. By Mr. Croufaz, Profeffor of "Philofophy and Mathematics at Lausanne." This translation has been generally thought a pro a production of Johnson's pen; but it is now known, that Mrs. Elizabeth Carter has acknowledged it to be one of her early performances. It is certain, however, that Johnson was eager to promote the publication. He confidered the foreign philofopher as a man zealous in the cause of religion; and with him he was willing to join against the system of the Fatalifts, and the doctrine of Leibnitz. It is well known that Warburton wrote a vindication of Mr. Pope; but there is reason to think, that Johnson conceived an early prejudice against the Essay on Man; and what once took root in a mind like his, was not easily eradicated. His letter to Cave on this fubject is still extant, and may well justify Sir John Hawkins, who inferred that Johnson was the translator of Croufaz. The conclufion of the letter is remarkable. "I am yours, IMPRANSUS." If by that Latin word was meant that he had not dined, because he wanted the means, who can read it, even at this hour, without an aching heart? With a mind naturally vigorous, and quick. ened by neceffity, Johnson formed a multiplicity of projects; but most of them proved abortive. A number of small tracts iffued from C 4 from his pen with wonderful rapidity; fuch as "MARMOR NORFOLCIENSE; or an Essay 86 on an ancient prophetical Infcription, in "Monkish Rhyme, difcovered at Lynn in "Norfolk. By Probus Britannicus." This was a pamphlet against Sir Robert Walpole. According to Sir John Hawkins, a warrant was iffued to apprehend the Author, who retired with his wife to an obfcure lodging near Lambeth Marth, and there eluded the search of the meffengers. no foundation in truth. But this story has Johnson was never an incident in his known to mention fuch life; and Mr. Steele (late of the Treasury) caufed diligent fearch to be made at the proper offices, and no trace of such a proceeding could be found. In the fame year (1739) the Lord Chamberlain prohibited the representation of a tragedy, called GusTAVUS VASA, by Henry Brooke. Under the mask of irony Johnson published, "A Vin"dication of the Licenser from the mali"cious and fcandalous Afperfions of Mr. "Brooke." Of these two pieces Sir John Hawkins fays, "they have neither learning nor wit; nor a fingle ray of that genius "which has fince blazed forth;" but, as they have been lately re-printed, the reader, who |