fheet of paper. The first thing to be written about is our historical defign. "You mentioned the propofal of printing in numbers, as an alteration in the scheme, but I believe you miftook, fome way or other, my meaning; I had no other view than that you might rather print too many of five fheets, than of five and thirty. "With regard to what I fhall fay on the manner of proceeding, I would have it understood as wholly indifferent to me, and my opinion only, not my refolution. Emptoris fit eligere. 1742. Etat. 33. "I think the insertion of the exact dates of the most important events in the margin, or of fo many events as may enable the reader to regulate the order of facts with fufficient exactness, the proper medium between a journal, which has regard only to time, and a hiftory, which ranges facts according to their dependence on each other, and poftpones or anticipates according to the convenience of narration. I think the work ought to partake of the spirit of hiftory, which is contrary to minute exactness, and of the regularity of a journal, which is inconfiftent with spirit. For this reafon, I neither admit numbers or dates, nor reject them. "I am of your opinion with regard to placing most of the resolutions, &c. in the margin, and think we shall give the most complete account of parliamentary proceedings that can be contrived. The naked papers, without an historical treatise interwoven, require fome other book to make them understood. I will date the fucceeding facts with fome K 3 1742. Etat. 33. fome exactness, but I think in the margin. You told me on Saturday that I had received money on this work, and found fet down 13l. 2s. 6d. reckoning the half guinea of laft Saturday. As you hinted to me that you had many calls for money, I would not prefs you too hard, and therefore fhall defire only, as I fend it in, two guineas for a sheet of copy; the reft you may pay me when it may be more convenient; and even by this fheet-payment I fhall, for fome time, be very expensive. "The Life of Savage I am ready to go upon; and in Great Primer, and Pica notes, I reckon on fending in half a sheet a day; but the money for that fhall likewife lye by in your hands till it is done. With the debates, fhall I not have business enough? if I had but good pens. "Towards Mr. Savage's Life what more have you got? I would willingly have his trial, &c. and know whether his defence be at Bristol, and would have his collection of poems, on account of the preface The Plain Dealer,-all the magazines that have any thing of his, or relating to him. "I thought my letter would be long, but it is now ended; and I am, Sir, Your's, &c. "SAM. JOHNSON." "The boy found me writing this almost in the dark, when I could not quite easily read yours. "I have read the Italian-nothing in it is well. "I had no notion of having any thing for the Infcription. I hope you don't think I kept it to extort a price. I could think of nothing, till to day. If you could fpare me another guinea for the the history, I should take it very kindly, to night; 1742. but if you do not I fhall not think it an injury.I am almost well again." Etat. 33. To Mr. CAVE. "SIR, "YOU did not tell me your determination about the Soldier's Letter, which I am confident was never printed. I think it will not do by itself, or in any other place, fo well as the Mag. Extraordinary. If you will have it at all, I believe you do not think I fet it high, and I will be glad if what you give, you will give quickly. "You need not be in care about fomething to print, for I have got the State Trials, and fhall extract Layer, Atterbury, and Macclesfield from them, and shall bring them to you in a fortnight; after which I will try to get the South Sea Report." [No date, nor fignature.] I would alfo afcribe to him an "Effay on the Description of China, from the French of Du Halde.t" His writings in the Gentleman's Magazine in Ætat. 34. 1743, are, the Preface,† the Parliamentary Debates,t "Confiderations on the Difpute between Croufaz and Warburton, on Pope's Effay on Man,t" in which, while he defends Croufaz, he fhews an admiral metaphyfical acuteness and 6 I have not difcovered what this was. K 4 temperance 1743 Atat. 34 temperance in controverfy; "Ad Lauram parituram Epigramma";*" and, "A Latin Tranflation of Pope's Verses on his Grotto;*" and, as he could employ his pen with equal fuccefs upon a small matter as a great, I fuppofe him to be the authour of an advertisement for Ofborn, concerning the great Harleian Catalogue. But I should think myself much wanting, both to my illuftrious friend and my readers, did I not introduce here, with more than ordinary refpect, an exquifitely beautiful Ode, which has not been inferted in any of the collections of Johnson's poetry, written by him at a very early period, as Mr. Hector informs me, and inserted in the Gentleman's Magazine of this year. FRIENDSHIP, an ODE.* FRIENDSHIP, peculiar boon of heav'n; To men and angels only giv❜n, While love, unknown among the bleft, ↑ Angliacas inter pulcherrima Laura puellas, Mr. Hector was prefent when this Epigram was made impromptu. The first line was propofed by Dr. James, and Johnfon was called upon by the company to finish it, which he inftantly did. With bright, but oft deftructive, gleam, Alike o'er all his lightnings fly; Thy lambent glories only beam Around the fav'rites of the fky. Thy gentle flows of guiltless joys Directress of the brave and juft, O guide us through life's darkfome way! And let the tortures of mistrust On selfish bosoms only prey. Nor fhall thine ardours ceafe to glow, Johnson had now an opportunity of obliging his schoolfellow Dr. James, of whom he once obferved, 1743. Ætat. 34. no man brings more mind to his profeffion." James published this year his "Medicinal Dictionary," in three volumes folio. Johnson, as I understood from him, had written, or affifted in writing, the proposals for this work; and being very fond of the ftudy of phyfick, in which James was his master, he furnished fome of the articles. He, however, certainly wrote for it the Dedication to Dr. Mead, which is conceived with great address, to |