1747. one of the best criticks of our age fuggefts to me, that "the word indifferently being used in the sense Etat. 38. of without concern," renders it improbable that they should have been his compofition, and being alfo very unpoetical. "On Lord LOVAT's Execution. "Pity'd by gentle minds KILMARNOCK died; 3 These verses are somewhat too fevere on the extraordinary person who is the chief figure in them, for he was undoubtedly brave. His pleasantry during his folemn trial (in which, by the way, I have heard Mr. David Hume obferve, that we have one of the very few speeches of Mr. Murray, now Earl of Mansfield, authentically given) was very remarkable. When asked if he had any questions to put to Sir Everard Fawkener, who was one of the ftrongest witneffes against him, he answered, "I only with him joy of his young wife." And after sentence of death in the horrible terms in cafes of treafon was pronounced upon him, and he was retiring from the bar, he faid, "Fare you well, my Lords, we shall not all meet again in one place." He behaved with perfect compofure at his execution, and called out " Dulce et decorum eft pro patrið mori.” 1747 This year his old pupil and friend, David Garrick, having become joint patentee and manager Ætat. 38. of Drury-lane theatre, Johnfon honoured his opening of it with a Prologue,* which for just and manly dramatick criticism, on the whole range of the English stage, as well as for poetical excellence", is unrivalled. Like the celebrated Epilogue to the "Diftreffed Mother," it was, during the feafon, often called for by the audience. The most striking and brilliant paffages of it have been fo often repeated, and are fo well recollected by all the lovers of the drama and of poetry, that it would be fuperfluous to point them out. In the Gentleman's Magazine for December this year, he inferted an "Ode on Winter," which is, I think, an admirable fpecimen of his genius for lyrick poetry. But the year 1747 is distinguished as the epoch, when Johnson's arduous and important work, his DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, was announced to the world, by the publication of its Fian or Profpectus. How long this immense undertaking had been the object of his contemplation, I do not know. My friend, Mr. Courtenay, whofe eulogy on Johnson's Latin Poetry has been inferted in this Work, is no lefs happy in praising his English poetry: But hark, he fings! the ftrain ev'n Pope admires ; Indignant virtue her own bard infpires. Sublime as Juvenal he pours his lays, And with the Roman shares congenial praise:- age, And Shakspeare's fun relumes the clouded stage. 1747. Etat. 38. I once asked him by what means he had attained to that astonishing knowledge of our language, by which he was enabled to realife a defign of fuch extent, and accumulated difficulty. He told me, that "it was not the effect of particular study; but that it had grown up in his mind insensibly." I have been informed by Mr. James Dodfley, that feveral years before this period, when Johnson was one day fitting in his brother Robert's fhop, he heard his brother suggest to him, that a Dictionary of the English Language would be a work that would be well received by the publick; that Johnson feemed at first to catch at the propofition, but, after a paufe, faid, in his abrupt decifive manner, "I believe I fhall not undertake it." That he, however, had bestowed much thought upon the fubject, before he publifhed his "Plan," is evident from the enlarged, clear, and accurate views which it exhibits; and we find him mentioning in that tract, that many of the writers whose teftimonies were to be produced as authorities, were selected by Pope, which proves that he had been furnished, probably by Mr. Robert Dodsley, with whatever hints that eminent poet had contri. buted towards a great literary project, that had been the fubject of important confideration in a former reign. The bookfellers who contracted with Johnson, fingle and unaided, for the execution of a work, which in other countries has not been effected but by the co-operating exertions of many, were Mr. Robert Dodfley, Mr. Charles Hitch, Mr. Andrew Millar, the two Meffieurs Longman, and the two Meffieurs 6 Meffieurs Knapton. The price ftipulated was fifteen hundred and feventy-five pounds. The Plan" was addreffed to Philip Dormer, Earl of Chesterfield, then one of his Majefty's Principal Secretaries of State, a nobleman who was very ambitious of literary distinction, and who, upon being informed of the defign, had expressed himself in terms very favourable to its fuccefs. There is, perhaps, in every thing of any confequence, a fecret hiftory which it would be amusing to know, could we have it authentically communicated. Johnfon told me3, "Sir, the way in which the Plan of my Dictionary came to be infcribed to Lord Chesterfield, was this: I had neglected to write it by the time appointed. Dodsley fuggested a defire to have it addressed to Lord Chesterfield. I laid hold of this as a pretext for delay, that it might be better done, and let DodЛley have his defire. I said to my friend, Dr. Bathurst, Now if any good comes of my addreffing to Lord Chesterfield, it will be afcribed to deep policy, when, in fact, it was only a cafual excufe for laziness." It is worthy of obfervation, that the "Plan" has not only the substantial merit of comprehenfion, perfpicuity, and precifion, but that the language of it is unexceptionably excellent, it being altogether free from that inflation of style, and thofe uncommon but apt and energetick words, which in fome of his writings have been cenfured September 22, 1777, going from Afhbourne in Derbyshire, to fee Islam. VOL. I. M with 1748. Ætat. 39. $748. Etat. 39. with more petulance than justice; and never was there a more dignified strain of compliment, than that in which he courts the attention of one who, he had been perfuaded to believe would be a refpectable patron. "With regard to queftions of purity or propriety, (fays he) I was once in doubt whether I fhould not attribute to myfelf too much in attempting to decide them, and whether my province was to extend beyond the propofition of the queftion, and the display of the fuffrages on each fide; but I have been fince determined by your Lordfhip's opinion, to interpofe my own judgement, and fhall therefore endeavour to fupport what appears to me most confonant to grammar and reason. Aufonius thought that modefty forbade him to plead inability for a task to which Cæfar had judged him equal: Cur me poffe negem poffe quod ille putat? And I may hope, my Lord, that fince you, whofe authority in our language is fo generally acknowledged, have commiffioned me to declare my own opinion, I fhall be confidered as exercifing a kind of vicarious jurifdiction, and that the power which might have been denied to my own claim, will be readily allowed me as the delegate of your Lordship." This paffage proves, that Johnson's addressing his "Plan" to Lord Chesterfield was not merely in confequence of the refult of a report by means of Dodfley, that the Earl favoured the defign; but |