man, and never read the book. The bookfellers
wanted a Preface to a Dictionary of Trade and
Commerce. I knew very well what fuch a Dic-
tionary should be, and I wrote a Preface accord-
ingly." Rolt, who wrote a great deal for the book-
fellers, was, as Johnfon told me, a fingular cha-
racter. Though not in the least acquainted with
him, he used to say, "I am just come from Sam.
Johnson." This was a fufficient fpecimen of his
vanity and impudence. But he gave a more eminent
proof of it in our fifter kingdom, as Dr. Johnson
informed me. When Akenfide's "Pleasures of
the Imagination" firft came out, he did not put
his name to the poem. Rolt went over to Dublin,
published an edition of it, and put his own name to
it. Upon the fame of this he lived for feveral
months, being entertained at the beft tables as
"the ingenious Mr. Rolt"." His converfation
indeed, did not discover much of the fire of a
poet; but it was recollected, that both Addison
and Thomson were equally dull till excited by wine.
Akenfide having been informed of this impofition,
vindicated his right by publishing the poem with its
real authour's name. Several inftances of fuch
literary fraud have been detected. The Reverend
Dr. Campbell, of St. Andrew's, wrote
"An

Enquiry into the original of Moral Virtue," the
manufcript of which he fent to Mr. Innes, a clergy-
rnan in England, who was his countryman and

"I have had inquiry made in Ireland as to this story, but do not find it recollected there. I give it on the authority of Dr. Johnfon, to which, may be added that of the "Biographical Dictionary," in which it has flood many years.

1761.

Etat. 52.

acquaintance. Innes published it with his own name to it; and before the impofition was discovered, obtained confiderable promotion, as a reward of his merit. The celebrated Dr. Hugh Blair, and his coufin Mr. George Bannatine, when students in divinity, wrote a poem, entitled "The Refurrection," copies of which were handed about in manufcript. They were, at length, very much furprized to see a pompous edition of it in folio, dedicated to the Princefs Dowager of Wales, by a Dr. Douglas, as his own. Some years ago a little novel, entitled "The Man of Feeling," was affumed by Mr. Eccles, a young Irish clergyman, who was afterwards drowned near Bath. He had been at the pains to transcribe the whole book, with blottings, interlineations, and corrections, that it might be fhewn to several people as an original. It was, in truth, the production of Mr. Henry Mackenzie, an attorney in the Exchequer at Edinburgh, who is the authour of several other ingenious pieces; but the belief with regard to Mr. Eccles became fo general, that it was thought neceffary for Meffieurs Strahan and Cadell to publish an advertisement in the news-papers, contradicting the report, and mentioning that they purchased the copy-right of Mr. Mackenzie. I can conceive this kind of fraud to be very easily practised with fuccessful effrontery. The filiation of a literary performance is difficult of proof; feldom is there

7 I have both the books. Innes was the clergyman who brought Pfalmanazar to England, and was an accomplice in his extraordinary fiction.

any

any witness prefent at its birth. A man, either

1761.

in confidence or by improper means, obtains pof- Etat. 52. feffion of a copy of it in manufcript, and boldly publishes it as his own. The true authour, in many cafes, may not be able to make his title clear. Johnson, indeed, from the peculiar features of his literary offspring, might bid defiance to any attempt to appropriate them to others:

"But Shakspeare's magick could not copied be, "Within that circle none durft walk but he."

He this year lent his friendly affiftance to correct and improve a pamphlet written by Mr. Gwyn, the architect, entitled "Thoughts on the Coronation of GeorgelII." *

Johnson had now for fome years admitted Mr. Baretti to his intimacy; nor did their friendship cease upon their being separated by Baretti's revifiting his native country, as appears from Johnson's letters to him.

To Mr. JOSEPH BARETTI, at Milan.

"YOU reproach me very often with parfimony of writing: but you may discover by the extent of my paper, that I defign to recompence rarity by length. A fhort letter to a diftant friend is, in my opinion, an infult like that of a flight

The originals of Dr. Johnfon's three letters to Mr. Baretti, which are among the very beft he ever wrote, were communicated to the proprietors of that inftructive and elegant monthly mifcellany,The European Magazine," in which they first appeared,

¥ 3

bow

1761.

Etat. 52.

bow or curfory falutation;-a proof of unwilling-
nefs to do much, even where there is a neceffity
of doing something. Yet it must be remembered,
that he who continues the fame course of life in the
fame place, will have little to tell. One week and
one year are very like one another. The filent
changes made by time are not always perceived;
and if they are not perceived, cannot be recounted.
I have risen and lain down, talked and mused,
while you have roved over a confiderable part of
Europe: yet I have not envied my Baretti any of
his pleasures, though, perhaps, I have envied others
his company; and I am glad to have other nations
made acquainted with the character of the English,
by a traveller who has fo nicely inspected our man-
ners, and fo fuccefsfully ftudied our literature. I
received your kind letter from Falmouth, in which
you gave me notice of your departure for Lifbon;
and another from Lifbon, in which you told me,
that you were to leave Portugal in a few days.
To either of thefe how could any answer be re-
turned? I have had a third from Turin, complain-
ing that I have not answered the former. Your
English style still continues in its purity and vigour.
With vigour your genius will fupply it; but its
purity must be continued by close attention. To
ufe two languages familiarly, and without contami-
nating one by the other, is very difficult; and to
ufe more than two, is hardly to be hoped. The
praises which fome have received for their multi-
plicity of languages, may be fufficient to excite in-
dustry, but can hardly generate confidence.

<< I know

1761.

"I know not whether I can heartily rejoice at the kind reception which you have found, or at the Etat. 51. popularity to which you are exalted. I am willing that your merit fhould be distinguished; but cannot wish that your affections may be gained. I would have you happy wherever you are: yet I would have you wish to return to England. If ever you visit us again, you will find the kindness of your friends undiminished. To tell you how many enquiries are made after you, would be tedious, or if not tedious, would be vain; because you may be told in a very few words, that all who knew you wish you well; and all that you embraced at your departure, will carefs you at your return: therefore do not let Italian academicians nor Italian ladies drive us from your thoughts. You may find among us what you will leave behind, foft fmiles and eafy fonnets. Yet I fhall not wonder if all our invitations fhould be rejected: for there is a pleasure in being confiderable at home, which is not easily refifted.

By conducting Mr. Southwell to Venice, you fulfilled, I know, the original contract: yet I would wish you not wholly to lose him from your notice, but to recommend him to fuch acquaintance as may best secure him from fuffering by his own follies, and to take fuch general care both of his fafety and his intereft as may come within your power. His relations will thank you for any fuch gratuitous attention: at least they will not blame you for any evil that may happen, whether they thank you or not for any good.