has very good materials for such a work, which I have seen, and will do it at a very low rate. (1) I think the terms of war and navigation might be comprised, with good explanations, in one 8vo. pica, which he is willing to do for twelve shillings a sheet, to be made up a guinea at the second impression. If you think on it, I will wait on you with him. I am, Sir, your humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON.

Pray lend me Topsel on Animals." (2)

I must not omit to mention, that this Mr. Macbean was a native of Scotland.

In the Gentleman's Magazine of this year, Johnson gave a Life of Father Paul;* and he wrote the Preface to the volume,† which, though prefixed to it when bound, is always published with the appendix, and is therefore the last composition belonging to it. The ability and nice adaptation with which he could draw up a prefatory address, was one of his peculiar excellencies.

It appears, too, that he paid a friendly attention to Mrs. Elizabeth Carter; for in a letter from Mr. Cave to Dr. Birch, November 28. this year, I find "Mr. Johnson advises Miss C. to undertake a translation of Boethius de Cons. because there is prose and verse, and to put her name to it when published.' This

admission into the Charter House. He died in June, 1784. "He was," says Johnson, (post, June 26. 1784,) "one of those who, as Swift says, stood as a screen between me and death."]

(1) This book was published.

(2) ["The History of Four-footed Beasts and Serpents London, 1658, fol. with cuts."]

advice was not followed; probably from an apprehension that the work was not sufficiently popular for an extensive sale. How well Johnson himself could have executed a translation of this philosophical poet, we may judge from the following specimen which he has given in the Rambler (Motto to No. 7.):

“O qui perpetuâ mundum ratione gubernas, Terrarum cœlique sator!

Disjice terrenæ nebulas et pondera molis,

Atque tuo splendore mica! Tu namque serenum, Tu requies tranquilla piis. Te cernere finis, Principium, vector, dux, semita, terminus, idem."

"O Thou whose power o'er moving worlds presides, Whose voice created, and whose wisdom guides, On darkling man in pure effulgence shine, And cheer the clouded mind with light divine. 'Tis thine alone to calm the pious breast, With silent confidence and holy rest;

From thee, great God! we spring, to thee we tend, Path, motive, guide, original, and end !”

In 1739 (1), beside the assistance which he gave to the Parliamentary Debates, his writings in the Gentleman's Magazine were "The Life of Boerhaave,'

(1) Johnson addressed to Mrs. Carter, in 'the Magazine for April, 1738 (not 1739), an epigram to Eliza,* both in Greek and Latin; and probably, also, the following Latin epigram in that for July:

"Elysios Popi dum ludit læta per hortos,
En avida lauros carpit Elisa manu,
Nil opus furto. Lauros tibi, dulcis Elisa,
Si neget optata Popus, Apollo dabit."

This year's Magazine also contains the celebrated Latin epigram "To a Lady (Miss Maria Aston) who spoke in Defence of Liberty," and a Greek epigram to "Dr. Birch."- CROKER.

in which it is to be observed, that he discovers that love of chemistry which never forsook him; "An Appeal to the Public in Behalf of the Editor;"† "An Address to the Reader;"+"An Epigram both in Greek and Latin to Eliza,"* and also English Verses (1) to her (2); * and " A Greek Epigram to Dr. Birch." It has been erroneously supposed, that an essay published in that Magazine this year, entitled "The Apotheosis of Milton," was written by Johnson; and on that supposition it has been improperly inserted in the edition of his works by the booksellers, after his decease. Were there no positive testimony as to this point, the style of the performance, and the name of Shakspeare not being

(1) I have permitted this statement to remain in the text, though I can find in the Magazine for 1739 but one copy of English verses to Eliza. They are in December, and signed Amasius, which is the signature of some other pieces now known to have been written by Collins; but, as Boswell erroneously attributed the Greek and Latin verses to Eliza to this year, the English verses may, like the others, have belonged to 1738; though even in that volume I can find nothing addressed to Eliza in English which could be Johnson's, except a translation of his own (as I conceive) Latin epigram on the gathering Pope's laurels. It is not easy to account for the inaccuracy with which Mr. Boswell confounds these two years. CROKER.

(2) And, probably, the following Latin epigram to Dr. Birch:

"IN BIRCHIUM.

"Arte nova rarâque fide perscripserat ausus
Birchius egregios claraque gesta virum.
Hunc oculis veri Fautrix lustravit acutis,

Et placido tandem hæc edidit ore, Dea:

'Perge modo, atque tuas olim post funera laudes
Qui scribat meritas Birchius alter erit.""

My chief reasons for supposing this Latin epigram to be John-
son's are,
that it is a version of his own acknowledged Greek
epigram which appeared in the preceding Magazine, and that
he had followed his Greek epigram on Eliza with a Latin para-
phrase in the same style as this. CROKER.

mentioned in an Essay professedly reviewing the principal English poets, would ascertain it not to be the production of Johnson. But there is here no occasion to resort to internal evidence; for my Lord Bishop of Salisbury (Dr. Douglas) has assured me, that it was written by Guthrie. His separate publications were, "A Complete Vindication of the Licensers of the Stage, from the malicious and scandalous Aspersions of Mr. Brooke (1), Author of Gustavus Vasa," being an ironical attack upon them for their suppression of that Tragedy; and "Marmor Norfolciense; or, an Essay on an ancient prophetical Inscription, in monkish Rhyme, lately discovered near Lynne, in Norfolk, by Probus Britannicus."* In this performance, he, in a feigned inscription, supposed to have been found in Norfolk, the county of Sir Robert Walpole, then the obnoxious prime minister of this country, inveighs against the Brunswick succession, and the measures of government consequent upon it. (2) To this supposed prophecy he added a Commentary, making each expression apply to the times, with warm anti-Hanoverian zeal.

This anonymous pamphlet, I believe, did not

(1) [Henry Brooke, the author of the celebrated novel of "The Fool of Quality," was a native of Ireland. In 1738, his tragedy of Gustavus Vasa was rehearsed at Drury Lane; but, it being supposed to satirize Sir Robert Walpole, an order came from the Lord Chamberlain to prohibit its appearance. This, however, did Brooke no injury, as he was encouraged to publish the play by a subscription, which amounted to 800l. He died in 1783.]

(2) The inscription and the translation of it are preserved in the London Magazine for the year 1739, p. 244.

make so much noise as was expected, and, therefore, had not a very extensive circulation. Sir John Hawkins relates, that "warrants were issued, and messengers employed to apprehend the author; who, though he had forborne to subscribe his name to the pamphlet, the vigilance of those in pursuit of him had discovered:" and we are informed, that he lay concealed in Lambeth-marsh till the scent after him grew cold. This, however, is altogether without foundation ; for Mr. Steele (1), one of the Secretaries of the Treasury, who, amidst a variety of important business, politely obliged me with his attention to my enquiry, informed me, that "he directed every possible search to be made in the records of the Treasury and Secretary of State's Office, but could find no trace whatever of any warrant having been issued to apprehend the author of this pamphlet."

"Marmor Norfolciense" became exceedingly scarce, so that I, for many years, endeavoured in vain to procure a copy of it. At last I was indebted to the malice of one of Johnson's numerous petty adversaries, who, in 1775, published a new edition of it, "with Notes and a Dedication to Samuel Johnson, LL.D. by Tribunus;" in which some puny scribbler invidiously attempted to found upon it a charge of inconsistency against its author, because he had accepted of a pension from his present

(1) [The Right Hon. Thomas Steele, eldest son of Thomas Steele, Esq. Recorder of Chichester, was appointed Secretary to the Treasury in 1784. He represented Chichester in parliament from 1780 to 1807; was appointed, in 1791, Paymaster of the Forces; and died Dec. 8. 1823.]