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the fame fermon before the Univerfity: Yes, Sir, (fays Johnfon) but the
University were not to be hanged the next morning.'
"I forgot to obferve before, that when he left Mr. Meeke, (as I have
told above) he added, About the fame time of life, Meeke was left behind
at Oxford to feed on a Fellowship, and I went to London to get my living:
now, Sir, fee the difference of our literary characters!"

The following letter was written by Dr. Johnson to Mr. Chambers, of
Lincoln College, now Sir Robert Chambers, one of the Judges in India7:

"DEAR SIR,

To Mr. CHAMBERS, of Lincoln College.

"THE commiffion which I delayed to trouble you with at your departure, I am now obliged to fend you; and beg that you will be fo kind as to carry it to Mr. Warton, of Trinity, to whom I fhould have written immediately, but that I know not if he be yet come back to Oxford.

"In the Catalogue of MSS. of Gr. Brit. fee vol. I. pag. 18. MSS. Bodl. MARTYRIUM XV. martyrum fub Juliano, auctore Theophylacto.

"It is defired that Mr. Warton will inquire, and send word, what will be the coft of transcribing this manufcript.

"Vol. II. pag. 32. Num. 1022. 58. COLL. Nov.-Commentaria in Alta Apoftol.-Comment. in Septem Epiftolas Catholicas.

"He is defired to tell what is the age of each of thefe manufcripts; and what it will coft to have a transcript of the two first pages of each.

"If Mr. Warton be not in Oxford, you may try if you can get it done by any body else; or ftay till he comes, according to your own convenience. It is for an Italian literato.

"The answer is to be directed to his Excellency Mr. Zon, Venetian Resident, Soho-square.

"I hope, dear Sir, that you do not regret the change of London for Oxford. Mr. Baretti is well, and Mifs Williams; and we fhall all be glad to hear from you, whenever you fhall be fo kind as to write to, Sir,

-1754.

Etat. 45.

"Nov. 21, 1754.

"Your most humble fervant,

SAM. JOHNSON."

The

7 Communicated by the Reverend Mr. Thomas Warton, who has the original. 8" I prefume she was a relation of Mr. Zachariah Williams, who died in his eighty-third year, July 12, 1755. When Dr. Johnson was with me at Oxford, in 1755, he gave to the Bodleian.

1754.

Ætat. 45.

The degree of Master of Arts, which, it has been obferved, could not be obtained for him at an early period of his life, was now confidered as an honour of confiderable importance, in order to grace the title-page of his Dictionary; and his character in the literary world being by this time defervedly high, his friends thought that if proper exertions were made, the Univerfity of Oxford would pay him the compliment.

To the Reverend Mr. THOMAS WARTON.

"DEAR SIR,

"I AM extremely obliged to you and to Mr. Wife, for the uncommon care which you have taken of my interest: if you can accomplish your kind design, I shall certainly take me a little habitation among you.

"The books which I promised to Mr. Wife', I have not been able to procure but I shall send him a Finnick Dictionary, the only copy, perhaps, in England, which was presented me by a learned Swede: but I keep it back, that it may make a fet of my own books of the new edition, with which I fhall accompany it, more welcome. You will affure him of my gratitude. "Poor dear Collins'!-Would a letter give him any pleafure? I have a mind to write.

"I am glad of your hindrance in your Spenserian design3, yet I would not have it delayed. Three hours a day stolen from fleep and amusement will

Bodleian Library a thin quarto of twenty-one pages, a work in Italian, with an English translation on the oppofite page. The English title-page is this: An Account of an Attempt to afcertain the Longitude at Sea, by an exact Variation of the Magnetical Needle, &c. By Zachariah Williams. London, printed for Dodfley, 1755. The English translation, from the strongest internal marks, is unquestionably the work of Johnfon. In a blank leaf, Johnfon has written the age, and time of death, of the authour Z. Williams, as I have said above. On another blank leaf, is pasted a paragraph from a newspaper, of the death and character of Williams, which is plainly written by Johnson. He was very anxious about placing this book in the Bodleian: and, for fear of any omiffion or mistake, he entered, in the great Catalogue, the title-page of it, with his own hand."

"In procuring him the degree of Master of Arts by diploma at Oxford"

"Lately Fellow of Trinity College, and at this time Radclivian librarian, at Oxford. He was a man of very confiderable learning, and eminently skilled in Roman and Anglo-Saxon antiquities. He died in 1767."

2 « Collins (the poet) was at this time at Oxford, on a visit to Mr. Warton; but labouring under the most deplorable languor of body, and dejection of mind."

3" Of publishing a volume of Observations on the best of Spenser's works. It was hindered by my taking pupils in this College."

produce it. Let a Servitour transcribe the quotations, and interleave them with references, to fave time. This will fhorten the work, and leffen the fatigue.

"Can I do any thing to promoting the diploma? I would not be wanting to co-operate with your kindness; of which, whatever be the effect, I shall be, dear Sir,

1754.

Etat. 45

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5

"I AM extremely fenfible of the favour done me, both by Mr. Wife and yourself. The book cannot, I think, be printed in lefs than fix weeks, nor probably so foon; and I will keep back the title-page, for fuch an infertion as you seem to promise me. Be pleased to let me know what money I fhall fend you, for bearing the expence of the affair: and I will take care that you may have it ready at your hand.

"I had lately the favour of a letter from your brother, with some account of poor Collins, for whom I am much concerned. I have a notion, that by very great temperance, or more properly abftinence, he may yet recover.

"There is an old English and Latin book of poems by Barclay, called The Ship of Fools;' at the end of which are a number of Eglogues, fo he writes it, from Egloga, which are probably the firft in our language. If you cannot find the book, I will get Mr. Dodsley to send it you.

I fhall be extremely glad to hear from you again, to know if the affair proceeds. I have mentioned it to none of my friends, for fear of being laughed at. for my disappointment.

"You know poor Mr. Dodsley has loft his wife; I believe he is much affected. I hope he will not fuffer fo much as I yet fuffer for the loss of mine.

Οἴμι. τι δ' οἶμι ; Θνητα γὰρ πεπόνθαμην.

I have ever since feemed to myself broken off from mankind; a kind of folitary wanderer in the wild of life, without any direction, or fixed point of view: a gloomy gazer on a world to which I have little relation. Yet I would endeavour, by the help of you and your brother, to fupply the want of

"Young ftudents of the lowest rank at Oxford are so called."

5 His Dictionary."

6" Of the degree at Oxford."

clofer

1754.

Etat. 45.

clofer union, by friendship: and hope to have long the pleasure of being, dear Sir,

1755.

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In 1755 we behold him to great advantage; his degree of Master of Arts conferred upon him, his Dictionary published, his correfpondence animated, his benevolence exercised.

To the Reverend Mr. THOMAS WARTON.

"DEAR SIR,

I WROTE to you fome weeks ago, but believe did not direct accurately, and therefore know not whether you had my letter. I would, likewise, write to your brother, but know not where to find him. I now begin to fee land, after having wandered, according to Mr. Warburton's phrase, in this vast sea of words. What reception I fhall meet with on the fhore, I know not; whether the found of bells, and acclamations of the people, which Ariofto talks of in his last Canto, or a general murmur of dislike, I know not: whether I fhall find upon the coaft a Calypfo that will court, or a Polypheme that will refift. But if Polypheme comes, have at his eyes. I hope, however, the criticks will let me be at peace; for though I do not much fear their skill and strength, I am a little afraid of myself, and would not willingly feel fo much ill-will in my bofom as literary quarrels are apt to excite.

"Mr. Barretti is about a work for which he is in great want of Crefcimbeni, which you may have again when you please.

"There is nothing confiderable done or doing among us here. We are not, perhaps, as innocent as villagers, but most of us feem to be as idle. I hope, however, you are bufy; and fhould be glad to know what you are doing. I am, dearest Sir,

[London,] Feb. 1, 1755.

"Your moft humble fervant,

SAM. JOHNSON."

To the fame.

"DEAR SIR,

"I RECEIVED your letter this day, with great fenfe of the favour that has been done me7; for which I return my moft fincere thanks: and

7" His degree had now paft, according to the ufual form, the fuffrages of the heads of Colleges; but was not yet finally granted by the Univerfity. It was carried without a fingle diffentient voice." 4

entreat

entreat you to pay to Mr. Wise such returns as I ought to make for so much kindness fo little deferved.

"I fent Mr. Wife the Lexicon, and afterwards wrote to him; but know not whether he had either the book or letter. Be fo good as to contrive to enquire.

"But why does my dear Mr. Warton tell me nothing of himself? Where hangs the new volume? Can I help? Can I help? Let not the past labour be loft, for want of a little more: but fnatch what time you can from the Hall, and the pupils, and the coffee-house, and the parks, and complete your design. I am, dear Sir, &c.

1755.

Ætat. 46.

"[London,] Feb. 4, 1755.

To the fame.

SAM. JOHNSON."

"DEAR SIR,

"I HAD a letter laft week from from Mr. Wife, but have yet heard nothing from you, nor know in what state my affair stands; of which I beg you to inform me, if you can, to-morrow, by the return of the post.

"Mr. Wise sends me word, that he has not had the Finnick Lexicon yet, which I fent fome time ago; and if he has it not, you must enquire after it. However, do not let your letter stay for that.

"Your brother, who is a better correspondent than you, and not much better, fends me word, that your pupils keep you in College: but do they keep you from writing too? Let them, at least, give you time to write to, dear Sir,

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"DR. KING' was with me a few minutes before your letter; this, however, is the first instance in which your kind intentions to me have ever been frustrated. I have now the full effect of your care and benevolence;

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"Principal of Saint Mary Hall at Oxford. He brought with him the diploma from

Oxford."

2 " I suppose Johnson means that my kind intention of being the first to give him the good news of the degree being granted was fruftrated, because Dr. King brought it before my intelligence arrived."

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