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colleagues had anticipated all the subjects fit for a popular essay: that he might indeed aim at varying or improving what had been said before, but could stand no chance of being esteemed an original writer, or of striking the imagination by new and unexpected reflections and incidents. He was likewise, perhaps, aware that he might be reckoned, what he about this time calls himself, "a retired and uncourtly scholar," unfit to describe, because precluded from the observation of refined society and manners.

But they who pride themselves on long and accurate knowledge of the world, are not aware how little of that knowledge is necessary in order to expose vice, or detect absurdity; nor can they believe that evidence, far short of ocular demonstration, is amply sufficient for the purposes of the wit and the moralist. Dr. JOHNSON appeared in the character of a moral teacher with powers of mind beyond the common lot of man, and with a knowledge of the inmost recesses of the human heart, such as never was displayed with more elegance, or stronger conviction. Though in some respects a recluse, he had not been an inattentive observer of human life; and he was now of an age at which probably as much is known as can be known, and at which the full vigour of his faculties enabled him to divulge his experience and his observations, with a certainty that they were neither immature nor fallacious. He had studied, and he had noted the varieties of human character; and it is evident, that the lesser im

proprieties of conduct, and errors of domestick life, had often been the subjects of his secret ridicule.

Previously to the commencement of the RAMBLER, he had drawn the outlines of many essays, of which specimens may be seen in the biographies of Sir JOHN HAWKINS, and Mr. BOSWELL; and it is probable that the sentiments of all these papers had been long floating in his mind. With such preparation, he began the RAMBLER without any communication with his friends, or desire of assistance. Whether he proposed the scheme himself does not appear; but he was fortunate in forming an engagement with Mr. JOHN PAYNE, a bookseller in Paternoster-row, and afterwards the chief accountant in the bank of England*: a man with whom he lived many years in habits of friendship; and who on the present occasion treated his author with great liberality. He engaged to pay him two guineas for each paper, or four guineas per week; which at that time must have been to JOHNSON a very considerable sum; and he admitted him to a share of the future profits of the work, when it should

This office he resigned June 30, 1785. He had been long the friend and disciple of Dr. James Foster, an eminent dissenter, but afterwards became no less an admirer of the pious William Law, and wrote a volume in his defence, against Dr. Warburton. He published also a volume of Evangelical Discourses, and gave a new Translation of Thomas a Kempis, being dissatisfied with the loose paraphrase of Dean Stanhope. In all these his abilities appeared to considerable advantage He died March 10, 1787, at an advanced age.

be collected into volumes; which share JOHNSON afterwards sold.

The commencement of the RAMBLER was a matter of great importance with the author, as if he had foreseen that this work was hereafter to constitute his principal fame; and as he had wisely determined that his fame should rest as much on the good he had done, as on the pleasure he might afford, with his accustomed piety he composed and offered up the following prayer: entitled "Prayer on the RAM

BLER.'

"ALMIGHTY God, the giver of all good things, without whose help all labour is ineffectual, and without whose grace all wisdom is folly: grant, I beseech thee, that in this my undertaking, thy HOLY SPIRIT may not be with-held from me, but that I may promote thy glory, and the salvation both of myself and others; grant this, O LORD, for the sake of

JESUS CHRIST. Amen."

It has already been noticed*, that objections have been offered to the name RAMBLER. In addition to what was then suggested on this subject, we may give the account he rendered to Sir JOSHUA REYNOLDS, which forms probably as good an excuse as so trifling a circumstance demands. "What must be done, Sir, will be done. When I was to begin publishing that paper, I was at a loss how to name it. I sat down at night upon my bed-side, and resolved that I would not go to sleep till I had fixed its

Preface to the GUARDIAN.

title. The RAMBLER seemed the best that occurred, and I took it." The Italians have literally translated this name by Il Vagabondo.

The first paper was published on Tuesday, March 20, 1749-50, and the work continued without the least interruption, every Tuesday and Saturday, until Saturday March 14*, 1752, on which day it closed. Each number was handsomely printed on a sheet and a half of fine paper, at the price of two-pence, and with great typographical accuracy, not above a dozen errors occurring in the whole work: a circumstance the more remarkable, because the copy was written in haste as the time urged, and sent to the press without being revised by the author. When we consider that in the whole progress of the work, the sum of assistance he received scarcely amounted to five papers, we must wonder at the fertility of a mind engaged during the same period in that stupendous labour THE ENGLISH DICTIONARY, and frequently distracted by disease and anguish. There is not in the annals of literature an instance which can be brought as a parallel to this, if we take every circumstance into the account. Other ESSAYISTS have had the choice of their days, and their happy hours for composition: but Dr. JOHNSON knew no remission, although he very probably would have been glad of it, and yet continued to write with unabated vigour, although even this disappointment might be supposed to have often

* Erroneously printed in the fol. edit. March 17. VOL. XIX.

b

rendered him uneasy, and his natural indolence (not the indolence of will, but of constitution) would in other men have palsied every effort. Towards the conclusion, there is so little of that "falling off" visible in some works of the same kind, that it might probably have been extended much further, had the encouragement of the publick borne any proportion to its merits.

The sale was very inconsiderable, and seldom exceeded five hundred; and it is very remarkable, and a most curious trait in the taste of the age, that the only paper which had a prosperous sale, and may be said to have been popular, was one which Dr. JOHNSON did not write*. This was No. 97, written by RICHARDSON, the author of Clarissa, Pamela, and Sir Charles Grandison. Dr. JOHNSON introduces it to his readers with an elegant compliment, as the production" of an author from whom the age has received greater favours, who has enlarged the knowledge of human nature, and taught the passions to move at the command of virtue." Greater favours the age had undoubtedly received from RICHARDSON, for this paper is of very inferior merit in point of style; and as to subject, proceeds upon an error that may be easily detected. It complains how much the modes of courtship are degenerated since the days of the SPECTATOR, who repeatedly makes the same complaint.

* Upon the authority of Mr. PAYNE, communicated to Mr. NICHOLS, and by him to the present writer.