Johnson at that time lodged at Greenwich. He there fixes the fcene, and takes leave of his friend; who, he fays in his Life, parted from him with tears in his eyes. The poem, when finished, was offered to Cave. It happened, however, that the late Mr. Dodfley was the purchafer at the price of ten guineas. It was published in 1738; and Pope, we are told, faid, "The author, whoever he is, will not be long concealed;" alluding to the paffage in Terence, Ubi, ubi eft, diu celuri non poteft. Notwithstanding that prediction, it does not appear that, befides the copy-money, any advantage accrued to the author of a poem, written with the elegance and energy of Pope. Johnfon, in Auguft 1738, went, with all the fame of his poetry, to offer himfelf a candidate for the maftership of the fchool at Appleby, in Leicestershire. The statutes of the place required, that the perfon chofen fhould be a master of arts. To remove this objection, the late Lord Gower was induced to write to a friend, in order to obtain for Johnfon a mafter's degree in the University of Dublin, by the recommendation of Dr. Swift. The letter was printed in one of the Magazines, and is as follows: 66 66 66 "SIR, "Mr. Samuel Johnfon (author of London, a fatire, and some other poetical pieces,) is a native of this county, and much respected by fome worthy gentlemen in the neigh"bourhood, who are truftees of a charity"fchool, now vacant; the certain falary of "which is fixty pounds per year, of which they are defirous to make him master; "but unfortunately he is not capable of re"ceiving their bounty, which would make "him happy for life, by not being a master "of arts, which, by the ftatutes of the fchool, "the mafter of it must be. "Now thefe gentlemen do me the honour "to think, that I have intereft enough "in you, to prevail upon you to write to "Dean Swift, to perfuade the University of "Dublin to fend a diploma to me, confti 46 tuting this poor man mafter of arts in "their University. They highly extol the "man's learning and probity; and will not "be perfuaded, that the Univerfity will "make any difficulty of conferring fuch a "favour upon a stranger, if he is recom"mended by the Dean. They fay, he is "not 66 "not afraid of the ftricteft examination, though he is of fo long a journey; and yet he will venture it, if the Dean thinks "it neceffary, chufing rather to die upon the "road, than to be ftarved to death in tranflating for bookfellers, which has been his only subsistence for fome time past. 66 66 "I fear there is more difficulty in this "affair than these good-natured gentlemen apprehend, especially as their election can"not be delayed longer than the 11th of "next month. If you fee this matter in the "fame light that it appears to me, I hope you will burn this, and pardon me for giving you fo much trouble about an impracticable thing; but, if you think there is a pro 66 66 bability of obtaining the favour asked, I "am fure your humanity and propensity to "relieve merit in diftrefs will incline you to "ferve the poor man, without my adding 66 any more to the trouble I have already given you, than affuring you, that I am, "with great truth, Sir, "Your faithful humble fervant, "Trentham, Aug. 1ft.” D 3* "GOWER.' وو This This fcheme mifcarried. There is reafon to think, that Swift declined to meddle in the bufinefs; and to that circumftance Johnson's known diflike of Swift has been often imputed. It is mortifying to purfue a man of merit through all his difficulties; and yet this narrative must be, through many following years, the hiftory of Genius and Virtue ftruggling with Adverfity. Having loft the school at Appleby, Johnfon was thrown back on the metropolis. Bred to no profeffion, without relations, friends, or intereft, he was condemned to drudgery in the service of Cave, his only patron. In November 1738 was published a tranflation of Croufaz's Examen of Pope's Effay on Man ; "taining a fuccinct View of the Syftem of "the Fatalifts, and a Confutation of their Opinions; with an Illuftration of the "Doctrine of Free Will; and an Enquiry, "what view Mr. Pope might have in touching upon the Leibnitzian Philosophy, and "Fatalifm. By Mr. Croufaz, Profeffor of Philofophy and Mathematics at Laufanne.” This tranflation has been generally thought 66 66 66 66 con a pro a production of Johnfon's pen; but it is now known, that Mrs. Elizabeth Carter has acknowledged it to be one of her early performances. It is certain, however, that Johnfon was eager to promote the publication. He confidered the foreign philofopher as a man zealous in the caufe of religion; and with him he was willing to join against the fyftem of the Fatalifts, and the doctrine of Leibnitz. It is well known that Warburton wrote a vindication of Mr. Pope; but there is reafon to think, that Johnfon conceived an early prejudice against the Effay on Man; and what once took root in a mind like his, was not eafily eradicated. His letter to Cave on this fubject is ftill extant, and may well justify Sir John Hawkins, who inferred that Johnfon was the tranflator of Croufaz. The conclufion of the letter is remarkable. "I am yours, IMPRANSUS." If by that Latin word was meant that he had not dined, becaufe he wanted the means, who can read it, even at this hour, without an aching heart? With a mind naturally vigorous, and quickened by neceffity, Johnfon formed a multiplicity of projects; but most of them proved abortive. D 4 |