company was prefent. He married, when he was near fixty, a ftreet-walker, who perfuaded him that she was a woman of family and fortune. His character was rendered valuable by repeated proofs of honesty, tenderness, and gratitude to his benefactor, as well as by an unceafing diligence in his profeffion. His fingle failing was an occafional departure from fobriety.

In a fhort time after the Rambler ceased, Dr. Hawkefworth projected the “ Adventurer," in connection with Bonnel Thornton, Dr. Bathurst and others. The first number was published, November 7. 1752, and the paper continued twice a-week, till March 9. 1754. Thornton's affiftance was foon withdrawn, and he fet up a new paper, in conjunction with Colman, called the "Connoiffeur."

Johnson was zealous for the fuccefs of the" Adventurer," which was at first ra

ther more fuccefsful than the Rambler. He

1

engaged the affiftance of Dr. Warton, whofe admirable effays are well known. April

10. 1753, he began to write in it, marking his papers with the fignature T; all of which, except those which have alfo the fignature Mifargyrus (by Dr. Bathurst), are his. His price was two guineas for each paper. Of all thefe papers, he gave both the fame and the profit to Dr. Bathurst. Indeed, the latter wrote them while Johnfon dictated; though he confidered it as a point of honour not to own them. He even used to say he did not write them, on the pretext that he dictated them only; allowing himself, by this cafuiftry, to be "acceffary to the propagation of falsehood," though his confcience had been hurt by even the appearance of impofition in writing the Parliamentary Debates. This year he wrote for Mrs. Lennox, the Dedication to

the Earl of Orrery, of her " Shakspeare Illuftrated," 2 vols. 12mo.

The death of Mr. Cave, January 10. 1754, gave him an opportnity of fhewing his regard for his early patron, by writing his Life, which was published in the "Gentleman's Magazine" for February. This feems to have been the only new performance of that year, except his papers in the "Adventurer." In the end of July, he found leisure to make an excurfion to Oxford, for the purpofe of confulting the libraries there. "He ftayed," fays Mr. Warton," about five weeks; but he collected nothing in the libraries for his Dictionary."

As the Dictionary drew towards a conclufion, Chesterfield, who had previously treated Johnson with unpardonable neglect (which was the real cause of the breach between them, and not the commonly received story of Johnson's being denied ad

mittance while Cibber was with his lordfhip), now as meanly courted a reconciliation with him, in hopes of being immortalized in a dedication. With this view, he wrote two effays in "The World" in praise of the Dictionary, and, according to Sir John Hawkins, fent Sir Thomas Robinson to him, for the fame purpose. But Johnson, who had not renounced the connection, but upon the juft grounds of continued neglect, was fenfible, that to liften to an accommodation, would be to exchange dignity for a friendship trifling in its value, and precarious in its tenure. He therefore rejected his advances, and fpurned his proffered patronage, by the following letter, dated February 1755, which is, preserved here as a model of courtly farcafm, and manly reprehenfion, couched in terms equally refpectful in their form, and cutting in their effence. It affords the nobleft leffon to both authors and patrons G iiij'

that stands upon record in the annals of literary history.

"I have been lately informed by the proprietor of "The World," that two papers in which my Dictionary is recommended to the public, were written by your Lordship. To be fo diftinguished, is an honour, which, being very little accuftomed to favours from the great, I know not well how to receive, or in what terms to acknowledge.

"When, upon fome flight encouragement, I first visited your Lordship, I was overpowered, like the reft of mankind, by your addrefs, and could not forbear to wifh that I might boaft myself Le vainqueur du vainqueur de la terre, that I might obtain that regard for which I faw the world contending; but I found my attendance fo little encouraged, that neither pride nor modefty would fuffer me to continue it. When I had once addreffed your Lordship