extreme indigence, that they could not pay for a lodging, fo that they have wandered together whole nights in the ftreets. Yet as Savage had seen life in all its varieties, and been much in the company of the statesmen and wits of his time, we may fuppofe, in these scenes of diftrefs, that he communicated to Johnson an abundant fupply of fuch materials as his philofophical curiosity most eagerly defired, and mentioned many of the anecdotes with which he afterwards enriched the life of his unhappy companion.

He mentioned to Sir Joshua Reynolds, that one night in particular, when Savage and he walked round St. James's Square, for want of a lodging, they were not at all depreffed by their fituation, but in high spirits; and, brimful of patriotism, traversed the Square for several hours, inveighed against the minifter, and " refolved they

would ftand by their country

Sir John Hawkins fuppofes that " Johnfon was captivated by the address and demeanour of Savage, who, as to his exterior, was to a remarkable degree accomplished; he was a handfome well made man, and very courteous in the modes of falutation." He took off his hat, he tells us, with a good air, made a graceful bow, and was a good fwordsman. "Thefe accomplishments," he adds, " and the ease and pleasantry of his converfation, were probably the charms that wrought on Johnfon, who at this time had not been accuftomed to the conversation of gentlemen." But if, according to his biographer's notion, he "never faw the charms of his wife," how fhould he perceive the graces of Savage?

Johnfon, indeed, defcribes him as having a graceful and manly deportment, a folemn dignity of mien, but which, upon a nearer acquaintance, foftened into an

engaging eafinefs of manners." How highly he admired him for that knowledge, which he himself so much cultivated, and what kindness he entertained for him, appears in the following verfes in the Gentleman's Magazine for April 1738.

Ad RICARDUM SAVAGE Arm. humani generis

amatorem.

Humani ftudium generis cui pectore fervet,
O! colat humanum te foveatque genus !

About this time he became acquainted with Mifs Elizabeth Carter, the learned tranflator of "Epictetus," to whom he paid a friendly attention, and in the fame Magazine complimented her in An Enigma to Eliza, both in Greek and Latin. He writes Mr. Cave, "I think the ought to be celebrated in as many different languages as Lewis le Grand." His verfes to a Lady, (Mifs Molly Afton) who spoke in defence of liberty, first appeared in the fame Magazine.

In May 1738, he published his London, a Poem, written in imitation of the 3d fatire of Juvenal. It has been generally said, that he offered it to feveral booksellers, none of whom would purchase it. Mr. Cave, at laft, communicated it to Dodsley, who had taste enough to perceive its uncommon merit, and thought it "creditable to be concerned with it." Dodfley gave him 10l. for the copy. It is remarkable, that it came out on the fame morning with Pope's fatire, intituled, 1738," One of its warmeft patrons was General Oglethorpe. Pope alfo was fo ftruck with its merit, that he fought to discover the author, and prophefied his future fame. "He will," faid he, foon be deterré," and it appears from his note to Lord Gower, he himself was fuccefsful in his inquiries. To "a fhort extract from London," in the Gentleman's Magazine for May, is added, Become remarkable for

having got to the fecond edition in the space of a week." This admirable poem laid the first foundation of his fame. Sir John Hawkins obferves, that in this poem he has adopted the vulgar topic of the time, to gratify the malevolence of the Tory faction; and Mr. Bofwell candidly allows, that "the flame of patriotism and zeal for popular refiftance with which it is fraught, had no juft caufe." It contains, the most spirited invectives against tyranny and oppreffion, the warmeft predilection for his own country, and the pureft love of virtue, interfperfed with traits of his own particular character and fituation, He heated his mind with the ardour of Juvenal, and he wrote with the spirit and energy of a fine poet, and a sharp critic of the times. Boileau had imitated the fame fatire with great fuccefs, applying it to Paris; but an attentive comparison will fatisfy every reader that he is much excelled