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In 1741, he wrote for the "Gentleman's Magazine," the "Preface," conclufion of his Lives of Drake and Barettier; "A free translation of the Jefts of Hierocles, with an Introduction," "Debate on the propofal of Parliament to Cromwell, to affume the title of King, abridged, methodized, and digested; "Tranflation of Abbé Guyon's Differtation on the Amazons; "Tranflation of Fontenelle's Panegyric on Dr. Morin." He, this year, and the two following, wrote the Parliamentary Debates. The eloquence, the force of argument, and the splendour of language displayed in the feveral fpeeches, are well known, and univerfally admired. To one who praised his impartiality, observing that he had dealt out reafon and eloquence with an equal hand to both parties, "That is not quite true, Sir, faid Johnfon; I faved appearances well enough, but I took care that the WHIG DOGS fhould not have the

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beft of it." They have been collected in 2 vols. 8vo, 1787, and recommended to the notice of parliamentary speakers, as orations upon queftions of public import

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ance, by a Preface," written by George Chalmers, Efq. whofe commercial and biographical writings are well known and efteemed.

In 1742, he wrote for the "Gentleman's Magazine," the "Preface;" the Parliamentary Debates; Effay on the Account of the Conduct of the Duchefs of Marlborough, then the popular topic of conversation; The Life of Peter Burman; Additions to his Life of Barettier; The Life of Sydenham, afterwards prefixed to Swan's edition of his works; the " Foreign Hiftory," for December'; Effay on the Defcription of China, from the French of Du Halde; Proposals for printing Bibliotheca Harlecana; or, a Catalogue of the Library of the Earl of Oxford. It was afterwards prefixed to the

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first volume of the "Catalogue," in which

the Latin account of books were written by him.

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He was employed in this bufiness by Mr. Thomas Ofborne, bookfeller in Gray's Inn, who purchased the library for 13,000l., a fum which, Mr. Oldys fays, in one of his manufcripts, was not more than the binding of the books had coft; yet the flowness of the fale was such, that there was not much gained by it. It has been confidently related, with many embellishments, that Johnfon knocked Ofborne down in his fhop with a folio, and

put his foot upon his neck. Johnson himfelf relates it differently to Mr. Bofwell.

Sir, he was impertinent to me, and I beat him; but it was not in his fhop, it was in my own chamber." This anecdote has been often told to prove Johnson's ferocity; but merit cannot always take the fpurns of the unworthy with patience and a forbearing fpirit.

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He wrote in the Gentleman's Magazine" for 1743, the " Preface;" the Parliamentary Debates for January and February; "Confiderations on the Difpute between Cronfaz and Warburton, on Pope's Effay on Man," in which he defends Cronfaz; Ad Lauram parituram Epigramma; A Latin tranflation of Pope's Verfes on his Grotto; an exquifitely beautiful Ode on Friendship; and Advertisement" for Osborne, con

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cerning the Harleian Catalogue.

The fame year he wrote for his fchoolfellow, Dr. James's "Medicinal Dictionary," in 3 vols. folio, the Dedication to Dr. Mead, which is conceived with great addrefs, to conciliate the patronage of that very eminent man. He had alfo written, or affifted in writing, the proposals for this work; and, being very fond of the study of phyfic, in which Dr. James was his master, he furnished some of the articles.

At this time, his circumftances were much embarraffed; yet fuch was his liberal affection for his mother, that he took upon himself a debt of her's, to Mr. Levett of Litchfield, which, though only twelve pounds, was then confiderable to him.

In 1744, he wrote the he wrote the "Preface" for the Gentleman's Magazine, and the Preface to the Harleian Mifcellany. The felection of the pamphlets of which it was compofed was made by Mr. Oldys, a man of eager curiofity, and indefatigable diligence, to whom English literature owes many obligations.

The fame year he produced one work fully fufficient to maintain the high reputation which he had acquired. This was the Life of Savage, which he had announced his intention of writing in the “ Gentleman's Magazine," for Auguft 1743. It is faid by Sir John Hawkins, that he composed the whole of it in thirty-fix hours ;

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