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to Mr. Johnson, but have no doubt of selling it, on some of the termsmentioned.[Footnote 2: 'Fifty-five pounds' written first and then scored over.]'I will not print my name, but expect it to be known.I am Dear Sir, Your most humble servant,SAM. JOHNSON.Jan. 20, 1759.Get me the money if you can.'This letter is of unusual interest, as it proves beyond all doubt that_Rasselas_ was written some weeks before _Candide_ was published (see_ante_, i. 342, n. a). Baretti, as I have shewn (i. 341, n. 3), saysthat 'any other person with the degree of reputation Johnson thenpossessed would have got L400 for the work, but he never understoodthe art of making the most of his productions.' We see, however, bythis letter that Johnson did ask for a larger sum than the booksellersallowed him. He received but one hundred pounds for the first edition,but he had made a bargain for one hundred and fifty pounds or guineas.Johnson, the bookseller, seems to have been but in a small way ofbusiness as a publisher. I do not find in the _Gentleman's Magazine_for 1758 any advertisement of books published by him, and only one in1759 (P. 339). Cowper's publisher in 1778 was Joseph Johnson of St.Paul's Churchyard. (Cowper's _Works_ by Southey, i. 285; see alsoNichols' _Literary Anecdotes_, iii. 461-464.)By 'little Pompadour' Johnson, no doubt, means the second and cheaperedition of _The History of the Marchioness de Pompadour_. The firstedition was published by Hooper in one volume, price five shillings(_Gent. Mag_. for October 1758, p. 493). and the second in two volumesfor three shillings and sixpence (_Gent. Mag_. for November, 1758,p. 543).Johnson did not generally 'print his name.' He published anonymously histranslation of _Lobos Voyage to Abyssinia; London; The Life of Savage;The Rambler_, and _The Idler_, both in separate numbers and whencollected in volumes; _Rasselas; The False Alarm; Falkland's Islands;The Patriot;_, and _Taxation no Tyranny_; (when these four pamphletswere collected in a volume he published them with the title of _PoliticalTracts, by the Authour of the Rambler_). He gave his name in _The Vanityof Human Wishes, Irene_, the _Dictionary_, his edition of _Shakespeare_,the _Journey to the Western Islands_, and the _Lives of the Poets_.VII._A letter about George Strahan's election to a scholarship at UniversityCollege, Oxford, and about William Strahan's 'affair with the University';dated October 24, 1764_.[In the possession of Mr. Frederick Barker.]'SIR,'I think I have pretty well disposed of my young friend George, who, ifyou approve of it, will be entered next Monday a Commoner of UniversityCollege, and will be chosen next day a Scholar of the House. TheScholarship is a trifle, but it gives him a right, upon a vacancy, toa Fellowship of more than sixty pounds a year if he resides, and Isuppose of more than forty if he takes a Curacy or small living. TheCollege is almost filled with my friends, and he will be well treated.The Master is informed of the particular state of his education, andthinks, what I think too, that for Greek he must get some privateassistance, which a servitour of the College is very well qualifiedand will be very willing to afford him on very easy terms.'I must desire your opinion of this scheme by the next post, for theopportunity will be lost if we do not now seize it, the Scholarshipsbeing necessarily filled up on Tuesday.'I depend on your proposed allowance of a hundred a year, which mustthe first year be a little enlarged because there are some extraordinaryexpenses, asCaution (which is allowed in his last quarter). . 7 0 0Thirds. (He that enters upon a room pays twothirds of the furniture that he finds, andreceives from his successor two thirds of whathe pays; so that if he pays L20 he receivesL13 6s. 8d., this perhaps may be) 12 0 0Fees at entrance, matriculation &c., perhaps 2 0 0His gown (I think) 2 10 0________L 23 10 0'If you send us a Bill for about thirty pounds we shall set outcommodiously enough. You should fit him out with cloaths and linen,and let him start fair, and it is the opinion of those whom I consult,that with your hundred a year and the petty scholarship he may livewith great ease to himself, and credit to you.'Let me hear as soon as is possible.'In your affair with the university, I shall not be consulted, but Ihear nothing urged against your proposal.'I am, Sir,'Your humble servant,'SAM. JOHNSON.''Oct. 24, 1764.'My compliments to Mrs. Strahan.'To Mr. Strahan, Printer, in New Street, Shoe-lane, London.'My friend, Mr. C. J. Faulkner, Fellow and Tutor of University College,has given me the following extracts from the College records:--'Oct. 30-31, 1764. Candidatis examinatis electi sunt Gulielmus Joneset Georgius Strahan in vacuas Exhibitiones Dmi Simonis Benet Baronetti.'Gulielmus Jones is the famous oriental scholar, Sir William Jones, whoseportrait adorns the Hall of his ancient College (_ante_, ii. 25, n. 2).On April 16, 1767, is found the election of 'Georgium Strahan, sophistamin perpetuum hujus Collegii Socium.'He vacated his fellowship in 1773.The value of a Bennet scholarship in 1764 was ten pounds a year, withrooms added, the rent of which was reckoned as equal to two pounds more.A fellowship on the same foundation was worth about twenty pounds, witha yearly dividend added to it that amounted to about thirty pounds.'Fines' (_ante_, iii. 323) and other extra payments might easily raisethe value to more than sixty pounds.The 'caution' is the sum deposited by an undergraduate with the CollegeBursar or Steward as a security for the payment of his 'battells' oraccount. Johnson in 1728 had to pay at Pembroke College the same sum(seven pounds) that George Strahan in 1764 had to pay at UniversityCollege. _Ante_, i. 58, n. 2.Johnson wrote four letters to George Strahan, when he was a boy atschool, and one letter when he was at College. (See Croker's _Johnson_,pp. 129, 130, 161, 168.) In this last letter, dated May 25, 1765, hewrites: 'Do not tire yourself so much with Greek one day as to be afraidof looking on it the next; but give it a certain portion of time,suppose four hours, and pass the rest of the day in Latin or English.I would have you learn French, and take in a literary journal once amonth, which will accustom you to various subjects, and inform you whatlearning is going forward in the world. Do not omit to mingle somelighter books with those of more importance; that which is read _remissoanimo_ is often of great use, and takes great hold of the remembrance.However, take what course you will, if you be diligent you will be ascholar.'George Strahan attended Johnson on his death-bed, and published thevolume called _Prayers and Meditations composed by Samuel Johnson_._Ante_, i. 235, n. i; iv. 376, n. 4.William Strahan's 'affair with the University' was very likely connectedwith the lease of the University Printing House. From the 'Orders ofthe Delegates of the Press,' 1758, I have been permitted to copy thefollowing entry, which bears a date but six days later than that ofJohnson's letter.'Tuesday, Oct. 30, 1764. At a meeting of the Delegates of the Press.'Ordered,'That the following articles be made the foundation of the new leaseto be granted of the moiety of the Printing House; that a copy of thembe delivered to Mr. Baskett and Mr. Eyre, and that they be desired togive in their respective proposals at a meeting to be held on Tuesdaythe sixth of November.' (P. 41.)The chief part of the lease consisted of the privilege to print Biblesand Prayer Books. I conjecture that Strahan had hoped to get a share inthe lease.VIII._A letter about a cancel in Johnson's 'Journey to the Western Islandsof Scotland', dated Nov. 30_, 1774.[In the possession of Messrs. Pearsonand Co., 46, Pall Mall.]'SIR,'I waited on you this morning having forgotten your new engagement; forthis you must not reproach me, for if I had looked upon your presentstation with malignity I could not have forgotten it. I came to consultyou upon a little matter that gives me some uneasiness. In one of thepages there is a severe censure of the clergy of an English Cathedralwhich I am afraid is just, but I have since recollected that from meit may be thought improper, for the Dean did me a kindness about fortyyears ago. He is now very old, and I am not young. Reproach can dohim no good, and in myself I know not whether it is zeal or wantonness.Can a leaf be cancelled without too much trouble? tell me what I shalldo. I have no settled choice, but I would not wish to allow the charge.To cancel it seems the surer side. Determine for me.'I am, Sir, Your most humble servant,'SAM. JOHNSON.''Nov. 30, 1774.'Tell me your mind: if you will cancel it I will write something to fillup the vacuum. Please to direct to the borough.'Mr. Strahan's 'new engagement' was in the House of Commons at Westminster,to which he had been elected for the first time as member for Malmesbury.The new Parliament had met on Nov. 29, the day before the date ofJohnson's letter (_Parl. Hist_, xviii. 23).The leaf that Johnson cancelled contained pages 47, 48 in the firstedition of his _Journey to the Western Islands_. It corresponds withpages 19-30 in vol. ix. of Johnson's _Works_ (ed. 1825), beginningwith the words 'could not enter,' and ending 'imperfect constitution.'The excision is marked by a ridge of paper, which was left that therevised leaf might be attached to it. Johnson describes how the leadwhich covered the Cathedrals of Elgin and Aberdeen had been strippedoff by the order of the Scottish Council, and shipped to be sold inHolland. He continues:--'Let us not however make too much haste todespise our neighbours. Our own cathedrals are mouldering by unregardeddilapidation. It seems to be part of the despicable philosophy of thetime to despise monuments of sacred magnificence, and we are in dangerof doing that deliberately, which the Scots did not do but in theunsettled state of an imperfect constitution.'In the copy of the first edition in the Bodleian Library, which hadbelonged to Gough the antiquary, there is written in his hand, as afoot-note to 'neighbours': 'There is now, as I have heard, a bodyof men not less decent or virtuous than the Scottish Council, longingto melt the lead of an English Cathedral. What they shall melt, itwere just that they should swallow.' It can scarcely be doubted thatthis is the suppressed passage. The English Cathedral to which Johnsonrefers was, I believe, Lichfield. 'The roof,' says Harwood (History ofLichfield, p. 75), 'was formerly covered with lead, but now with slate.'Addenbroke, who had been Dean since 1745, was, we may assume, very oldat the time when Johnson wrote. I had at first thought it not unlikelythat it was Dr. Thomas Newton, Dean of St. Paul's and Bishop of Bristol,who was censured. He was a Lichfield man, and was known to Johnson (see_ante_, iv. 285, n. 3). He was, however, only seventy years old. I aminformed moreover by the Rev. W. Sparrow Simpson, the learned editorof _Documents illustrating the History of St. Paul's_, that it isvery improbable that at this time the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul'sentertained such a thought.My friend Mr. C. E. Doble has kindly furnished me with the followingcurious parallel to Johnson's suppressed wish about the molten lead.'The chappell of our Lady [at Wells], late repayred by Stillington,a place of great reverence and antiquitie, was likewise defaced, andsuch was their thirst after lead (I would they had drunke it scalding)that they tooke the dead bodies of bishops out of their leaden coffins,and cast abroad the carkases skarce throughly putrified.'--Harington's_Nuga Antiquae_, ii. 147 (ed. 1804).In the postscript Johnson says 'Please to direct to the borough.' Hewas staying in Mr. Thrale's town-house in the Borough of Southwark.(See _ante_, i, 493.)IX._A letter about apprenticing a lad to Mr. Strahan, and about apresentation to the Blue Coat School, dated December 22_, 1774. [Inthe possession of Messrs. Robson and Kerslake, 25, Coventry StreetHaymarket.]'Sir,'When we meet we talk, and I know not whether I always recollect whatI thought I had to say.'You will please to remember that I once asked you to receive anapprentice, who is a scholar, and has always lived in a clergyman'shouse, but who is mishapen, though I think not so as to hinder himat the case. It will be expected that I should answer his Friendwho has hitherto maintained him, whether I can help him to a place.He can give no money, but will be kept in cloaths.'I have another request which it is perhaps not immediately in yourpower to gratify. I have a presentation to beg for the blue coathospital. The boy is a non-freeman, and has both his parents living.We have a presentation for a freeman which we can give in exchange.If in your extensive acquaintance you can procure such an exchange,it will be an act of great kindness. Do not let the matter slip outof your mind, for though I try others I know not any body of so muchpower to do it.'I am, Sir, Your most humble Servant,'SAM. JOHNSON.''Dec. 22, 1774.'The apprentice was young William Davenport, the orphan son of a clergyman.His friend was the Rev. W. Langley, the master of Ashbourne School.Strahan received him as an apprentice (_ante_, ii. 334, n. i). See alsoNichols' _Literary Anecdotes_, vol. iii. p. 287.The 'case' is the frame containing boxes for holding type.X._A letter about suppressions in 'Taxation no Tyranny! dated March 1,1775_.[In the possession of Mr. Frank T. Sabin, 10 & 12, Garrick StreetCovent Garden.]'SIR,'I am sorry to see that all the alterations proposed are evidences oftimidity. You may be sure that I do [? not] wish to publish, what thosefor whom I write do not like to have published. But print me half adozen copies in the original state, and lay them up for me. It concludeswell enough as it is.'When you print it, if you print it, please to frank one to me here, andfrank another to Mrs. Aston at Stow Hill, Lichfield.'The changes are not for the better, except where facts were mistaken.The last paragraph was indeed rather contemptuous, there was once moreof it which I put out myself.'I am Sir, Your humble Servant,'SAM. JOHNSON.''March 1, 1775.'This letter refers to _Taxation no Tyranny_, which was published beforeMarch 31, 1775, the date of Boswell's arrival in London (_ante_, ii.311). Boswell says that he had in his possession 'a few proof leavesof it marked with corrections in Johnson's own hand-writing' (ib. p.313). Johnson, he says,' owned to me that it had been revised andcurtailed by some of those who were then in power.' When Johnson writes'when you print it, if you print it,' he uses, doubtless, _print_ inthe sense of _striking off copies_. The pamphlet was, we may assume, intype before it was revised by 'those in power.' The corrections had beenmade in the proof-sheets. Johnson asks to have six copies laid by forhim in the state in which he had wished to publish it. It seems that thelast paragraph had been struck out by the reviser, for Johnson says 'itwas rather contemptuous.' He does not think it needful to supply anythingin its place, for he says 'it concludes well enough as it is.'Mr. Strahan had the right, as a member of Parliament, to frank allletters and packets. That is to say, by merely writing his signature onthe cover he could pass them through the post free of charge. Johnson,when he wrote to Scotland, used to employ him to frank his letters,'that he might have the consequence of appearing a parliament-man amonghis countrymen' (_ante_, iii. 364). It was to Oxford that a copy of thepamphlet was to be franked to Johnson. That he was there at the time isshown by a letter from him in Mrs. Piozzi's _Collection_ (vol. i. p.212), dated 'University College, Oxford, March 3, 1775.' Writing to her,evidently from Bolt Court, on February 3, he had said: 'My pamphlet hasnot gone on at all' (ib. i. 211). Mrs. Aston (or rather Miss Aston) ismentioned _ante_, ii. 466.XI_A letter about 'copy' and a book by Professor Watson, dated Oct. 14,1776'_.[In the possession of Mr. H. Fawcett, of 14, King Street, CoventGarden.]'SIR,'I wrote to you about ten days ago, and sent you some copy. You havenot written again, that is a sorry trick.'I am told that you are printing a Book for Mr. Professor Watson ofSaint Andrews, if upon any occasion, I can give any help, or be of anyuse, as formerly in Dr. Robertson's publication, I hope you will makeno scruple to call upon me, for I shall be glad of an opportunity toshow that my reception at Saint Andrews has not been forgotten.'I am Sir, Your humble Servant,'SAM. JOHNSON.''Oct. 14, 1776.'The' copy' or MS. that Johnson sent is, I conjecture, _Proposals forthe Rev. Mr. Shaw's Analysis of the Scotch Celtick Language_ (_ante_,iii. 107). This is the only acknowledged piece of writing of his during1776. The book printing for Professor Watson was _History of the Reignof Philip II_, which was published by Strahan and Cadell in 1777. Thisletter is of unusual interest, as showing that Johnson had been of someservice as regards one of Robertson's books. It is possible that heread some of the proof-sheets, and helped to get rid of the Scotticisms.'Strahan,' according to Beattie, 'had corrected (as he told me himself)the phraseology of both Mr. Hume and Dr. Robertson' (_ante_, v. 92,n. 3). He is not unlikely, in Robertson's case, to have sought andobtained Johnson's help.XII._The following letter is published in Mr. Alfred Morrison's 'Collectionof Autographs', vol. ii. p. 343._'To Dr. TAYLOR. Dated London, April 20, 1778.''The quantity of blood taken from you appears to me not sufficient.