it was for talking and diverting other boys from their business, by which, perhaps, he might hope to keep his ascendancy. He was uncommonly inquisitive, and his memory so tenacious, that whatever he read or heard, he never forgot. I remember rehearsing to him eighteen verses which, after a little pause, he repeated verbatim, except one epithet which improved the line."

In 1728, Johnson went to Oxford, and was entered of Pembroke College. His tutor was one Jordan, a good-natured man, but of such poor abilities, that his pupil would often risk the payment of a small fine, rather than attend his lectures; and upon one such occasion, he said to him, "Sir, you have sconced me two-pence for non-attendance at a lecture not worth a penny."

At another time, Jordan imposed on him, for a vacation exercise, the task of translating into Latin verse, Pope's Messiah.

His performance though hastily done, was so masterly, that it raised him very high in the estimation, not only of his own College, but of the whole University; and when it was afterwards shewn to Mr. Pope, he said "The writer of this poem, will leave it a question for posterity, whether his or mine be the original."

His poverty at College was so great, that he had at last scarcely any change of raiment, and his feet began to appear through the only pair of shoes he had left. This being perceived by a fellow student, he caused a new pair to be left at

the door of Johnson's chamber, but upon his seeing them the next morning, he threw them down stairs, with all the indignation of insulted pride.

His continuance at the University was but short, and he quitted it without a degree, in the Autumn of 1731. To add to his misfortunes, his father died in very poor circumstances, at the end of the same year. Being thus left destitute, he was glad to accept the offer of usher, in the school of Market Bosworth, in Leicestershire, to which place he went on foot, in July, 1732. Here, however, he staid but a short time, owing to a difference with the patron of the school.

We next find him at Birmingham, where he translated Lobo's Voyage to Abyssinia, from the French, which was published in 1735, with London in the title-page, though printed at Birmingham. In this year he was married to Mrs. Porter, the widow of a mercer at Birmingham. The marriage ceremony was performed at Derby, to which town, the bride, and bridegroom set out on horseback. This is the account given of the journey by Johnson himself.

"Sir, it was a love marriage upon both sides: Sir, she had read old romances, and had got into her head the fantastical notion, that a woman of spirit should use her lover like a dog. So, Sir, at first she told me that I rode too fast, and she could not keep up with me; and when I rode a little slower," she passed me, and complain, ed that I lagged behind. I was not to be made

the

the slave of caprice, and I resolved to begin, as I meant to end. I therefore pushed on briskly, till I was fairly out of sight. The road lay between two hedges, so I was sure she could not miss me; and I contrived that she should soon come up with me; when she did, I observed her to be in tears."

But notwithstanding this whimsical, and inauspicious beginning, Johnson proved a most affectionate husband, and he never mentioned his wife's name after her death, which happened in 1752, without being sensibly affected.

In 1737, he visited London, accompanied by his pupil Garrick; and his first lodging in the metropolis was at a stay-maker's, in Exeter Street, Strand; and during his residence there, said he, "I dined very well for eight-pence, with very good company, at the Pine Apple, in New Street, just by; but it used to cost the rest a shilling, for they drank wine. I had a cut of meat for six-pence, and bread for a penny, and gave the waiter a penny, so that I was quite well served; better than the rest, for they gave the waiter nothing."

Johnson brought to London with him, the tra gedy of IRENE, which was refused by Fleetwood, the patentee of Drury Lane Theatre. He then formed a connection with Cave, the publisher of the Gentleman's Magazine, to which miscellany he contributed much valuable matter, for several years. In 1738 came out his poem of " London,”

in imitation of the third satire of Juvenal." This poem was published without the name of the author, but Pope, who was desirous of knowing whose it was, said to Dodsley, the publisher, "Whoever he is, he will not be long concealed."

We pass over the intermediate space of Johnson's life, to notice the publication of the Prospectus of his Dictionary, which appeared in 1747, addressed to Lord Chesterfield.

The price stipulated for his Dictionary, was 15751, which he was to receive as the copy was delivered. The work itself, came out in 1755, the author having previously been complimented by his University with the degree of Master of Arts. On completing the copy, and sending it to Andrew Millar, the bookseller, the latter returned this curious acknowledgment:

"Andrew Millar sends his compliments to Mr. Samuel Johnson, with the money for the last sheet of copy of the Dictionary, and thanks God he has done with him.”

Johnson immediately sent back this answer:

"Samuel Johnson returns his compliments to Mr. An drew Millar, and is very glad to find, as he does by his note, that Andrew Millar has the grace to thank God for any thing."

While he was compiling this great work, Johnson wrote his Rambler, which came out in weekly numbers. What opinion he had of his undertaking, and in what spirit he engaged in it, appears

from

from the prayer that he wrote at the commencement of it.

"Almighty God, the giver of all good things, without whose help, all labour is ineffectual, and without whose grace, all wisdom' is folly, grant I beseech thee, that in this undertaking, thy holy Spirit may not be with-held from me, but that I' may promote thy glory, and the salvation of myself and others; grant this O Lord, for the sake of thy son Jesus Christ, Amen."

This gives a picture of the mind of Johnson in his most secret and retired moments, that must shame the infidel, and confound all those who have basely endeavoured to depreciate his character. He has been called a proud pedant, and an ostentatious moralist. But here we see him humbly prostrate before his God, acknowledging the inefficiency of all labour without his help, and the folly of all wisdom unsanctified by his grace. The most abandoned surely can hardly read this without an awful reverence, and the most malignant will never have the audacity to call that an act of ostentation, which passed without the notice of human witness.

Though Johnson addressed the plan of his Dictionary to Lord Chesterfield, his lordship paid no attention to him during the progress of his labour, which was completed silently, and amidst heavy difficulties. But just as the Dictionary was on the eve of publication, Chesterfield began to recollect himself, and though he had neglected the author

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