CHAPTER VI.

1738-1741.

Johnson publishes "London, a Poem"-Letters to Cave relating thereto-Endeavours, without Success, to obtain the Degree of Master of Arts-Recommended by Pope to Earl Gower -The Earl's Letter on his Behalf-Begins a Translation of Father Paul Sarpi's HistoryPublishes "A Complete Vindication of the Licensers of the Stage," and "Marmor Norfol ciense"-Pope's Note to Richardson concerning him-Characteristic Anecdotes-Writes the Debates in Parliament, under the Disguise of "the Senate of Lilliput."

THUS was Johnson employed during some of the best years of his life, as a mere literary labourer "for gain, not glory," solely to obtain an honest support. He, however, indulged himself in occasional little sallies, which the French so happily express by the term jeux d'esprit, and which will be noticed in their order, in the progress of this work.

But what first displayed his transcendent powers, and "gave the world assurance of the man," was his "London, a Poem, in Imita. tion of the Third Satire of Juvenal;" which came out in May this year, and burst forth with a splendour, the rays of which will for ever encircle his name. Boileau had imitated the same satire with great success, applying it to Paris; but an attentive comparison will satisfy every reader, that he is much excelled by the English Juvenal. Oldham had also imitated it, and applied it to London; all which performances concur to prove, that great cities; in every age, and in every country, will furnish similar topics of satire. Whether Johnson had previously read Oldham's imitation, I do not know; but it is not a little remarkable, that there is scarcely any coincidence found between the two performances, though upon the very

1 It is hardly fair to compare the poems in this hostile way: Boileau's was a mere badinage, complaining of, or laughing at, the personal dangers and inconveniences of Paris. Johnson's object was to satirise the moral depravity of a great city.-CROKER.

same subject. The only instances are, in describing London as the sink of foreign worthlessness:

"the common shore,

Where France does all her filth and ordure pour."

OLDHAM.

"The common shore of Paris and of Rome."

JOHNSON.

"No calling or profession comes amiss,

A needy monsieur can be what he please."

OLDHAM.

"All sciences a fasting monsieur knows.”

JOHNSON.

The particulars which Oldham has collected, both as exhibiting the horrors of London, and of the times, contrasted with better days, are different from those of Johnson, and in general well chosen, and well expressed.'

There are in Oldham's imitation, many prosaic verses and bad rhymes, and his poem sets out with a strange inadvertent blunder :

Though much concern'd to leave my old dear friend,

I must, however, his design commend

Of fixing in the country."

It is plain he was not going to leave his friend; his friend was going to leave him. A young lady at once corrected this with good critical sagacity, to

'Though much concern'd to lose my old dear friend.”

There is one passage in the original better transfused by Oldham than by Johnson :—

"Nil habet infelix paupertas durius in se,

Quàm quod ridiculos homines facit."

! I own it pleased me to find amongst them one trait of the manners of the age in London, in the last century, to shield from the sneer of English ridicule, what was, some time ago, too common a practice in my native city of Edinburgh!

"If what I've said can't from the town affright,
Consider other dangers of the night;
When brickbats are from upper stories thrown,
And emptied chamberpots come pouring down
From garret windows."

which is an exquisite remark on the galling meanness and contempt annexed to poverty. Johnson's imitation is,—

"Of all the griefs that harass the distrest,
Sure the most bitter is a scornful jest."

Oldham's, though less elegant, is more just,

"Nothing in poverty so ill is borne,

As its exposing men to grinding scorn."

Where or in what manner this poem was composed, I am sorry that I neglected to ascertain with precision from Johnson's own authority. He has marked upon his corrected copy of the first edition of it, "Written in 1738;" and, as it was published in the month of May in that year, it is evident that much time was not employed in preparing it for the press. The history of its publication I am enabled to give in a very satisfactory manner; and judging from myself, and many of my friends, I trust that it will not be uninteresting to my readers.

We may be certain, though it is not expressly named in the following letters to Mr. Cave, in 1738, that they all relate to it :

"Castle Street, Wednesday Morning. [March, 1788.] "SIR,-When I took the liberty of writing to you a few days ago, I did not expect a repetition of this same pleasure so soon; for a pleasure I shall always think it, to converse in any manner with an ingenious and candid man: but having the enclosed poem in my hands to dispose of for the benefit of the author, (of whose abilities I shall say nothing, since I send you his performance,) I believe I could not procure more advantageous terms from any person than from you, who have so much distinguished yourself by your generous encouragement of poetry; and whose judgment of that art nothing but your commendation of my trifle' can give me any occasion to call in question. I do not doubt but you will look over this poem with another eye, and reward it in a different manner from a mercenary bookseller, who counts the lines he is to purchase, and considers nothing but the bulk. I cannot help taking notice, that, besides what the author may hope for on account of his abilities, he has likewise another claim to your regard, as he lies at present under very disad

1 His Ode "Ad Urbanum" was, no doubt, the trifle referred to.-CROKER.

vantageous circumstances of fortune. I beg, therefore, that you will favour me with a letter to-morrow, that I may know what you can afford to allow him that he may either part with it to you, or find out (which I do not expect) some other way more to his satisfaction.

"I have only to add, that as I am sensible I have transcribed it very coarsely, which, after having altered it, I was obliged to do, I will, if you please to transmit the sheets from the press, correct it for you; and take the trouble of altering any stroke of satire which you may dislike.

"By exerting on this occasion your usual generosity, you will not only encourage learning, and relieve distress, but (though it be in comparison of the other motives of very small account) oblige, in a very sensible manner, Sir, your very humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON."

LETTER 5.

TO MR. CAVE.

"Monday, No. 6, Castle Street. [March, 1738.]

SIR,-I am to return you thanks for the present' you were so kind as to send by me, and to entreat that you will be pleased to inform me by the penny-post, whether you resolve to print the poem. If you please to send it me by the post, with a note to Dodsley, I will go and read the lines to him, that we may have his consent to put his name in the title-page. As to the printing, if it can be set immediately about, I will be so much the author's friend, as not to content myself with mere solicitations in his favour. I propose, if my calculation be near the truth, to engage for the reimbursement of all that you shall lose by an impression of five hundred; provided, as you very generously propose, that the profit, if any, be set aside for the author's use, excepting the present you made, which, if he be a gainer, it is fit he should repay. I beg that you will let one of your servants write an exact account of the expense of such an impression, and send it with the poem, that I may know what I engage for. I am very sensible, from your generosity on this occasion, of your regard to learning, even in its unhappiest state; and cannot but think such a temper deserving of the gratitude of those who suffer so often from a contrary disposition. I am, Sir, your most humble servant,

"SAM. JOHNSON.

[April, 1738.]

"SIR,-I waited on you to take the copy to Dodsley's; as I remember the number of lines which it contains, it will be no longer than Eugenio," with the quotations, which must be subjoined at the bottom of the page; part of the

1 Though Cave had not taste enough to be struck with the value of the poem, he had, we see, charity enough to relieve the pressing wants of the author, in the shape of a present.CROKER.

2 A poem, published in 1737, of which see an account, post, under April 30, 1773.

beauty of the performance (if any beauty be allowed it) consisting in adapting Juvenal's sentiments to modern facts and persons. It will, with those additions, very conveniently make five sheets. And since the expense will be no more, I shall contentedly insure it, as I mentioned in my last. If it be not therefore gone to Dodsley's, I beg it may be sent me by the penny-post, that I may have it in the evening. I have composed a Greek Epigram to Eliza,' and think she ought to be celebrated in as many different languages as Lewis le Grand. Pray send me word when you will begin upon the poem, for it is a long way to walk. I would leave my Epigram, but have not daylight to transcribe it. I am, Sir, yours, &c.

"SAM. JOHNSON."

LETTER 7.

TO MR. CAVE.

[April, 1788.]

"SIR,-I am extremely obliged by your kind letter, and will not fail to attend you to-morrow with Irene, who looks upon you as one of her best friends.

"I was to-day with Mr. Dodsley, who declares very warmly in favour of the paper you sent him, which he desires to have a share in, it being, as he says, a creditable thing to be concerned in. I knew not what answer to make till I had consulted you, nor what to demand on the author's part; but am very willing that, if you please, he should have a part in it, as he will undoubtedly be more diligent to disperse and promote it. If you can send me word to-morrow what I shall say to him, I will settle matters, and bring the poem with me for the press, which, as the town empties, we cannot be too quick with. am, Sir,

yours, &c.

"SAM. JOHNSON."

To us who have long known the manly force, bold spirit, and masterly versification of this poem, it is a matter of curiosity to observe the diffidence with which its author brought it forward into public notice, while he is so cautious as not to avow it to be his own production; and with what humility he offers to allow the printer to alter any stroke of satire which he might dislike." That any

such alteration was made, we do not know. If we did, we could not but feel an indignant regret; but how painful is it to see that a writer of such vigorous powers of mind was actually in such distress, that the small profit of so short a poem, however excellent, could yield, was courted as a relief!"

1 The learned Mrs. Elizabeth Carter. This lady, of whom frequent mention will be found in these Memoirs, was daughter of Nicholas Carter, D.D. She was born in 1717, and died, in Clarges Street, February 19, 1906, in her eighty-ninth year.-MALONE.