The misfortunes and misconduct of Savage had, at this period, reduced him to the lowest state of indigence, and his only means of subsistence was by writing for the "Gentleman's Magazine," by which Johnson became acquainted with him; and being both equally destitute, they sympathized in each other's sufferings. It is a melancholy truth, that they were often so extremely poor as not to be able to pay for a lodging, and were consequently obliged to traverse the streets for whole nights together.

In May 1738, he published his excellent Poem called "London," written in imitation of the third Satire of Juvenal. He offered it to several booksellers, none of whom would purchase it; but at last, through the interest of Mr. Cave, Mr. Dodsley, bought it of him for 101. Pope highly admired this Poem, and prophesied the author's future fame.-It went through a second edition in the space of a week.

But the trade of writing was upon the whole so unprofitable, that Johnson made an effort to procure the situation of master of the free-school at Appleby, Lei. cestershire, the salary of which was 601. a year. Pope exerted himself greatly to procure him this situation; but his project miscarried, and our author was again thrown back upon the metropolis, where he continued his drudgery in the service of Cave, and produced a number of small tracts with astonishing rapidity. He composed the Parliamentary Speeches for the Magazines, wrote a variety of' Prefaces for different works; and in 1743, he was employed in making a catalogue of the Earl of Oxford's library, and in compiling the "Harleian Miscellany." In the same year he published his excellent Life of Savage," which was alone sufficient to establish his reputation. Yet on projecting soon afterwards a new edition of Shakespeare, he could find

cer, of Birmingham. It was a love match to both sides, inspired not by the beauty of form, but by a mutual admiration of each other's minds. Johnson's appearance was certainly very forbidding, as, at that time, he was lean and tall, and the scars of the scrophula made his physiognomy hideous. Mrs. Porter was double his age, was very corpulent, had an uncommonly large bosom; and according to Garrick, "she had florid red cheeks, produced by thick painting, and a liberal use of cordials." She was worth about 8001. which rendered her to a man in Johnson's circumstances, a desirable acquisition. He immediately hired a large house at Edial, near Litchfield, set up a private classical academy, and advertised for scholars; but the plan proved abortive, for the only pupils he acquired were the celebrated Garrick, then about 18, his brother George, and a Mr. Offely, who died before he had completed his studies.

About this time he commenced his tragedy of Irene ; and in the spring of 1737, he resolved to try his fortune in London, being then in the 28th year of his age. Young Garrick came to town at the same time, with the intention of studying the profession of the law. Johnson, on his arrival, was much reduced in his circumstances, and was obliged to practise the most rigid economy. He took lodgings in Exeter-street, where a poor Irish painter initiated him in the art of living cheaply, and whose true character he afterwards drew, under the title of Ofellens, in the "Art of Living in London." In the course of this year he was introduced to Mr. Cave, who was his patron, and for many years his principal resource for employment. . He also at this period commenced his intimacy with the well-known Richard Savage.

The misfortunes and misconduct of Savage had, at this period, reduced him to the lowest state of indigence, and his only means of subsistence was by writing for the "Gentleman's Magazine," by which Johnson became acquainted with him; and being both equally destitute, they sympathized in each other's sufferings. It is a melancholy truth, that they were often so extremely poor as not to be able to pay for a lodging, and were consequently obliged to traverse the streets for whole nights together.

In May 1738, he published his excellent Poem called "London," written in imitation of the third Satire of Juvenal. He offered it to several booksellers, none of whom would purchase it; but at last, through the interest of Mr. Cave, Mr. Dodsley, bought it of him for 101. Pope highly admired this Poem, and prophesied the author's future fame.-It went through a second edition in the space of a week.

But the trade of writing was upon the whole so unprofitable, that Johnson made an effort to procure the situation of master of the free-school at Appleby, Lei. cestershire, the salary of which was 601. a year. Pope exerted himself greatly to procure him this situation ; but his project miscarried, and our author was again thrown back upon the metropolis, where he continued his drudgery in the service of Cave, and produced a number of small tracts with astonishing rapidity. He composed the Parliamentary Speeches for the Magazines, wrote a variety of Prefaces for different works; and in 1743, he was employed in making a catalogue of the Earl of Oxford's library, and in compiling the "Harleian Miscellany." In the same year he published his excellent Life of Savage," which was alone sufficient to establish his reputation. Yet on projecting soon afterwards a new edition of Shakespeare, he could find

except five numbers: these were No. 10, by Mrs. Chapone; No. 30, by Mrs. Talbot; No. 97, by Richardson; and Nos. 44 and 100, by Miss Carter.

About this period Johnson's circumstances were far from easy; yet he received as a constant visitor at his house Miss Anna Williams, the daughter of a Welch physician, who possessed considerable literary talents, and had just lost her sight. Having been intimate with his wife, Johnson insisted on her retaining an apartment in his house, and Garrick in 1755 gave her a benefit, which produced 2001. In 1766 she published a volume of miscellanies in quarto, by which she increased her stock to 3001. and this little fund, with the assistance of Johnson, supported her during the remainder of her life. Soon after he had finished the "Rambler," he experienced a loss which afflicted him in the most sensible manner. On the 17th of March, O. S. his wife died, after a cohabitation of 17 years. She was buried in the chapel of Bromley, which was under the care of his friend Dr. Hawkesworth; and the poignant distress of Johnson in consequence of this event is said to have been indescribable. She left by her first husband, a daughter, who has been already mentioned, and a son who was a Captain in the navy, and who at his death left his sister 10,0001.

In May 1752, preparatory to his relinquishment of mourning, he composed a prayer for the repose of his wife, and resumed his literary labours on the Dictionary, though he occasionally assisted Dr. Hawkesworth, in his publication of the Adventurer, which was commenced on the 7th of November, 1752, and continued twice a week, till March the 9th, 1754. Thornton, who assisted him in the beginning, soon withdrew, and set up a new paper, called the Connoisseur.

His early patron, Mr. Cave, died in January, 1754, and Johnson shewed his gratitude by writing his life, which was published in the Gentleman's Magazine. His Dictionary was also finished towards the end of this year, and made its appearance in 1756-Previous to its publication, the University of Oxford, anticipating the excellence of the work, and at the solicitation of his friend Mr. Warton, unanimously conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts, which, though it had been refused to him at a former period, was considered as an honour by that establishment.

In this year he assisted Mr. Zacharia Williams, father of the blind lady lately mentioned, by writing for him the account of his attempts to ascertain the Longitude. He had vainly hoped to receive a reward from Parliament for his exertions, but failing in his expectation, he died shortly afterwards, in the 83d year of his age.

During the progress of his Dictionary, Johnson haying spent the money for which he had contracted to write it, was again under the necessity of exerting his talents in order to procure the means of subsistence. His principal resources now were the subscriptions for his edition of Shakspeare, and the profits of his miscellaneous writings, which, however, were not sufficient to secure him from an arrest for the trifling sum of 51. 18s. a debt which Richardson sent him the money to discharge.

His mind having been long oppressed by constant exertion, seemed now to require an interval of repose: --but indolence to him was dangerous, for when his spirits were not actively employed, they turned with hostility against him, and he nearly sunk under the pressure of his melancholy indisposition. He always reflected with severity upon his own life and conduct, and