AN ESSAY ON THE LIFE AND GENIUS OF SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL.D. WHEN the works of a great Writer, who has be queathed to posterity a lasting legacy, are presented to the world, it is naturally expected, that some account of his life should accompany the edition. The Reader wishes to know as much as possible of the Author. The circumstances that attended him, the features of his private character, his conversation, and the means by which he rose to eminence, become the favourite objects of inquiry. Curiosity is excited; and the admirer of his works is eager to know his private opinions, his course of study, the particularities of his conduct, and, above all, whether he pursued the wisdom which he recommends, and practised the virtue which his writings inspire. A principle of gratitude is awakened in every generous Verses, written at the request of a gentleman to whom a Lady had given a sprig of myrtle On the Death of Mr. Robert Levett, a practiser in physic 280 Epitaph on Claude Philips, an itinerant musician Parody of a Translation from the Medea of Eurypides Translation of the two first stanzas of the song, "Rio verde, ib. of Metastasio, beginning "Deh se piacermi vuoi." Translation of a speech of Aquileio in the Adriano of Me- 297 AN ESSAY ON THE LIFE AND GENIUS OF SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL.D. WHEN the works of a great Writer, who has be queathed to posterity a lasting legacy, are presented to the world, it is naturally expected, that some account of his life should accompany the edition. The Reader wishes to know as much as possible of the Author. The circumstances that attended him, the features of his private character, his conversation, and the means by which he rose to eminence, become the favourite objects of inquiry. Curiosity is excited; and the admirer of his works is eager to know his private opinions, his course of study, the particularities of his conduct, and, above all, whether he pursued the wisdom which he recommends, and practised the virtue which his writings inspire. A principle of gratitude is awakened in every generous |