produce it. Let a Servitour+ tranfcribe the quotations, and interleave them 1754. with references, to fave time. This will shorten the work, and leffen the Etat. 45. fatigue. "Can I do any thing to promoting the diploma? I would not be wanting to co-operate with your kindness; of which, whatever be the effect, I fhall be, dear Sir,. "Your most obliged, &c. "[London,] Nov. 28, 1751. SAM. JOHNSON." To the fame. "DEAR SIR, "I AM extremely fenfible of the favour done me, both by Mr. Wife and yourself. The book cannot, I think, be printed in lefs than fix weeks, nor probably fo foon; and I will keep back the title-page, for fuch an infertion as you feem to promise me. Be pleased to let me know what money I shall send you, for bearing the expence of the affair: and I will take care that you may have it ready at your hand. "I had lately the favour of a letter from your brother, with fome account of poor Collins, for whom I am much concerned. I have a notion, that by very great temperance, or more properly abftinence, he may yet recover. "There is an old English and Latin book of poems by Barclay, called The Ship of Fools;' at the end of which are a number of Eglogues, fo he writes it, from Egloga, which are probably the first in our language. If you cannot find the book, I will get Mr. Dodfley to fend it you. " I shall be extremely glad to hear from you again, to know if the affair proceeds. I have mentioned it to none of my friends, for fear of being laughed at for my disappointment. "You know poor Mr.. Dodsley has loft his wife; I believe he is much affected. I hope he will not fuffer fo much as I yet fuffer for the lofs of mine. Οἴμι. τι δ' οἶμι ; Θνητα γὰρ πεπόνθαμην. I have ever fince feemed to myself broken off from mankind; a kind of folitary wanderer in the wild of life, without any direction, or fixed point of view: a gloomy gazer on a world to which I have little relation. Yet I would endeavour, by the help of you and your brother, to supply the want of "Young students of the lowest rank at Oxford are so called." 5" His Dictionary." 6" Of the degree at Oxford." clofer 1754. Etat. 45. clofer union, by friendship: and hope to have long the pleasure of being, dear Sir, 1755 In 1755 we behold him to great advantage; his degree of Mafter of Arts conferred upon him, his Dictionary published, his correfpondence animated, his benevolence exercised. To the Reverend Mr. THOMAS WARTON. "DEAR SIR, "I WROTE to you some weeks ago, but believe did not direct accurately, and therefore know not whether you had my letter. I would, likewife, write to your brother, but know not where to find him. I now begin to fee land, after having wandered, according to Mr. Warburton's phrafe, in this vaft sea of words. What reception I fhall meet with on the fhore, I know not; whether the found of bells, and acclamations of the people, which Ariofto talks of in his last Canto, or a general murmur of dislike, I know not: whether I fhall find upon the coaft a Calypfo that will court, or a Polypheme that will refift. But if Polypheme comes, have at his eyes. I hope, however, the criticks will let me be at peace; for though I do not much fear their skill and strength, I am a little afraid of myself, and would not willingly feel so much ill-will in my bofom as literary quarrels are apt to excite. "Mr. Barretti is about a work for which he is in great want of Crefcimbeni, which you may have again when you please. "There is nothing confiderable done or doing among us here. We are not, perhaps, as innocent as villagers, but most of us feem to be as idle. I hope, however, you are bufy; and fhould be glad to know what you are doing. I am, dearest Sir, [London,] Feb. 1, 1755. "Your most humble fervant, SAM. JOHNSON." To the fame. DEAR SIR, "I RECEIVED your letter this day, with great fenfe of the favour that has been done me7; for which I return my moft fincere thanks: and 7" His degree had now paft, according to the ufual form, the fuffrages of the heads of Colleges; but was not yet finally granted by the Univerfity. It was carried without a fingle diffentient voice." 4 entreat entreat you to pay to Mr. Wife fuch returns as I ought to make for fo much kindness fo little deferved. "I fent Mr. Wife the Lexicon, and afterwards wrote to him; but know not whether he had either the book or letter. Be fo good as to contrive to enquire. "But why does my dear Mr. Warton tell me nothing of himself? Where hangs the new volume"? Can I help? Let not the past labour be loft, for want of a little more: but snatch what time you can from the Hall, and the pupils, and the coffee-house, and the parks, and complete your design. I am, dear Sir, &c. "[London,] Fe4, 1755. "DEAR SIR, To the fame. SAM. JOHNSON." "I HAD a letter laft week from from Mr. Wife, but have yet heard nothing from you, nor know in what state my affair stands'; of which I beg you to inform me, if you can, to-morrow, by the return of the post. "Mr. Wife fends me word, that he has not had the Finnick Lexicon yet, which I sent some time ago; and if he has it not, you must enquire after it. However, do not let your letter ftay for that. "Your brother, who is a better correfpondent than you, and not much better, fends me word, that your pupils keep you in College: but do they keep you from writing too? Let them, at least, give you time to write to, dear Sir, 1755. Etat. 46. "Your most affectionate, &c. [London,] Feb. 13, 1755. SAM. JOHNSON." To the fame. "DEAR SIR, "DR. KING' was with me a few minutes before your letter; this, however, is the first instance in which your kind intentions to me have ever been frustrated. I have now the full effect of your care and benevolence; "Principal of Saint Mary Hall at Oxford. He brought with him the diploma from Oxford." "I fuppofe Johnson means that my kind intention of being the first to give him the good news of the degree being granted was fruftrated, because Dr. King brought it before my intelligence arrived." 1755. Etat. 46. and am far from thinking it a flight honour, or a small advantage; fince it it will put the enjoyment of your conversation more frequently in the power of, dear Sir, "Your most obliged and affectionate "SAM. JOHNSON. "P. S. I have enclosed a letter to the Vice-Chancellor3, which you will read; and, if you like it, feal and give him. "[London,] Feb. 1755." As the publick will doubtless be pleased to see the whole progrefs of this well-earned academical honour, I fhall infert the Chancellor of Oxford's letter to the University, the diploma, and Johnfon's letter of thanks to the ViceChancellor. To the Reverend Dr. HUDDESFORD, Vice-Chancellor of the University of "MR. SAMUEL JOHNSON, who was formerly of Pembroke College,. having very eminently distinguished himself by the publication of a series of effays, excellently calculated to form the manners of the people, and in which the cause of religion and morality is every where maintained by the strongest powers of argument and language, and who fhortly intends to publish a Dictionary of the English Tongue, formed on a new plan, and executed with the greatest labour and judgement; I perfuade myself that I fhall act agreeably to the fentiments of the whole University, in defiring that it may be proposed in convocation to confer on him the degree of Master of Arts by diploma, to which I readily give my confent; and am, "Mr. Vice-Chancellor, and Gentlemen, "Grofvenor-freet, Feb. 4, 1755 3 Dr. Huddesford, Prefident of Trinity College." ARRAN." " DIPLOMA "CANCELLARIUS, Magiftri et Scholares Univerfitatis Oxonienfis omnibus ad quos hoc prefens fcriptum pervenerit, falutem in Domino fempiternam. "Cùm eum in finem gradus academici a majoribus noftris inftituti fuerint, ut viri ingenio et doctrina præftantes titulis quoque præter cæteros infignirentur; cùmque vir doctiffimus Samuel Johnson è Collegio Pembrochienfi, fcriptis fuis popularium mores informantibus dudum literato orbi innotuerit; quin et linguæ patriæ tum ornandæ tum ftabilienda (Lexicon fcilicet Anglicanum fummo ftudio, fummo a fe judicio congeftum propediem editurus) etiam nunc utiliffimam impendat operam; Nos igitur Cancellarius, Magiftri, et Scholares antedicti, nè virum de literis humanioribus optimè meritum diutius inhonoratum prætereamus, in folenni Convocatione Doctorum, Magiftrorum, Regentium, et non Regentium, decimo die Menfis Februarii Anno Domini Millefimo Septengentefimo Quinquagefimo quinto habitá, præfatum virum Samuelem Johnson (confpirantibus omnium fuffragiis) magiftrum in artibus renunciavimus et conftituimus; eumque, virtute præfentis diplomatis, fingulis juribus privilegiis et honoribus ad iftum gradum quàquà pertinentibus frui et gaudere juffimus. "In cujus rei teftimonium figillum Univerfitatis Oxonienfis præfentibus apponi fecimus. "Datum in Domo noftræ Convocationis die 20° Menfis Feb. Anno Dom.. prædicto. Diploma fupra fcriptum per Registrarium lectum erat, et ex decreto venerabilis Domus communi Univerfitatis figillo munitum "." 5 DOM. DOCTORI HUDDESFORD, OXONIENSIS ACADEMIE VICE CANCELLARIO. " INGRATUS planè et tibi et mihi videar, nifi quanto me gaudio affecerint, quos nuper mihi honores (te credo auctore) decrevit Senatus Academicus, literarum, quo tamen nihil levius, officio, fignificem: ingratus etiam, nifi comitatem, quá vir eximius' mihi veftri teftimonium amoris in manus tradidit, agnofcam et Laudem. Si quid eft undè rei tam grate accedat gratia, hoc ipfo magis mihi placet, 5 The orignal is in my poffeffion. • We may conceive what a high gratification it must have been to Johnson to receive his diploma from the hands of the great Dr. KING, whofe principles were fo congenial with his own.' |