which, while he defends Crousaz, he shews an admirable metaphysical acuteness and temperance in controversy; "Ad Lauram parituram Epigramma ';"'* and, "A Latin Translation of Pope's Verses on his Grotto ; "* and, as he could employ his pen with equal success upon a small matter as a great, I sup 1 Angliacas inter pulcherrima Laura puellas, Adsit, Laura, tibi facilis Lucina dolenti, Neve tibi noceat prænituisse Dea. Mr. Hector was present when this Epigram was made impromptu. The first line was proposed by Dr. James, and Johnson was called upon by the company to finish it, which he instantly did. [The following elegant Latin Ode, which appeared in the Gentleman's Magazine for 1743, (vol. xiii. p. 548,), was many years ago pointed out to James Bindley, Esq. as written by Johnson, and may safely be attributed to him. AD ORNATISSIMAM PUELLAM. VANE sit arti, sit studio modus, Formosa virgo; sit speculo quies, Mitte, supervacuosque cultus. Ut fortuitis verna coloribus Divitias operosiores: Lenique fons cum murmure pulchrior Inter reluctantes lapillos, et Ducit aquas temerè sequentes : Utque inter undas, inter et arbores, Ingeminant sine lege cantus: Nativa sic te gratia, te nitor pose him to be the authour of an advertisement for Osborne, concerning the great Harleian Catalogue. But I should think myself much wanting, both to my illustrious friend and my readers, did I not introduce here, with more than ordinary respect, an exquisitely beautiful Ode, which has not been inserted in any of the collections of Johnson's poetry, written by him at a very early period, as Mr. Hector informs me, and inserted in the Gentleman's Magazine of this year. FRIENDSHIP, an ODE.* FRIENDSHIP, peculiar boon of heav'n, To men and angels only giv'n, Ergo fluentem tu, malè sedula, Quales nec olim vel Ptolemæia Verticis exuviæ decori; Nec diva mater, cum similem tuæ Permisit incomtas protervis Fusa comas agitare ventis. In vol. xiv. p. 46, of the same work, an elegant Epigram was inserted, in answer to the foregoing Ode, which was written by Dr. Inyon of Norfolk, a physician, and an excellent classical scholar: Ad Authorem Carminis AD ORNATISSIMAM PUELLAM, O cui non potuit, quia culta, placere puella, Qui speras Musam posse placere tuam!] While love, unknown among the blest, Parent of thousand wild desires, With bright, but oft destructive, gleam, Thy gentle flows of guiltless joys Directress of the brave and just, O guide us through life's darksome way! And let the tortures of mistrust On selfish bosoms only prey. Nor shall thine ardours cease to glow, Shall aid our happiness above. Johnson had now an opportunity of obliging his schoolfellow Dr. James, of whom he once observed, "no man brings more mind to his profession." James published this year his " Medicinal Dictionary," in three volumes folio. Johnson, as I understood from him, had written, or assisted in writing, the proposals for this work; and being very fond of the study of physick, in which James was his master, he furnished some of the articles. He, however, certainly wrote for it the Dedication to Dr. Mead, which is con ceived with great address, to conciliate the patronage of that very eminent man. 8 It has been circulated, I know not with what authenticity, that Johnson considered Dr. Birch as a dull writer, and said of him, "Tom Birch is as brisk as a bee in conversation; but no sooner does he take a pen in his hand, than it becomes a torpedo to him, and benumbs all his faculties." That the literature of this country is much indebted to Birch's activity and diligence must certainly be acknowledged. We have seen that Johnson honoured him with a Greek Epigram; and his correspondence with him, during many years, proves that he had no mean opinion of him. <6 SIR, "TO DR. BIRCH. "Thursday, Sept. 29, 1743. "I HOPE you will excuse me for troubling you on an occasion on which I know not whom else I can apply to; I am at a loss for the Lives and Characters of Earl Stanhope, the two Craggs, and the SIR, 8" TO DR. MEAD. "THAT the Medicinal Dictionary is dedicated to you, is to be imputed only to your reputation for superiour skill in those sciences which I have endeavoured to explain and facilitate and you are, therefore, to consider this address, if it be agreeable to you, as one of the rewards of merit; and if, otherwise, as one of the inconveniencies of eminence. "However you shall receive it, my design cannot be disappointed; because this publick appeal to your judgement will shew that I do not found my hopes of approbation upon the ignorance of my readers, and that I fear his censure least, whose knowledge is most extensive. I am, Sir, "Your most obedient humble servant, minister Sunderland; and beg that you will inform [me] where I may find them, and send any pamphlets, &c. relating to them to Mr. Cave, to be perused for a few days by, Sir, "Your most humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON." His circumstances were at this time much embarrassed; yet his affection for his mother was so warm, and so liberal, that he took upon himself a debt of her's, which, though small in itself, was then considerable to him. This appears from the following letter which he wrote to Mr. Levett, of Lichfield, the original of which lies now before me. "I AM extremely sorry that we have encroached so much upon your forbearance with respect to the interest, which a great perplexity of affairs hindered me from thinking of with that attention that I ought, and which I am not immediately able to remit to you, but will pay it (I think twelve pounds,) in two months. I look upon this, and on the future interest of that mortgage, as my own debt; and beg that you will be pleased to give me directions how to pay it, and not mention it to my dear mother. If it be necessary to pay this in less time, I believe I can do it; but I take two months for certainty, and beg an answer whether you can allow me so much time. I think myself very much obliged to your forbearance, and shall esteem it a great happiness to be able to serve you. I have great opportunities of dispersing any thing that you may think it proper to make |