adopted, as well with respect to the Tracts heretofore published, as to those which may now be added.

Besides the publications mentioned by Mr. Drake in the preceding extract, as sufficient to render the collection of his works complete, the present editor has been fortunate enough to obtain others of unquestionable authenticity, which had either not then been discovered, or had not fallen under Mr. Drake's observation. Dr. Johnson's admirable "Essay on the Corn Laws," for instance; found in his own hand writing among the papers of the late Right Honourable W. G. Hamilton, Esq.: which the Edinburgh Reviewers pronounce to be written "in the very best style of that great master of reason;" and which they express an earnest wish to see transferred, without delay, “to a more secure and conspicuous station."

The possession of these additional productions of Johnson's pen, and of the most interesting disquisitions relative to him and to his style of composition, renders the submission of them to general perusal, in the estimation of the editor, a duty which he owes to the patrons of genius, and to the friends of science and of literature.

To the admirers of Dr. Johnson's writings throughout the United States, it will, doubtless, afford no small degree of patriotick gratification to reflect, that what has been so long wished for by the Literati of Europe, and twice ineffectually attempted in England, by two of the familiar associates and intimate friends of our illustrious author, should finally be accomplished by an AMERICAN. It is, therefore, confidently hoped, that the patronage extended to the undertaking will be proportioned to the magnitude of the object, and the unrivalled celebrity of the writer, who has correctly been denominated the COLOSSUS OF LITERAture.

Several engravings, executed by the first artists, will be introduced into the work: among them, a likeness of Johnson from Nollikin's celebrated bust, in possession of the

editor; and a whole length portrait of him, with his oak stick, as described in Boswell's Tour, from an engraving drawn and etched by Trotter;-his Monument in St. Paul's Cathedral, &c.

CONDITIONS.

The work will be comprised in about fourteen volumes octavo, embellished with new designs and plates, by the first artists.

A volume will be published every two months till the work is completed.

The price to Subscribers will be Two Dollars and Fifty Cents each volume, in boards, payable on delivery.

It will be put to press as soon as sufficient encouragement is given to warrant the undertaking.