eminent perfon whom it concerns, I fend

it to you.

"Mr. Samuel Johnson (authorof London, a fatire, and fome other poetical pieces) is a native of this country, and much respected by some worthy gentlemen in his neighbourhood, who are trustees of a charity-fchool now vacant, the certain falary of which is fixty pounds per annum, of which they are defirous to make him mafter; but unfortunately he is not capable of receiving their bounty, which would make him happy for life, by not being Mafter of Arts, which by the ftatutes of this school the matter of it must be. Now these gentlemen do me the honour to think that I have interest enough in you to prevail upon you to write to dean Swift to perfuade the Univerfity of Dublin to fend a diploma to me, conftituting this poor man Master of Arts in their Univerfity. They highly extol the man's learning and probity, and will not be perfuaded that the Univerfity will make any difficulty of conferring fuch a favour upon a stranger, if he is recommended by the Dean.. -They say he is not afraid of the ftricteft examination, though he is off fo long a journey; but will venture if the Dean thinks it neceffary, choofing rather to die upon the road, than to be ftarved to death in tranflating for bokfellers, which has been his only fubfiftence for fome time paft. I fear there is more difficulty in this affair than these good-natured gentlemen

tlemen apprehend;, especially as their election cannot be delayed longer than the 10th of next month. If you fee this matter in the fame light it appears to me, I hope you will burn this, and pardon me for giving you fo much trouble about an impracticable thing: but if you think there is a probability of obtaining the favour asked, I am fure your humanity and propensity to relieve merit in diftrefs, will incline you to serve the poor man, without my adding any more to the trouble I have already giv en you, than affuring you I am, with great truth,

&c.

Trentham, Aug. 1, 1737,

One other fubject, for your reflection, and I have done.

What must have been Johnson's feelings, when, in his wonderful work, the English Dictionary, he cited the following paffage from Afcham, as an instance of the ufe of the word Men?" Wits live obfcurelý, men care not how; or die obfcurely, men mark not when."

LETTER

in the fame country with you)-He will call at the Cannon coffee-houfe for me. Do fend me, thither, the French book you mention, Werther. If you don't, I positively never will forgive you. Nonsense, to fay it will make me unhappy, or that I shan't be able to read it! Must I pistol myself, because a thick-blooded German has been fool enough to fet the example, or because a German novelift has feigned fuch a ftory? If you don't lend it me, I will moft affuredly procure it fome time or another; fo, you may as well have the merit of obliging me.-My friend will fend a small parcel for you to D. ftreet. The books I fend you, because I know you have not got them, and because they are fo much cheaper here. If you are afraid of emptying my purfe (which by the way is almoft worn out), you shall be my debtor for them. So, fend me a note of hand, value receiv'd. The other things are furely not worth mentioning.

LE T

LETTER

To Mr.

XXXIII.

England, 20 Aug. 76.

For God's fake! where are you? What is the matter? Why don't you write ?Are you ill? God forbid! And I not with you to nurse you! if you are, why don't you let fomebody else write to you? Better all fhould be discovered, than fuffer what I fuffer. It's more than a month fince I heard from you. A month used to bring me eight or ten letters. When I grew uneafy, it was in vain, as I faid in my last, that I endeavoured to find your friend who brought the parcel (for I would certainly have seen him, and asked him about you). What is become of all my letters for this last month? Did you get what I returned by your friend? Do you like the purse? The book you mentioned, is just the only book you should never read. On my knees, I beg you never, never read it! Perhaps

you

you have read it-Perhaps!-I am distractHeaven only knows to whom I

ed

may be writing this letter.

Madam, or Sir!

If you are a woman, I think you will; if you are a man, and ever loved, I am fure you will, oblige me with one line to fay what is come of Mr.-of theregiment. Direct to Mrs., D. street, London. Any perfon whofe hand my letter may fall into, will not think this much trouble; and, if they send me good news, Heaven knows how a woman, who loves, if poffible, too well, will thank them.

LETTER

To Mifs

XXXIV.

Ireland, 10 Sept. 1776.

As I am no fportfman, there is no merit, you may think, in devoting a morning to this employment. Nor do I claim any merit. 'Tis only making myfelf happy.

Now, I hope, you are quite at ease about

me.