letter to Dr. Leland, one of their number; but I have not been able to obtain a copy of it.1

He appears this year to have been seized with a temporary fit of ambition, for he had thoughts both of studying law, and of engaging in politicks. His "Prayer before the Study of Law" is truly admirable:

"Sept. 26, 1765.

"Almighty GoD, the giver of wisdom, without whose help resolutions are vain, without whose blessing study is ineffectual; enable me, if it be thy will, to attain such knowledge as may qualify me to direct the doubtful, and instruct the ignorant; to prevent wrongs and terminate contentions; and grant that I may use that knowledge which I shall attain, to thy glory and my own salvation, for JESUS CHRIST's sake. Amen." 2

66

His prayer in the view of becoming a politician is entitled, Engaging in POLITICKS with H-n," no doubt, his friend, the Right Honourable William Gerard Hamilton, for whom, during a long acquaintance, he had a great esteem, and to whose conversation he once paid this high compliment: "I am very unwilling to be left alone, Sir, and therefore I go with my company down the first pair of stairs, in some hopes that they may, perhaps, return again; I go

[Since the publication of the edition in 1804, a copy of this letter has been obligingly communicated to me by John Leland, Esq. son to the learned Historian,

to whom it is addressed:

SIR,

"TO THE REV. DR. LELAND.

"Among the names subscribed to the degree which I have had the honour of receiving from the University of Dublin, I find none of which I have any personal knowledge but those of Dr. Andrews and yourself.

"Men can be estimated by those who know them not, only as they are represented by those who know them; and therefore I flatter myself that I owe much of the pleasure which this distinction gives me, to your concurrence with Dr. Andrews in recommending me to the learned society.

"Having desired the Provost to return my general thanks to the University, I beg that you, Sir, will accept my particular and inmediate acknowledgments.

"I am, Sir,

"Your most obedient and most humble servant,

"Johnson's-court, Fleet-street,

SAM. JOHNSON."

London, Oct. 17, 1765."

I have not been able to recover the letter which Johnson wrote to Dr. Andrews on this occasion.-M.]

2 Prayers and Meditations, p. 66.

with you, Sir, as far as the street-door." In what particular department he intended to engage,1 does not appear, nor can Mr. Hamilton explain. His prayer is in general terms: "Enlighten my understanding with knowledge of right, and govern my will by thy laws, that no deceit may mislead me, nor temptation corrupt me; that I may always endeavour to do good, and hinder evil."2 There is nothing upon the subject in his diary."

This year was distinguished by his being introduced into the family of Mr. Thrale, one of the most eminent brewers in England, and member of Parliament for the borough of Southwark. Foreigners are not a little amazed, when they hear of brewers, distillers, and men in similar departments of trade, held forth as persons of considerable consequence. In this great commercial country it is natural that a situation which produces much wealth should be considered as very respectable; and, no doubt, honest industry is entitled to esteem. But, perhaps, the too rapid advances of men of low extraction tends to lessen the value of that distinction by birth and gentility, which has ever been found beneficial to the grand scheme of subordination. Johnson used to give this account of the rise of Mr. Thrale's father: "He worked at six shillings a week for twenty years in the great brewery, which afterwards was his own. The proprietor of it had an only daughter, who was married to a nobleman. It was not fit that a peer should continue the business. On the old man's death, therefore, the brewery was to be sold. To find a purchaser for so large a property was a

1 [In the Preface to a late Collection of Mr. Hamilton's Pieces, it has been observed, that our authour was, by the generality of Johnson's words, "led to suppose that he was seized with a temporary fit of ambition, and that hence he was induced to apply his thoughts to law and politicks. But Mr. Boswell was certainly mistaken in this respect; and these words merely allude to Johnson's having at that time entered into some engagement with Mr. Hamilton occasionally to furnish him with his sentiments on the great political topicks which should be considered in parliament." In consequence of this engagement, Johnson, in November, 1766, wrote a very valuable tract, entitled, "Considerations on Corn," which is printed as an Appendix to the works of Mr. Hamilton, published by T. Payne in 1808.—M.]

2 Prayers and Meditations, p. 67.

3

[The predecessor of old Thrale was Edmund Halsey, Esq.; the nobleman who married his daughter, was Lord Cobham, great uncle of the Marquis of Buckingham. But I believe, Dr. Johnson was mistaken in assigning so very low an origin to Mr. Thrale. The Clerk of St. Alban's, a very aged man, told me, that he, (the elder Thrale,) married a sister of Mr. Halsey. It is at least certain that the family of Thrale was of some consideration in that town: in the abbey church is a handsome monument to the memory of Mr. John Thrale, late of London, Merchant, who died in 1704, aged 54; Margaret, his wife, and three of their children who died young, between the years 1676 and 1690. The arms upon this monument are, paly of eight, gules and or, impaling, ermine, on a chief indented vert, three wolves' (or gryphons') heads, or, couped at the neck :-Crest on a ducal coronet, a tree, vert.-BLAKEWAY.]

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1 [In the Preface to a late Collec that our authour was, by the gener was seized with a temporary fit of amb his thoughts to law and politicks. Bu respect; and these words merely allude some engagement with Mr. Hamilton occa on the great political topicks which shou sequence of this engagement, Johnson, in tract, entitled, "Considerations on Corn," W works of Mr. Hamilton, published by T. Payne ? Prayers and Meditations, p. 67.

3 [The predecessor of old Thrale was Edmund married his daughter, was Lord Cobham, great unc But I believe, Dr. Johnson was mistaken in assign Thrale. The Clerk of St. Alban's, a very aged Thrale,) married a sister of Mr. Halsey. It is a Thrale was of some consideration in that town: i. monument to the memory of Mr. John Thrale, la in 1704, aged 54; Margaret, his wife, and three between the years 1676 and 1690. The arms upon gules and or, impaling, ermine, on a chief indented heads, or, couped at the neck :-Crest on a ducal corc