Navigation might be comprised with good explanations in one 8vo Pica, which he is willing to do for twelve fhillings a fheet, to be made up a guinea at the fecond impreffion. If you think on it, I will wait on you with I am, SIR,

him.

Your humble fervant,

SAM. JOHNSON.

Pray lend me Topfel on Animals.

SIR,

LETTER X.

To DR. BIRCH.

Thursday, Sept. 29, 1743.

I HOPE you will excufe me for troubling you on an occafion on which I know not whom elfe I can apply to; I am at a lofs for the Lives and Characters of Earl Stanhope, the two Craggs, and the Minifter Sunderland; and beg that you will inform [me] where I may find them, and fend any pamphlets, &c. relating to them to Mr. Cave, to be perufed for a few days by, SIR, Your most humble fervant,

SAM. JOHNSON.

LETTER XI.

To MR. ELPHINSTON.

SIR,

I HAVE for a long while intended to anfwer the letter which you were pleafed to fend me, and know not

why I have delayed it fo long; but that I had nothing particular, either of inquiry or information to fend you: and the same reason might still have the fame confequence; but that I find in my reclufe kind of life, that I am not likely to have much more to fay, at one time than another, and that therefore I may endanger by an appearance of neglect, long continued, the lofs of fuch an acquaintance as I know not where to fupply. I therefore write now to affure you how fenfible I am of the kindness you have always expreffed to me, and how much I defire the cultivation of that benevolence, which, perhaps, nothing but the distance between us has hindered from ripening before this time into friendship. Of myfelf I have very little to fay, and of any body elfe lefs: let me, however, be allowed one thing, and that in my own favour; that I am,

Dear SIR,

Your most humble fervant,

April 20,, 1749.

SAM. JOHNSON.

SIR,

LETTER XII.

To DR. BIRCH.

Gough-fquare, May 12, 1750. KNOWING that you are now preparing to favour the public with a new edition of Raleigh's mifcellaneous pieces, I have taken the liberty to fend you a manufcript*,

* This was published by Newbery in 8vo. 1750, under the title of "The Interest of England with regard to foreign alliances explained in two Difcourfes. I. Concerning a match propounded by the Savoyan, between the Lady Elizabeth and the Prince of Piemont. II. Touching a marriage between Prince Henry of England, and a daughter of Savoy." which

which fell by chance within my notice. I perceive no proofs of forgery in my examination of it; and the owner tells me, that, as he has heard, the hand-writing is SirWalter's: If you should find reafon to conclude it ge nuine, it will be a kindnefs to the owner, a blind perfon*, to recommend it to the bookfellers.

I am, SIR,

Your most humble fervant,
SAM. JOHNSON.

LETTER XIII.

To MR. ELPHINSTON.

DEAR SIR,

YOU have, as I find, by every kind of evidence, loft an excellent mother, and I hope you will not think me incapable of partaking of your grief. I have a mother now eighty-two years of age, whom therefore I must foon lofe, unless it please God that fhe rather fhould mourn for me. I read the letters in which you relate, your mother's death to Mrs. Strahan; and think I do myself honour when I tell you that I read them with tears; but tears are neither to me nor to you of any farther use, when once the tribute of nature has been paid. The business of life fummons us away from useless grief, and calls us to the exercife of thofe virtues of which we are lamenting our deprivation.

which one friend can confer upon

The greatest benefit another, is to guard

* Mrs. Williams, probably, the perfon recommended to Mr. Gar

rick in Letter 18. N.

and

and incite, and elevate his virtues. This your mother will still perform, if you diligently preferve the memory of her life, and of her death: a life fo far as I can learn, useful and wife; innocent; and a death refigned, peaceful, and holy. I cannot forbear to mention, that neither reafon nor revelation denies you to hope that you may increase her happiness by obeying her precepts; and that the may, in her prefent ftate, look with pleafüre, upon every act of virtue to which her inftructions or example have contributed. Whether this be more than a pleafing dream, or a just opinion of separate fpirits, is indeed of no great importance to us, when we confider ourselves as acting under the eye of God: yet furely there is fomething pleasing in the belief, that our feparation from those whom we love is merely corporeal; and it may be a great incitement to virtuous friendship, if it can be made probable, that union which has received the divine approbation, fhall continue to eternity.

There is one expedient, by which you may, in fome degree, continue her prefence. If you write down minutely what you remember of her from your earliest years, you will read it with great pleasure, and receive from it many hints of foothing recollection, when time fhall remove her yet farther from and your grief shall be matured to veneration. To this, however painful for the present, I cannot but advise you, as to a fource of comfort and fatisfaction in the time to come: for all comfort and all fatisfaction is fincerely wished

Dear SIR,

you,

Your moft obliged, moft obedient,

Sept. 25, 1750.

and most humble fervant,

you by

LETTER

XIV.

To MR. ELPHIN STON*.

DEAR SIR,

I CANNOT but confefs the failure of my correfpondence, but hope the fame regard which you exprefs for me, on every other occafion, will incline you to forgive me. I am often, very often ill, and when I am well, am obliged to work; but, indeed, have never much used myself to punctuality. You are, however, not to make fuch kind of inferences, when I forbear to reply to your kindness; for be affured, I never receive a letter from you without great pleasure, and very warm sense of your generosity and friendship, which I heartily blame myself for not cultivating with more care. In this, as in many other cafes, I go wrong in oppofition to conviction; for I think scarce any temporal good equally to be defired with the regard and familiarity of worthy men, and hope we shall be fome time nearer to each other, and have a more ready way of pouring out our hearts.

I am glad that you still find encouragement to perfevere in your publication †, and fhall beg the favour of fix more volumes to add to my former fix, when you can, with any convenience, fend them me. Please to

Tranflator of Martial, Boffuet, &c. and formerly master of an academy at Kensington.

This was of the Rambler, at Edinburgh, to which Mr. Elphinfton tranflated the mottos

prefent