entreat you to pay to Mr. Wife fuch returns as I 1755ought to make for so much kindness so little de- Atat. 46. ferved. fo "I fent Mr. Wife the Lexicon, and afterwards wrote to him; but know not whether he had either the book or letter. Be fo good as to contrive to enquire. "But why does my dear Mr. Warton tell me nothing of himfelf? Where hangs the new volume? Can I help? Can I help? Let not the paft labour be loft, for want of a little more: but fnatch what time you can from the Hall, and the pupils, and the coffee-house, and the parks, and complete your defign. I am, dear Sir, &c. "I HAD a letter last week from Mr. Wife, but have yet heard nothing from you, nor know in what state my affair stands; of which I beg you to inform me, if you can, to-morrow, by the return of the poft. "Mr. Wife fends me word, that he has not had the Finnick Lexicon yet, which I sent some time ago; and if he has it not, you must enquire after it. However, do not let your letter ftay for that. "Your brother, who is a better correspondent than you, and not much better, fends me word, • "Of the degree." • « On Spenfer." that 1755. Etat. 46. that your pupils keep you in College: but do they keep you from writing too? Let them, at least, give you time to write to, dear Sir, "Your most affectionate, &c. "[London,] Feb. 13, 1755. SAM. JOHNSON.” To the fame. "DEAR SIR, "DR. KING' was with me a few minutes before your letter; this, however, is the firft instance in which your kind intentions to me have ever been fruftrated. I have now the full effect of your care and benevolence; and am far from thinking it a flight honour, or a small advantage; fince it will put the enjoyment of your converfation more frequently in the power of, dear Sir, "Your most obliged and affectionate "P. S. I have enclosed a letter to the ViceChancellor3, which you will read; and, if you like it, feal and give him. ["London,] Feb. 1755.” As the publick will doubtlefs be pleased to fee the whole progrefs of this well-earned academical 3 66 Principal of Saint Mary Hall at Oxford. He brought with him the diploma from Oxford." 2.66 I fuppofe Johnfon means that my kind intention of being the first to give him the good news of the degree being granted was fruftrated, because Dr. King brought it before my intelligence arrived." 2. Dr. Huddesford, Prefident of Trinity College." honour, honour, I fhall infert the Chancellor of Oxford's 1755 letter to the University, the diploma, and John- Etat. 46. fon's letter of thanks to the Vice-Chancellor. To the Reverend Dr. HUDDESFORD, Vice-Chan- "Mr. Vice-Chancellor, and Gentlemen, "MR. SAMUEL JOHNSON, who was formerly of Pembroke College, having very eminently distinguished himself by the publication of a series of effays, excellently calculated to form the manners of the people, and in which the cause of religion and morality is every where maintained by the strongest powers of argument and language, and who shortly intends to publish a Dictionary of the English Tongue, formed on a new plan, and executed with the greatest labour and judgement; I perfuade myself that I fhall act agreeably to the fentiments of the whole University, in defiring that it may be propofed in convocation to confer on him the degree of Master of Arts by diploma, to which I readily give my consent; and, am, "Mr. Vice-Chancellor, and Gentlemen, "Your affectionate friend and fervant, Grosvenor-ftreet, Feb. 4, 1755. ARRAN." • Extracted from the Convocation-Regifter, Oxford. " DIPLOMA 1755. Term. Seti Atat. 46. 1755. " DIPLOMA MAGISTRI JOHNSON. “ CANCELLARIUS, Magiftri et Scholares Univerfitatis Oxonienfis omnibus ad quos hoc prefens fcriptum pervenerit, falutem in Domino fempiternam. "Cùm eum in finem gradus academici à majoribus noftris inftituti fuerint, ut viri ingenio et doctrind præftantes titulis quoque præter cæteros infignirentur; cùmque vir doctiffimus Samuel Johnson è Collegio Pembrochienfi, fcriptis fuis popularium mores informantibus dudum literato orbi innotuerit; quin et linguæ patria tum ornandæ tum ftabilienda (Lexicon fcilicet Anglicanum fummo ftudio, fummo à fe judicio congeftum propediem editurus) etiam nunc utiliffimam impendat operam; Nos igitur Cancellarius, Magiftri, et Scholares antedicti, nè virum de literis humanioribus optimè meritum diutius inhonoratum prætereamus, in folenni Convocatione Doctorum, Magiftrorum, Regentium, et non Regentium, decimo die Menfis Februarii Anno Domini Millefimo Septingentefimo Quinquagefimo quinto habita, præfatum virum Samuelem Johnson (confpirantibus omnium fuffragiis) magiftrum in artibus renunciavimus et conftituimus; eumque, virtute præfentis diplomatis, fingulis juribus privilegiis et honoribus ad iftum gradum quàquà pertinentibus frui et gaudere juffimus. "In cujus rei teftimonium figillum Univerfitatis Oxonienfis præfentibus apponi fecimus. "Datum in Domo noftræ Convocationis die 20° Menfis Feb. Anno Dom, prædicto. "Diploma "Diploma fupra fcriptum per Registrarium lectum erat, et ex decreto venerabilis Domus communi Univerfitatis figillo munitum 5." DOM. DOCTORI HUDDESFORD, OXONIENSIS ACA- " INGRATUS planè et tibi et mihi videar, nifi quanto me gaudio affecerint, quos nuper mihi honores (te credo auctore) decrevit Senatus Academicus, literarum, quo tamen nihil levius, officio, fignificem : ingratus etiam, nifi comitatem, quâ vir eximius mihi veftri teftimonium amoris in manus tradidit, agnofcam et laudem. Si quid eft undè rei tam grate accedat gratia, hoc ipfo magis mihi placet, quod eo tempore in ordines Academicos denuo cooptatus fim, quo tuam imminuere auctoritatem, famamque Oxonii lædere, omnibus modis conantur homines vafri, nec tamen acuti: quibus ego, prout viro umbratico licuit, femper reftiti, femper reftiturus. Qui enim, inter has rerum procellas, vel Tibi vel Academiæ defuerit, illum virtuti et literis, fibique et pofteris, defuturum existimo. "S. JOHNSON." To the Reverend Mr. THOMAS WARTON. "DEAR SIR, "AFTER I received my diploma, I wrote you a letter of thanks, with a letter to the ViceChancellor, and fent another to Mr. Wife; but 5 The original is in my poffeffion. • We may conceive what a high gratification it must have been to Johnson to receive his diploma from the hands of the great Dr. KING, whofe principles were fo congenial with his own. VOL. I. S have 1755 Etat. 46. |