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expired. He probably prepared a part of his 1757. Shakspeare this year, and he dictated a fpeech on Etat. 48. the fubject of an Addrefs to the Throne, after the expedition to Rochfort, which was delivered by one of his friends, I know not in what publick meeting. It is printed in the Gentleman's Magazine for October 1785 as his, and bears fufficient marks of authenticity.

By the favour of Mr. Walker, of the Treasury, Dublin, I have obtained a copy of the following letter from Johnfon to the venerable authour of "Differtations on the Hiftory of Ireland."

"SIR,

To CHARLES O'CONNOR, Efq.

"I HAVE lately, by the favour of Mr. Faulkner, feen your account of Ireland, and cannot forbear to folicit a profecution of your design. Sir William Temple complains that Ireland is lefs known than any other country, as to its ancient ftate. The natives have had little leifure, and little encouragement for enquiry; and strangers, not knowing the language, have had no ability.

"I have long wifhed that the Irish literature were cultivated. Ireland is known by tradition

I

to

'The celebrated oratour, Mr. Flood, has thown himself to be of Dr. Johnfon's opinion; having by his will bequeathed his eftate, after the death of his wife Lady Frances, to the University of Dublin; "defiring that immediately after the faid eftate fhall come into their poffeffion, they fhall appoint two profeffors, one for the study of the native Erfe or Irish language, and the other for the study of Irish antiquities and Irish history, and for the ftudy

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1757.

Etat. 48.

to have been once the feat of piety and learning; and furely it would be very acceptable to all those who are curious either in the original of nations, or the affinities of Languages, to be further informed of the revolution of a people fo ancient, and once fo illuftrious.

"What relation there is between the Welch and Irish language, or between the language of Ireland and that of Biscay, deferves enquiry. Of these provincial and unextended tongues, it feldom happens that more than one are

understood

by any one man; and, therefore it feldoms happens that a fair comparison can be made. I hope you will continue to cultivate this kind of learning, which has too long lain neglected, and which, if it be fuffered to remain in oblivion for another century, may, perhaps, never be retrieved. As I wish well to all useful undertakings, I would not forbear to let you know how much you deserve, in my opinion, from all lovers of ftudy, and how much pleasure your work has given to, Sir,

"Your moft obliged,

"And most humble fervant,

"London, April 9, 1757.

SAM. JOHNSON."

To the Reverend Mr, THOMAS WARTON. "DEAR SIR,

"DR. MARSELI of Padua, a learned gentleman, and good Latin poet, has a mind to fee Ox

of any other European language illustrative of, or auxiliary to, the ftudy of Irish antiquities or Irish hiftory; and that they shall give yearly two liberal premiums for two compofitions, one in verfe, and the other in profe, in the Irish language."

ford,

ford. I have given him a letter to Dr. Hudders

1757.

ford', and fhall be glad if you will introduce him, Etat. 48. and fhew him any thing in Oxford.

"I am printing my new edition of Shakspeare. "I long to fee you all, but cannot conveniently come yet. You might write to me now and then, if you were good for any thing. But honores mutant mores. Profeffors forget their friends. I fhall certainly complain to Mifs Jones3. I am

"Your, &c.

"[London,] June 21, 1757.

SAM. JOHNSON.

"Please to make my compliments to Mr. Wife."

Mr. Burney having enclosed to him an extract from the review of his Dictionary in the Bibliotheque des Savans, and a lift of fubfcribers to his Shakfpeare, which Mr. Burney had procured in Norfolk, he wrote the following answer:

"Now, or late, Vice-Chancellor."

2" Mr. Warton was elected Profeffor of Poetry at Oxford in the preceding year."

3" Mifs Jones lived at Oxford, and was often of our parties. She was a very ingenious poetefs, and published a volume of poems; and, on the whole, was a moft fenfible, agreeable, and amiable woman. She was fifter to the Reverend River Jones, Chanter of Christ Church cathedral at Oxford, and Johnson used to call her the Chantrefs. I have heard him often address her in this paffage from " IL PENSEROSO :'

Thee, Chantrefs, oft the woods among

'I woo,' &c.

fhe died unmarried.

4 Tom. III. p. 482.

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To Mr. BURNEY, in Lynne, Norfolk.

"SIR,

"THAT I may fhow myself sensible of. your favours, and not commit the fame fault a fecond time, I make hafte to answer the letter which I received this morning. The truth is, the other likewife was received, and I wrote an answer ; but being defirous to tranfmit you fome proposals and receipts, I waited till I could find a convenient conveyance, and day was paffed after day, till other things drove it from my thoughts, yet not fo, but that I remember with great pleasure your commendation of my Dictionary. Your praise

was welcome, not only because I believe it was fincere, but because praise has been very scarce. A man of your candour will be furprised when I tell you, that among all my acquaintance there were only two, who upon the publication of my book did not endeavour to deprefs me with threats of cenfure from the publick, or with objections learned from those who had learned them from my own Preface. Yours is the only letter of good-will that I have received, though, indeed I am promised fomething of that fort from Sweden.

5

"How my new edition will be received I know not; the subscription has not been very successful.

I fhall publish about March.

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If you can direct me how to fend proposals, I

should wish that they were in fuch hands.

"I remember, Sir, in fome of the first letters

with which you favoured me, you mentioned your

s Of Shakspeare.

lady.

lady. May I enquire after her? In return for

1757

the favours which you have fhewn me, it is not tat. 48. much to tell you, that I wish you and her all that

can conduce to your happiness. I am, Sir,

"Your most obliged,

"And moft humble fervant,

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In 1758 we find him, it should seem, in as easy 1758. and pleasant a state of existence, as conftitutional unhappiness ever permitted him to enjoy.

To Mr. BURNEY, at Lynne, Norfolk.

«SIR,

"YOUR kindness is fo great, and my claim to any particular regard from you fo little, that I am at a lofs how to exprefs my sense of your favours; but I am, indeed, much pleased to be thus diftinguished by you.

"I am ashamed to tell you that my Shakspeare will not be out fo foon as I promised my subscribers; but I did not promise them more than I promised myself. It will, however, be published before fummer.

"I have fent you a bundle of propofals, which, I think, do not not profefs more than I have hitherto performed. I have printed many of the plays, and have hitherto left very few paffages unexplained; where I am quite at a lofs, I confefs my ignorance, which is feldom done by commentators.

This letter was an answer to one in which was enclofed a draft for the payment of fome fubfcriptions to his Shakspeare. "I have

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