1ng it, than that of layın, Þí, mer mon Dani enot to dose ng Baristarca 60 engh he and were never cattr-o gins; • bim•to mác stanu that I would make apricate" and [1. WBles, who, peraps, by his numet vật y and Mr Elliott, might be able to procure £1. 67 us lacquer It would po suporthors to way et, wo'ch 1 love to jer own ser duration; but 1 et 271, this opportunity of declaring that fan, with the vict vicible estem and attachment, de ur sic a Tour to the Herides, 3rd ed t., p. 1 ›h, 1.t., 257 8 in ny fs. canion this word was mirted Chum, as it ap one of M- Vidhea's Mice (bentes,nd I saindwars 15 notare; for which 'et me popit at the gentien (n. Coun han the tie of the SV won, the Mo much See Re ared to Lord ly a mita Cead... el Fart, y, which we' applied of Luti rafurr : and was an epith a full ser to Ra Tot, chin ivi. For this currection I ¢¥ * Yu* se talents and lay aquire. cable dignor of Le up ay from what jail, with the chance of being drowned.'1 And at another time, 'A man in a jail has more room, better food, and commonly better company.' 2 The letter was as follows: Chelsea, March 16, 1759. 'DEAR SIR,—I am again your petitioner, in behalf of that great Cham3 of literature, Samuel Johnson. His black servant, whose name is Francis Barber, has been pressed on board the Stag frigate, Captain Angel, and our lexicographer is in great distress. He says the boy is a sickly lad, of a delicate frame, and particularly subject to a malady in his throat, which renders him very unfit for his Majesty's service. You know what matter of animosity the said Johnson has against you and I dare say you desire no other opportunity of resenting it, than that of laying him under an obligation. He was humble enough to desire my assistance on this occasion, though he and I were never cater-cousins; and I gave him to understand that I would make application to my friend Mr. Wilkes, who, perhaps, by his interest with Dr. Hay and Mr. Elliott, might be able to procure the discharge of his lacquey. It would be superfluous to say more on the subject, which I leave to your own consideration; but I cannot let slip this opportunity of declaring that I am, with the most inviolable esteem and attachment, dear sir, your affectionate obliged humble servant, T. SMOLLETT.' 1 Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, 3rd edit., p. 126. 2 Ibid., p. 251. 3 In my first edition this word was printed Chum, as it appears in one of Mr. Wilkes's Miscellanies, and I animadverted on Dr. Smollett's ignorance; for which let me propitiate the manes of that ingenious and benevolent gentleman. Chum was certainly a mistaken reading for Cham, the title of the sovereign of Tartary, which is well applied to Johnson, the Monarch of Literature: and was an epithet familiar to Smollett. See Roderick Random, chap. Ivi. For this correction I am indebted to Lord Palmerston, whose talents and literary acquirements accord well with his respectable pedigree of Temple. [After the publication of the second edition of this work, the author was furnished by Mr. Abercrombie of Philadelphia, with the copy of a letter written by Dr. John Armstrong, the poet, to Dr. Smollett at Leghorn, containing the following paragraph: As to the K. Bench patriot, it is hard to say from what motive he published a letter of yours asking some trifling favour of him in behalf of somebody for whom the great Cham of literature, Mr. Johnson, had interested himself.'-M.] |