Mr. Cuthbert Shaw', alike diftinguished by his 1766. genius, misfortunes, and misconduct, published Etat. 57this year a poem, called "The Race, by Mercurius Spur, Efq." in which he whimsically made the living poets of England contend for preeminence of fame by running:

"Prove by their heels the prowefs of the head."

In this poem there was the following portrait of
Johnson:

"Here Johnson comes,-unbleft with outward
grace,

"His rigid morals ftamp'd upon his face.

"While strong conceptions ftruggle in his brain;

(For even wit is brought to-bed with pain:) "To view him, porters with their loads would rest, "And babes cling frighted to the nurse's breast. "With looks convuls'd he roars in pompous ftrain, «And, like an angry lion, shakes his mane. "The Nine, with terrour ftruck, who ne'er had seen, "Aught human with fo horrible a mien,

Debating whether they should stay or run, "Virtue fteps forth, and claims him for her fon. "With gentle fpeech fhe warns him now to yield, "Nor ftain his glories in the doubtful field; "But wrapt in confcious worth, content fit down, "Since Fame, refolv'd his various pleas to crown, Though forc'd his present claim to disavow, "Had long referv'd a chaplet for his brow.

cr

"He bows, obeys; for Time fhall first expire,

"Ere Johnson stay, when Virtue bids retire.”

5 See an account of him in the European Magazine, Jan. 1786.

The

1766.

Etat. 57.

،

The Honourable Thomas Hervey and his lady having unhappily difagreed, and being about to feparate, Johnfon interfered as their friend, and wrote him a letter of expoftulation, which I have not been able to find; but the fubftance of it is afcertained by a letter to Johnson, in anfwer to it, which Mr. Hervey printed. The occafion of this correfpondence between Dr. Johnfon and Mr. Hervey, was thus related to me by Mr. Beauclerk. "Tom Hervey had a great liking for Johnfon, and in his will had left him a legacy of fifty pounds. One day he said to me, Johnfon may want this money now, more than afterwards. I have a mind to give it him directly. Will you be fo good as to carry a fifty pound note from me to him?' This I pofitively refused to do, as he might, perhaps, have knocked me down for infulting him, and have afterwards put the note in his pocket. But I faid, if Hervey would write him a letter, and enclose a fifty pound note, I fhould take care to deliver it. He accordingly did write him a letter, mentioning that he was only paying a legacy a little fooner. To his letter he added, P. S. I am going to part with my wife. Johnfon then wrote to him, faying nothing of the note, but remonftrating with him against parting with his wife."

When I mentioned to Johnfon this ftory, in as delicate terms as I could, he told me that the fifty pound note was given to him by Mr. Hervey in confideration of his having written for him a pamphlet against Sir Charles Hanbury Williams, who, Mr. Hervey imagined, was the authour of an attack upon him; but that it was afterwards dif

covered

covered to be the work of a garretteer, who wrote

1766.

"The Fool:" fo the pamphlet against Sir Charles Etat. 57. was not printed.

In February, 1767, there happened one of the most remarkable incidents of Johnfon's life, which gratified his monarchical enthufiafim, and which he loved to relate with all its circumftances, when requefted by his friends. This was his being honoured by a private converfation with his Majefty, in the library at the Queen's houfe. He had frequently vifited thofe fplendid rooms and noble collection of books, which he used to say was more numerous and curious than he fuppofed any perfon could have made in the time which the King had employed. Mr. Barnard, the librarian, took care that he fhould have every accommodation that could contribute to his eafe and convenience, while indulging his literary tafte in that place; fo that he had here a very agreeable refource at leifure hours.

His Majefty having been informed of his occafional vifits, was pleafed to fignify a defire that he fhould be told when Dr. Johnfon came next to the library. Accordingly, the next time that Johnson did come, as foon as he was fairly engaged with a book, on which, while he fat by the fire, he seemed quite intent, Mr. Barnard ftole round to the apart

Dr. Johnson had the honour of contributing his affiftance towards the formation of this library; for I have read a long letter from him to Mr. Barnard, giving the most masterly inftructions on the fubject. I wished much to have gratified my readers with the perufal of this letter, and have reason to think that his Majefty would have been gracioufly pleafed to permit its publication; But Mr. Barnard, to whom I applied, declined it" on his own account."

ment

1766.

Ætat. 57.

ment where the King was, and, in obedience to his Majesty's commands, mentioned that Dr. Johnson was then in the library. His Majesty said he was at leifure, and would go to him; upon which Mr. Barnard took one of the candles that stood on the King's table, and lighted his Majefty through a fuite of rooms, till they came to a private door into the library, of which his Majefty had the key. Being entered, Mr. Barnard stepped forward haftily to Dr. Johnson, who was still in a profound study, and whispered him, "Sir, here is the King." Johnson started up, and ftood ftill. His Majefty approached him, and at once was courteously eafy 7.

7 The particulars of this conversation I have been at great pains to collect with the utmost authenticity, from Dr. Johnson's own detail to myfelf; from Mr. Langton, who was prefent when he gave an account of it to Dr. Jofeph Warton, and several other friends, at Sir Joshua Reynolds's; from Mr. Barnard ; from the copy of a letter written by the late Mr. Strahan the printer, to Bishop Warburton; and from a minute, the original of which is among the papers of the late Sir James Caldwell, and a copy of which was moft obligingly obtained for me from his fon Sir John Caldwell, by Sir Francis Lumm. To all these gentlemen I beg leave to make my grateful acknowledgements, and particularly to Sir Francis Lumm, who was pleafed to take a great deal of trouble, and even had the minute laid before the King by Lord Caermarthen, now Duke of Leeds, then one of his Majefty's Principal Secretaries of State, who announced to Sir Francis the Royal pleasure concerning it by a letter, in these words: "I have the King's commands to affure you, Sir, how fenfible his Majefty is of your attention in communicating the minute of the converfation previous to its publication. As there appears no objection to your complying with Mr. Bofwell's wishes on the fubject, you are at full liberty to deliver it to that gentle. man, to make fuch use of in his Life of Dr. Johnson, as he may think proper."

His Majefty began by obferving, that he underftood he came fometimes to the library; and then mentioning his having heard that the Doctor had been lately at Oxford, afked him if he was not fond of going thither. To which Johnfon anfwered, that he was indeed fond of going to Oxford fometimes, but was likewife glad to come back again.. The King then asked him what they were doing at Oxford. Johnfon anfwered, he could not much commend their diligence, but that in some respects they were mended, for they had put their prefs under better regulations, and were at that time printing Polybius. He was then afked whether there were better libraries at Oxford or Cambridge. He answered, he believed the Bodleian was larger than any they had at Cambridge; at the fame time adding, "I hope, whether we have more books or not than they have at Cambridge, we shall make as good use of them as they do." Being asked whether All-Souls or ChristChurch library was the largeft, he answered, " AllSouls library is the largest we have, except the Bodleian." "Aye, (faid the King,) that is the publick library."

1767.

Atat. 58.

His Majefty enquired if he was then writing any thing. He anfwered, he was not, for he had pretty well told the world what he knew, and must now read to acquire more knowledge. The King, as it should seem with a view to urge him to rely on his own stores as an original writer, and to continue his labours, then faid "I do not think you borrow much from any body." Johnfon faid, he thought he had already done his part as a writer. VOL. I. Kk "I fhould