of employment and support, was a copy of Latin verses, in March, 1738, addressed to the editor in so happy a style of compliment, that Cave must have been destitute both of taste and sensibility, had he not felt himself highly gratified. Ad URBANUM. * Urbane, nullis fesse laboribus, Quid moliatur gens imitantium, Juxta animo studiisque felix. Linguæ procacis plumbea spicula, Intende nervos, fortis, inanibus Non ulla Musis pagina gratior, Texente nymphis serta Lycoride, Immista, sic Iris refulget Æthereis variata fucis. (') S. J. (1) A translation of this Ode, by an unknown correspondent, appeared in the Magazine for the month of May following: It appears that he was now enlisted by Mr. Cave as a regular coadjutor in his magazine, by which he probably obtained a tolerable livelihood. At what time, or by what means, he had acquired a competent knowledge both of French and Italian, I do not know; but he was so well skilled in them, as to be sufficiently qualified for a translator. That part of his labour which consisted in emendation and improvement of the productions of other contributors, like that employed in levelling ground, can be perceived only by those who had an opportunity of com "Hail, Urban, indefatigable man, Whom num'rous slanderers assault in vain; But still the laurel on thy learned brow Flourishes fair, and shall for ever grow," &c. &c. [The following less vapid translation, attributed by Mr. Nichols to Mr. Jackson of Canterbury, appeared in the year of Johnson's death, 1784: "Urban, whom neither toil profound Fatigues, nor calumnies o'erthrow ; — Of rivals let no cares infest, Of what they threaten or prepare; The leaden shafts which folly throws, Superior o'er opposing foes, Thy vigorous diligence shall rise. Exert thy strength, each vain design, Arise, for see thy task to join, Approach the muses' fav'ring train. How grateful to each muse the page, Where grave with sprightly themes are join'd; And recreate the wearied mind. Thus the pale violet to the rose Adds beauty 'midst the garland's dies; And thus the changeful rainbow throws Its varied splendours o'er the skies."] paring the original with the altered copy. What we certainly know to have been done by him in this way was the debates in both houses of Parliament, under the name of "The Senate of Lilliput," sometimes with feigned denominations of the several speakers, sometimes with denominations formed of the letters of their real names, in the manner of what is called anagram, so that they might easily be deciphered. Parliament then kept the press in a kind of mysterious awe, which made it necessary to have recourse to such devices. In our time it has acquired an unrestrained freedom, so that the people in all parts of the kingdom have a fair, open, and exact report of the actual proceedings of their representatives and legislators, which in our constitution is highly to be valued; though, unquestionably, there has of late been too much reason to complain of the petulance with which obscure scribblers have presumed to treat men of the most respectable character and situation. This important article of the Gentleman's Magazine was, for several years, executed by Mr. William Guthrie, a man who deserves to be respectably recorded in the literary annals of this country. He was descended of an ancient family in Scotland; but having a small patrimony, and being an adherent of the unfortunate house of Stuart, he could not accept any office in the state; he therefore came to London, and employed his talents and learning as an "author by profession." His writings in history, criticism, and politics, had considerable merit. (') of (1) How much poetry he wrote, I know not; but he informed me that he was the author of the beautiful little piece, He was the first English historian who had recourse to that authentic source of information, the Parliamentary Journals ; and such was the power of his political pen, that, at an early period, government thought it worth their while to keep it quiet by a pension (), which he enjoyed till his death. Johnson esteemed him enough to wish that his life should be written. The debates in Parliament, which were brought home and digested by Guthrie, whose memory, though surpassed by others who have since followed him in the same department, was yet very quick and tenacious, were sent by Cave to Johnson for his revision; and, after some time, when Guthrie had attained to greater variety of employment, and the speeches were more and more enriched by the accession of Johnson's genius, it was resolved that he should do the whole himself, from the scanty notes furnished by persons employed to attend in both houses of Parliament. Sometimes, however, as he himself told me, he had nothing more communicated to him than the names of the several speakers, and the part which they had taken in the debate. "The Eagle and Robin Redbreast," in the collection of poems entitled, "The Union," though it is there said to be written by Alexander Scott, before the year 1600. (1) [See, in D'Israeli's "Calamities of Authors,” vol. i. p. 5., a letter from Guthrie to the minister, dated June 3. 1762, stating, that a pension of 2007. a year had been "regularly and quarterly" paid him, ever since the year 1745-6; and offering to serve his Majesty, under the minister's "future patronage and protection, with greater zeal, if possible, than ever." Guthrie was born at Brechin, in 1708, and died in 1770.] 129 CHAPTER VI. 1738-1741. Johnson publishes "London, a Poem."- -Letters to Cave relating thereto.- Endeavours, without Success to obtain the Degree of Master of Arts. Recommended by Pope to Earl Gower. - The Earl's Letter on his Behalf. ·Begins a Translation of Father Paul Sarpi's History. · Publishes "A Complete Vindication of the Licensers of the Stage" and "Marmor Norfolciense." — Pope's Note to Richardson concerning him. Characteristic Anecdotes. Writes the Debates in Parliament, under the Disguise of the Senate of Lilliput." THUS was Johnson employed during some of the best years of his life, as a mere literary labourer “for gain, not glory," solely to obtain an honest support. He, however, indulged himself in occasional little sallies, which the French so happily express by the term jeux d'esprit, and which will be noticed in their order, in the progress of this work. But what first displayed his transcendent powers, and "gave the world assurance of the man," was his "London, a Poem, in Imitation of the Third Satire of Juvenal;" which came out in May this year, and burst forth with a splendour, the rays of which will for ever encircle his name. Boileau had imitated the same satire with great success, applying it to |