intrusted with the liberties and purses of the people, will be ever unwilling to have his whole conduct laid before those who so intrusted him, without disguise; that if every gentleman acted upon this just, this honourable, this constitutional principle, the Electors themselves only would be to blame, if they re-elected a person guilty of a breach of so important a trust. But let the arguments speak for themselves. Thus much only may be necessary to premise, that as the state of public affairs was, in a great measure, the same both last year and this, I send you a speech, in the Committee of Supply, upon the number of Standing Forces for the year 1751, and also another in the lest Session of Parliament, for the year 1752. You may be assured they are really genuine, and not such an imposition upon the speakers and the publick, as some that have appeared in other Monthly Collections." From the above period, the Debates were regularly given as formerly, with the initial letters of the several speakers, till the end of 1782; subsequent to which, they have been printed without the least affectation of disguise; and form, in the whole, a complete and impartial report for more than seventy years. The tenor of this narrative, and the intimate connexion which subsisted between Mr. Cave and Dr. Johnson, seem to render it necessary that I should here reclaim the following correspondence*, which was first through my intervention communicated to the publick. It is too honourable to both the parties to be omitted in a professed Life of either of them. Nov. 25, 1734, "As you appear no less sensible than your Readers of the defects of your Poetical Article, you 1. SIR, * Of these eleven letters, nine of the originals are in the possession of Miss Cave, great-niece of Edward. The other two were given by Mr. Henry to Themas Astle, esq. and by him communicated to Mr. Boswell. will not be displeased, if, in order to the improvement of it, I communicate to you the sentiments of a person, who will undertake, on reasonable terms, sometimes to fill a column. "His opinion is, that the publick would not give you a bad reception, if, besides the current wit of the month, which a critical examination would generally reduce to a narrow compass, you admitted not only poems, inscriptions, &c. never printed before, which he will sometimes supply you with; but likewise short literary dissertations in Latin or English, critical remarks on authors antient or modern, forgotten poems that deserve revival, or loose pieces, like Floyer's*, worth preserving. By this method, your literary article, for so it might be called, will, he thinks be better recommended to the publick, than by low jests, aukward buffoonery, or the dull scurrilities of either party. "If such a correspondence will be agreeable to you, be pleased to inform me in two posts, what the conditions are on which you shall expect it. Your late offer gives me no reason to distrust your generosity. If you engage in any literary projects besides this paper, I have other designs to impart, if I could be secure from having others reap the advantage of what I should hint. "Your letter, by being directed to S. Smith, to be left at the Castle in Birmingham, Warwickshire, will reach humble servant." your * Sir John Floyer's Treatise on Cold Baths, which was printed in Gent. Mag. 1734, p. 197, was probably sent by Johnson; who, a very short time before his death, strongly pressed the Editor of these Anecdotes to give to the publick some account of the life and works of Sir John Floyer, "whose learning and piety," the Doctor said, "deserve recording." An original portrait of Floyer is preserved at Lichfield. ↑ A prize of Fifty Pounds for the best poem "On Life, Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell." See Gent. Mag, vol. IV. p. 560. Mr. Cave has put a note on this letter, "Answered Dec. 2.” But whether any thing was done in consequence of it we are not informed. Mr. Boswell adds, "I am pretty sure Dr. Johnson told me, that Mr. Cave was the first publisher by whom his pen was engaged in London." 2. SIR, Greenwich, next door to the Golden Hart, "HAVING observed in your papers very uncommon offers of encouragement to men of letters, I have chosen, being a stranger in London, to communicate to you the following design, which, I hope, if you join in it, will be of advantage to both of us. "The History of the Council of Trent having been lately translated into French, and published with large notes by Dr. Le Courayer, the reputation of that book is so much revived in England, that it is presumed, a new translation of it from the Italian, together with Le Courayer's Notes from the French, could not fail of a favourable reception. "If it be answered, that the History is already in English, it must be remembered, that there was the samé objection against Le Courayer's undertaking, with this disadvantage, that the French had a version by one of their best Translators; whereas you cannot read three pages of the English History* without discovering that the style is capable of great improvements; but whether those improvements are to be expected from the attempt, you must judge from the specimen, which, if you approve the proposal, I shall submit to your examination. Suppose the merit of the versions equal, we may hope that the addition of the Notes will turn the balance in our favour, considering the reputation of the Annotator. "Be pleased to favour me with a speedy answer, if you are not willing to engage in this scheme; and appoint me a day to wait upon you if you are. I am, "Sir, your humble servant, SAM. JOHNSON.” An old translation of Sir Nathanael Brent. "It should seem from this letter," says Mr. Boswell, "though subscribed with his own name, that he had not yet been introduced to Mr. Cave." What was done in consequence of the proposal which it contains, may be seen in p. 29. John Johnson's first performance in the Gentleman's Magazine, which for many years was his principal source for 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 be not felt himself highly gratified. Ad URBANUM*. URBANE, nullis fesse laboribus, Quid moliatur gens imitantium, * A translation of this Ode, by an unknown Correspondent, appeared in the Magazine for the May following. The Latin Ode is repeated in vol. LXIV. Part I.; and the following very elegant translation of it by the late William Jackson, esq. of Canterbury, in Part II. “URBAN, whom neither toil profound, Of what they threaten or prepare; Thy vigorous diligence shall rise. 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 dyes; Vacare solis perge Musis, Juxta animo studiisque felix. Intende nervos, fortis, inanibus Non ulla Musis pagina gratior, Texente Nymphis serta Lycoride, It appears that Johnson was now enlisted by Mr. Cave as a regular coadjutor in his Magazine. 3. "SIR, Castle-street, Wednesday morning, "WHEN I took the liberty of writing to you a few days ago, I did not expect a repetition of the same pleasure so soon; for a pleasure I shall always think it, to converse in any manner with an ingenious and candid man; but, having the inclosed Poem in my hands to dispose of for the benefit of the Author (of whose abilities I shall say nothing, since I send you his performance) I believed I could not procure more advantageous terms from any person than from you, who have so much distinguished yourself by your generous encouragement of Poetry; and whose judgment of that art nothing but your commendation of my trifle can give me any occasion to call in question. I do not doubt but you will look over this Poem with another eye, and * *His Ode Ad Urbanum, probably, reward |