I have in my possession, by the favour of Mr. John Nichols, a paper in Johnson’s hand-writing, entitled ‘Account between Mr. Edward Cave and Sam. Johnson, in relation to a version of Father Paul, &c. begun August the 2d, 1738;’ by which it appears, that from that day to the 21st of April, 1739, Johnson received for this work £49 7s. in sums of one, two, three, and sometimes four guineas at a time, most frequently two. And it is curious to observe the minute and scrupulous accuracy with which Johnson has pasted upon it a slip of paper, which he has entitled ‘Small Account,’ and which contains one article, ‘Sept. 9th, Mr. Cave laid down 2s. 6d.’ There is subjoined to this account, a list of some subscribers to the work, partly in Johnson’s hand-writing, partly in that of another person; and there follows a leaf or two on which are written a number of characters which have the appearance of a short hand, which, perhaps, Johnson was then trying to learn.
‘To MR. CAVE
‘SIR, ‘Wednesday.
‘I did not care to detain your servant while I wrote an answer to your letter, in which you seem to insinuate that I had promised more than I am ready to perform. If I have raised your expectations by any thing that may have escaped my memory, I am sorry; and if you remind me of it, shall thank you for the favour. If I made fewer alterations than usual in the Debates, it was only because there appeared, and still appears to be, less need of alteration. The verses to Lady Firebracea may be had when you please, for you know that such a subject neither deserves much thought, nor requires it.
‘The Chinese Storiesb may be had folded down when you please to send, in which I do not recollect that you desired any alterations to be made.
‘An answer to another query I am very willing to write, and had consulted with you about it last night if there had been time; for I think it the most proper way of inviting such a correspondence as may be an advantage to the paper, not a load upon it.
‘As to the Prize Verses, a backwardness to determine their degrees of merit is not peculiar to me. You may, if you please, still have what I can say; but I shall engage with little spirit in an affair, which I shall hardly end to my own satisfaction, and certainly not to the satisfaction of the parties concerned.a
‘As to Father Paul, I have not yet been just to my proposal, but have met with impediments, which, I hope, are now at an end; and if you find the progress hereafter not such as you have a right to expect, you can easily stimulate a negligent translator.
‘If any or all of these have contributed to your discontent, I will endeavour to remove it; and desire you to propose the question to which you wish for an answer. I am, Sir, your humble servant, ‘SAM. JOHNSON.’
‘To MR. CAVE
‘SIR, [No date.]
‘I am pretty much of your opinion, that the Commentary cannot be prosecuted with any appearance of success; for as the names of the authours concerned are of more weight in the performance than its own intrinsick merit, the publick will be soon satisfied with it. And I think the Examen should be pushed forward with the utmost expedition. Thus, “This day, &c, An Examen of Mr. Pope’s Essay, &c, containing a succinct Account of the Philosophy of Mr. Leibnitz on the System of the Fatalists, with a Confutation of their Opinions, and an Illustration of the Doctrine of Free-will;” [with what else you think proper.]
‘It will, above all, be necessary to take notice, that it is a thing distinct from the Commentary.
‘I was so far from imagining they stood still,b that conceived them to have a good deal before-hand, and therefore was less anxious in providing them more. But if ever they stand still on my account, it must doubtless be charged to me; and whatever else shall be reasonable, I shall not oppose; but beg a suspense of judgement till morning, when I must entreat you to send me a dozen proposals, and you shall then have copy to spare. I am, Sir, your’s, impransus,59
‘SAM. JOHNSON.’
‘Pray muster up the Proposals if you can, or let the boy recall them from the booksellers.’
But although he corresponded with Mr. Cave concerning a translation of Crousaz’s Examen of Pope’s Essay on Man, and gave advice as one anxious for its success, I was long ago convinced by a perusal of the Preface, that this translation was erroneously ascribed to him; and I have found this point ascertained, beyond all doubt, by the following article in Dr. Birch’s Manuscripts in the British Museum:
‘ELIS: CARTERS. S. P. D. THOMAS BIRCH.
‘Versionem tuam Examints Crousaziani jam perlegi. Summam styli et elegantiam, et in re difficillima proprietatem, admiratus.
‘Dabam Novemb. 27a 1738.’ 60
Indeed Mrs. Carter has lately acknowledged to Mr. Seward, that she was the translator of the Examen.
It is remarkable, that Johnson’s last quoted letter to Mr. Cave concludes with a fair confession that he had not a dinner; and it is no less remarkable, that, though in this state of want himself, his benevolent heart was not insensible to the necessities of an humble labourer in literature, as appears from the very next letter:
‘To MR. CAVE
‘DEAR SIR, [No date.]
‘You may remember I have formerly talked with you about a Military Dictionary. The eldest Mr. Macbean, who was with Mr. Chambers, has very good materials for such a work, which I have seen, and will do it at a very low rate.b think the terms 01 War and Navigation might be comprised, with good explanations, in one 8vo. Pica,61 which he is willing to do for twelve shillings a sheet, to be made up a guinea at the second impression. If you think on it, I will wait on you with him. I am, Sir, your humble servant,
‘SAM. JOHNSON.’
‘Pray lend me Topsel on Animals.’
I must not omit to mention, that this Mr. Macbean was a native of Scotland.
In the Gentleman’s Magazine of this year, Johnson gave a Life of Father Paul;∗ and he wrote the Preface to the Volume, f which, though prefixed to it when bound, is always published with the Appendix, and is therefore the last composition belonging to it. The ability and nice adaptation with which he could draw up a prefatory address, was one of his peculiar excellencies.
It appears too, that he paid a friendly attention to Mrs. Elizabeth Carter; for in a letter from Mr. Cave to Dr. Birch, November 28, this year, I find ‘Mr. Johnson advises Miss C. to undertake a translation of Boethius de Cons. because there is prose and verse, and to put her name to it when published.’ This advice was not followed; probably from an apprehension that the work was not sufficiently popular for an extensive sale. How well Johnson himself could have executed a translation of this philosophical poet, we may judge from the following specimen which he has given in the Rambler: (Motto to No. 7.)