1

Gentleman's Magazine:

Α Ν D

Historical Chronicle.

For the YEAR MDCCXCI.

VOLUME LXI.

PART THE SECOND.

PRODESSE ET DELECTARE-

E PLURIBUS UNUM.

By SYL VANUS URBAN, Gent.

LONDON, Printed by JOHN NICHOLS,

at Cicero's Head, Red Lion Palage, Fleet-Street;

for DAVID HENRY, late of St. John's Gate.
And fold by ELIZ. NEWBERY, the Corner of St. Paul's

Church Yard, Ludgate-Street.. 1791.

Dr. JOHNSON'S Letter to the Earl of

CHESTERFIELD.

Feb..... 1755.

MY LORD,
I

HAVE been lately informed, by the proprietors of the World,

that two papers, in which my Dictionary is recommended to
the publick, were written by your Lordship. To be so distinguished
is an honour which, being very little accustomed to favours from
the great, I know not well how to receive, or in what terms to ac-
knowledge.

When, upon some flight encouragement, I first visited your
Lordship, I was overpowered, like the rest of mankind, by the en-
chantment of your address, and could not forbear to with, that I
might boast myself le vainqueur du vainqueur de la terre'; that I might
obtain that regard for which I saw the world contending. But I
found my attendance so little encouraged, that neither pride, nor
modefty, would suffer me to continue it. When I had once ad-
dressed your Lordship in public, I had exhausted all the art of
pleasing, which a retired and uncourtly scholar can possess. I had
done all that I could; and no man is well plealed to have his all
neglected, be it ever so little.

Seven years, my Lord, have now passed since I waited in your
outward room, or was repulsed from your door ; during which time
I have been pushing on iny work through difficulties, of which it is
useless to complain; and have brought it at last to the verge of pub-
lication, without one act of aslittance, one word of encouragement,
or one smile of favour. Such treatment I did not expect, for I ne-
ver had a patron before.

The Shepherd in Virgil grew acquainted with Love, and found
him a native of the rocks.

Is not a patron, my Lord, one who looks with unconcern on a
man struggling for life in the water, and, when he has reached
ground, encumbers him with help? The notice which you have
been plcased to take of my labours, had it been early, had been
kind; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent, and cannot en-
joy it; till I am folitary, and cannot impart it; till I am known,
and do not want it. I hope it is no very cynical asperity not to
confefs obligations where no benefit has been received; or to be
unwilling that the publick thould consider me as owing that to a
patron, which Providence has enabled me to do for myself.

Having carried on my work thus far with so little obligation to
any favourer of learning, 1 fhall not be dilappointed, though I
should conclude it, if less be pollible, with less ; for I have been
long wakened from that dream of hope, in which I once boasted
myself with so much exultation.

My LORD
Your Lordship's most humble
and most obedient servant,

SAMUEL JOHNSON.

YORK 3

JULY, 1791,

Lond.GAZETTE

Coventry
GENERAL EVEN.

Cumberland
Lloyd's Evening

Derby, Exeter
St. James's Chron.

Gloucester
Whitehall Even.

Hereford, Hull
London Chren.
ST. JOHN's Gate.

Glivich
Lendon Evening.

IRELAND
L. Packet-Star

Leeds 2
English Chron.

LEICESTIR
Evening Mail

Lewes
Middletex Journ.

TESTEN

Liverpool 3
Courier de Lond.

Moidltone
Daily Advertiser

Manchester
Public Advertiser

Newcastle 3
Gazetteer, Ledger

Noriharapton

Norwich 2
Morning Chron.
Morning Herald

Nottingham
Woodfall's Diary

OXFORD
World-Argus

Reading
Bell's Oracle

Salbury
Times M.Poft

SCOTLAND

Sheiveld 2
13 Weekly Papers
Batb , Britto

Sherborne 3
Birmingham 2

Shrewlbury

Stamford
Bury St Edmund's
CAMBRIDGE

Winchester
Canterbury z

Worcenter
Chelmsford
For

C 2 Ν Τ Α Ι Ν Ι Ν G
Meteorolog. Diaries for June and July, 1791 594 'pecimen of a Barometrical Diary in Norfolk 617

A Traveller's just Character of Mr. How 4KD55 Mrs. Maciulay Lunar Tiles-Huntingdon 618
Malvern Wells-Coms found near Croydon ibid. Town Garden - Nat. History--Rats and Mice 619
The Family Mansion of Wyone of Orthlan 596 Mr.Hare's Opinion of swedenborg's Character 626
Dr. PRIESTLEY on the Birmingham Riots ibid. A Medical Topography—“Sentro Coventry" 622
Answer to Dr. Priestley's Letter on the Riots 598 A Prophecy of Efuras—The Society of rts 623
Mr. Russel's Account of Birmingham Meeting 599 The early Appearance of Birds enquired after 624
Remarks on the lite Riots at Birmingham 600 Primirive bibop's no Suiters" a Pauline" 625
Someremarkable Scriptural Phrasesexplained 60 1 Remarks on the present Situation of France 626
Shakspeare's WainscotChair and Mulberry-tree 6oz On Black Bestles, and how to be destroyed 627
The Originality of Milton's Portrait ascertained 603 Evans Old Baliaus-The hogan of Houghton 628
Query on the different 'Effects of Lightning 605 Description of Lisbon-Mornian Miscellany 629
Character u: Bithop Robert Ferrar vindicated ib. Queriesto Menof Letters and Men of fathion 631
Concise Account of Widworthy in Devonshire 698 Dr Joufon and Mrs Knowles --The Quakers 632
Portrait of Bp. Robert Horne of Winchester 611 Sir James Foulis, Bart.--Miscellaneous Remarksio.
Description of the Jubilee celebrated at Rome ib. Proceedings in present Serlion of Parhamene 633
True idea of the Theory of Tides ftill waiting insik EVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS 641-659
Whatisthe Meaning of VILLATAINITINERE:612 FORBION LITERARY INTELLIS ENCE
Five Sepulchres hewn out of a solid Rock ib.INDEX INDICATORIUS-Queries answered 659
The Measure and Partiquiars of a fimous Oak ib SELECT POETRY, antient and modern 660—664
Some new Particulars of the Welih ludios (13.For. Affairs, Domest. Occurrences, &c. 665—6-7
Dr. James Grainger-Rowe Mores's Dionysius 614 Marriages, Deaths, Preferment', &c. 6;8—68-)
Relier granted to Roman Catholicks explained 6.5 Daily Varia:ions in the Prices :fthe Stcks
Embellished with Two Picturesque Views of MALVEUN WELL6; a Portrait of Dr. HORNE,
Bihop of WINCHESTER ; a fine Monument, by BACON, at WIDWORTHT, in

Devonshire ; 5 JUBILEE MEDAL;. Coins; and other CURLOSIT IES.
By
sriva v US

U R BA , Cient.
Printed for D. HENRY by JOHN NICHOLS, Red Lion Patlase, Fleec-itreet;

wliere Letters to the Editor are defired to be addresu, Pos T-PAID.

650