The life of Samuel Johnson, , comprehending an account of his studies and numerous works, in chronological order; a series of his epistolary correspondence and conversations with many eminent persons . printer to alterany stroke of satire which he might dislike. That any such alterationwas made, we do not know. If , we could not but feel an indig-nant regret; but how painful is it to see that a writer of such vigorouspowers of mind was actually in such distress, that the small profit whichso short a poem, however excellent, could yield, was courted as arelief. It has been generally
The life of Samuel Johnson, , comprehending an account of his studies and numerous works, in chronological order; a series of his epistolary correspondence and conversations with many eminent persons . printer to alterany stroke of satire which he might dislike. That any such alterationwas made, we do not know. If , we could not but feel an indig-nant regret; but how painful is it to see that a writer of such vigorouspowers of mind was actually in such distress, that the small profit whichso short a poem, however excellent, could yield, was courted as arelief. It has been generally said, I know not with what truth, that Johnsonoffered his London to several booksellers, none of whom wouldpurchase it. To this circumstance Mr. Derrick alludes in the followinglines of his Fortune, a Ehapsody: Will no kind patron Johnson own ?Shall Johnson friendless range the town ]And every publisher refuseThe offspring of his happy Muse^ 1 The learned Mrs. Elizabeth Carter. This lady, of whom frequent mention will be fouu>.in these Memoirs, was daughter of Nicholas Carter, D J). She died in Clarges-street, Feb. 19,1806, in her eighty-ninth year.—M alone. 6-2 BOSWELLS LIFE OF JOHNSON. [1738,. BOEERT DODSLET. But we have seen that the worthy, modest, and ingenious Mr. EobertDodsley, had taste enough to perceive its uncommon merit, and thoughtit creditable to have a share in it. The fact is, that, at a future confer-ence, he bargained for the wholeproperty of it, for which he gaveJohnson ten guineas ; v7ho told me,I might perhaps have accepted ofless; but that Paul Whitehead hada little before got ten guineas for apoem ; and I would not take lessthan Paul Whitehead. I may here observe, that John-son appeared to me to undervaluePaul Whitehead upon every occasionwhen he was mentioned, and, in myopinion, did not do him justice ; butwhen it is considered that PaulWhitehead was a member of a riotousand profane club, we may accountfor Johnson having a prejudice against him. Pau
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