or of the strength of his genius.  He had obtained for it only the sum of L1575, which was all spent in the progress of the work; and he was compelled again to become a contributor to the periodical press, writing copiously and characteristically to the Gentleman’s Magazine, the Universal Visitor, and the Literary Magazine.  In 1756, he was arrested for a debt of L5, 18s., but was relieved by Richardson, the novelist.  In the same year he resumed his intention of an edition of Shakspeare, of which he issued proposals, and which he promised to finish in little more than a year, although nine years were to elapse ere it saw the light.  In 1758, he began the “Idler,” which reached the 103d No., and was considered lighter and more agreeable than the “Rambler.”  He has seldom written anything so powerful as his fable of “The Vultures.”  In 1759, his mother died, at the age of ninety,—­an event which deeply affected him.  Soon after this, and to defray the expenses of her funeral, he wrote his brilliant tale of “Rasselas,” in the evenings of a single week,—­a rare feat of readiness and rapid power, reminding one of Byron writing the “Corsair” in a fortnight, and of Sir Walter Scott finishing “Guy Mannering” in three weeks.  There are perhaps more invention and more fancy in “Rasselas” than in any of his works, although a gloom, partly the shadow of his mother’s death, and partly springing from his own temperament, rests too heavily on its pages.  He received one hundred guineas for the copyright.  In 1762, the Earl of Bute, both as a reward for past services, and as a prepayment of future, bestowed on him a pension of L300 for life.  This raised a clamour against him, which he treated with silent contempt.

In 1763 occurred what was really a most important event in Johnson’s life,—­his acquaintance with Boswell,—­who attached himself to him with a devotion reminding one more of the canine species than of man, sacrificed to him much of his time, his feelings, his very individuality, and became qualified to write a biography, in which fulness, interest, minute detail, and dramatic skill have never been equalled or approached.  In 1764, Johnson founded the celebrated “Literary Club,”—­perhaps the most remarkable cluster of distinguished men that ever existed; and in 1765 he was created LL.D. by Trinity College, Dublin.  In 1765, too, he published his “Shakspeare;” and he became intimate with the Thrales,—­the husband being a great brewer in Southwark; the wife, a lady of literary tastes, better known as Madame Piozzi, the author of “Anecdotes of Dr Johnson;” both distinguished for their attachment to him.  He was often domesticated in their house for months together.  In 1767 he had an interview with George III., in the library of the Queen’s house; which, because Johnson preserved his self-possession, and talked with his usual precision and power, has been recounted by Boswell as if it had been a conversation with an apostle or an angel.