’SIR,

’I shall not be long here, but in the mean time if Miss Williams wants any money pray speak to Mr. Millar and supply her, they write to me about some taxes which I wish you would pay.

’My journey will come to very little beyond the satisfaction of knowing that there is nothing to be done, and that I leave few advantages here to those that shall come after me.

’I am Sir, &c.

‘SAM.  JOHNSON.’

’My compliments to Mrs. Strahan.

To Mr. Strahan.’

Miss Williams came to live with Johnson after his wife’s death in 1752 (ante, i. 232).  The fact that Strahan is asked to supply her with money after speaking to Mr. Millar seems to show that this letter was written some time before the publication of the Dictionary in April 1755.  Millar ‘took the principal charge of conducting its publication,’ and Johnson ’had received all the copy-money, by different drafts, a considerable time before he had finished his task’ (ante, i. 287).

His ‘journey’ may have been his visit to Oxford in the summer of 1754.  He went there, because, ‘I cannot,’ he said, ’finish my book [the Dictionary] to my mind without visiting the libraries’ (ante, i. 270).  According to Thomas Warton ’he collected nothing in the libraries for his Dictionary’ (ib n. 5).  It is perhaps to this failure that the latter part of the letter refers, Johnson’s visit, however, was one of five weeks, while the first line of the letter shews that he intended to be away from London but a short time.

VI.

A letter about ‘Rasselas,’ dated Jan. 20, 1759.[In the possession of Mr. Frederick Barker.]

’When I was with you last night I told you of a story which I was preparing for the press.  The title will be

“The Choice of Life

or

The History of ...  Prince of Abissinia.”

’It will make about two volumes like little Pompadour, that is about one middling volume.  The bargain which I made with Mr. Johnson was seventy five pounds (or guineas) a volume, and twenty five pounds for the second edition.  I will sell this either at that price or for sixty[2], the first edition of which he shall himself fix the number, and the property then to revert to me, or for forty pounds, and I have the profit that is retain half the copy.  I shall have occasion for thirty pounds on Monday night when I shall deliver the book which I must entreat you upon such delivery to procure me.  I would have it offered to Mr. Johnson, but have no doubt of selling it, on some of the terms mentioned.

[Footnote 2:  ‘Fifty-five pounds’ written first and then scored over.]

’I will not print my name, but expect it to be known. 
I am Dear Sir, Your most humble servant,
SAM.  JOHNSON. 
Jan. 20, 1759. 
Get me the money if you can.’