This letter refers to Taxation no Tyranny, which was published before March 31, 1775, the date of Boswell’s arrival in London (ante, ii. 311).  Boswell says that he had in his possession ’a few proof leaves of it marked with corrections in Johnson’s own hand-writing’ (ib. p. 313).  Johnson, he says,’ owned to me that it had been revised and curtailed by some of those who were then in power.’  When Johnson writes ‘when you print it, if you print it,’ he uses, doubtless, print in the sense of striking off copies.  The pamphlet was, we may assume, in type before it was revised by ‘those in power.’  The corrections had been made in the proof-sheets.  Johnson asks to have six copies laid by for him in the state in which he had wished to publish it.  It seems that the last paragraph had been struck out by the reviser, for Johnson says ’it was rather contemptuous.’  He does not think it needful to supply anything in its place, for he says ‘it concludes well enough as it is.’

Mr. Strahan had the right, as a member of Parliament, to frank all letters and packets.  That is to say, by merely writing his signature on the cover he could pass them through the post free of charge.  Johnson, when he wrote to Scotland, used to employ him to frank his letters, ’that he might have the consequence of appearing a parliament-man among his countrymen’ (ante, iii. 364).  It was to Oxford that a copy of the pamphlet was to be franked to Johnson.  That he was there at the time is shown by a letter from him in Mrs. Piozzi’s Collection (vol. i. p. 212), dated ‘University College, Oxford, March 3, 1775.’  Writing to her, evidently from Bolt Court, on February 3, he had said:  ’My pamphlet has not gone on at all’ (ib. i. 211).  Mrs. Aston (or rather Miss Aston) is mentioned ante, ii. 466.

XI

A letter about ‘copy’ and a book by Professor Watson, dated Oct. 14, 1776’.[In the possession of Mr. H. Fawcett, of 14, King Street, Covent Garden.]

’SIR,

’I wrote to you about ten days ago, and sent you some copy.  You have not written again, that is a sorry trick.

’I am told that you are printing a Book for Mr. Professor Watson of Saint Andrews, if upon any occasion, I can give any help, or be of any use, as formerly in Dr. Robertson’s publication, I hope you will make no scruple to call upon me, for I shall be glad of an opportunity to show that my reception at Saint Andrews has not been forgotten.

’I am Sir, Your humble Servant,
‘SAM.  JOHNSON.’

‘Oct. 14, 1776.’