But though thus elevated into fame, Johnson could not expect to produce many such works as his “London,” and he felt the hardships of writing for bread.  He was therefore willing to resume the office of a schoolmaster, and, an offer being made to him of the mastership of a school, provided he could obtain the degree of Master of Arts, Dr. Adams was applied to by a common friend to know whether that could be granted to him as a favour from the university of Oxford.  But it was then thought too great a favour to be asked.

During the next five years, 1739-1743, Johnson wrote largely for the “Gentleman’s Magazine,” and supplied the account of the Parliamentary Debates from November 19, 1740, to February 23, 1743, inclusive.  It does not appear that he wrote anything of importance for the magazine in 1744.  But he produced one work this year, fully sufficient to maintain the high reputation which he had acquired.  This was “The Life of Richard Savage,” a man of whom it is difficult to speak impartially without wondering that he was for some time the intimate companion of Johnson; for his character was marked by profligacy, insolence, and ingratitude; yet, as he undoubtedly had a warm and vigorous, though unregulated mind, had seen life in all its varieties, and been much in the company of the statesmen and wits of his time, he could communicate to Johnson an abundant supply of such materials as his philosophical curiosity most eagerly desired; and so his visits to St. John’s Gate—­the office of the “Gentleman’s Magazine”—­naturally brought Johnson and him together.

IV.—­Preparation of the “Dictionary"

It is somewhat curious that Johnson’s literary career appears to have been almost totally suspended in 1745 and 1746.  But the year 1747 is distinguished as the epoch when Johnson’s arduous and important work, his “Dictionary of the English Language,” was announced to the world, by the publication of its “Plan or Prospectus.”

The booksellers who contracted with Johnson, single and unaided, for the execution of a work which in other countries has not been effected but by the co-operating exertions of many, were Mr. Robert Dodsley, Mr. Charles Hitch, Mr. Andrew Millar, the two Messieurs Longman, and the two Messieurs Knapton.  The price stipulated was fifteen hundred and seventy-five pounds.  The “Plan” was addressed to Philip Dormer, Earl of Chesterfield, then one of his majesty’s principal secretaries of state, a nobleman who was very ambitious of literary distinction, and who, upon being informed of the design, had expressed himself in terms very favourable to its success.  The plan had been put before him in manuscript For the mechanical part of the work Johnson employed, as he told me, six amanuenses.

In the “Gentleman’s Magazine” for May, 1748, he-wrote a “Life of Roscommon,” with notes, which he afterwards much improved and inserted amongst his “Lives of the English Poets.”  And this same year he formed a club in Ivy Lane, Paternoster Row, with a view to enjoy literary discussion.