To the reverend Thomas Warton.

’Dear sir,—­I am extremely sensible of the favour done me, both by Mr. Wise and yourself.  The book* cannot, I think, be printed in less than six weeks, nor probably so soon; and I will keep back the title-page, for such an insertion as you seem to promise me. . . .

’I had lately the favour of a letter from your brother, with some account of poor Collins, for whom I am much concerned.  I have a notion, that by very great temperance, or more properly abstinence, he may yet recover. . . .

’You know poor Mr. Dodsley has lost his wife; I believe he is much affected.  I hope he will not suffer so much as I yet suffer for the loss of mine.

[Greek text omitted]

I have ever since seemed to myself broken off from mankind; a kind of solitary wanderer in the wild of life, without any direction, or fixed point of view:  a gloomy gazer on a world to which I have little relation.  Yet I would endeavour, by the help of you and your brother, to supply the want of closer union, by friendship:  and hope to have long the pleasure of being, dear Sir, most affectionately your’s,

‘[London.] Dec. 21, 1754.’

‘Sam.  Johnson.’

     * ’His Dictionary’—­Warton.

1755:  AETAT. 46.]—­In 1755 we behold him to great advantage; his degree of Master of Arts conferred upon him, his Dictionary published, his correspondence animated, his benevolence exercised.

Mr. Charles Burney, who has since distinguished himself so much in the science of Musick, and obtained a Doctor’s degree from the University of Oxford, had been driven from the capital by bad health, and was now residing at Lynne Regis, in Norfolk.  He had been so much delighted with Johnson’s Rambler and the Plan of his Dictionary, that when the great work was announced in the news-papers as nearly finished,’ he wrote to Dr. Johnson, begging to be informed when and in what manner his Dictionary would be published; intreating, if it should be by subscription, or he should have any books at his own disposal, to be favoured with six copies for himself and friends.

In answer to this application, Dr. Johnson wrote the following letter, of which (to use Dr. Burney’s own words) ’if it be remembered that it was written to an obscure young man, who at this time had not much distinguished himself even in his own profession, but whose name could never have reached the authour of The Rambler, the politeness and urbanity may be opposed to some of the stories which have been lately circulated of Dr. Johnson’s natural rudeness and ferocity.’

’To Mr. Burney, in Lynne Regis, Norfolk.

’Sir,—­If you imagine that by delaying my answer I intended to shew any neglect of the notice with which you have favoured me, you will neither think justly of yourself nor of me.  Your civilities were offered with too much elegance not to engage attention; and I have too much pleasure in pleasing men like you, not to feel very sensibly the distinction which you have bestowed upon me.