He this year resumed his scheme of giving an edition of Shakspeare with notes.* He issued Proposals of considerable length, in which he shewed that he perfectly well knew what a variety of research such an undertaking required; but his indolence prevented him from pursuing it with that diligence which alone can collect those scattered facts that genius, however acute, penetrating, and luminous, cannot discover by its own force.  It is remarkable, that at this time his fancied activity was for the moment so vigorous, that he promised his work should be published before Christmas, 1757.  Yet nine years elapsed before it saw the light.  His throes in bringing it forth had been severe and remittent; and at last we may almost conclude that the Caesarian operation was performed by the knife of Churchill, whose upbraiding satire, I dare say, made Johnson’s friends urge him to dispatch.

     ’He for subscribers bates his hook,
     And takes your cash; but where’s the book? 
     No matter where; wise fear, you know,
     Forbids the robbing of a foe;
     But what, to serve our private ends,
     Forbids the cheating of our friends?’

     * First proposed in 1745—­Ed.

About this period he was offered a living of considerable value in Lincolnshire, if he were inclined to enter into holy orders.  It was a rectory in the gift of Mr. Langton, the father of his much valued friend.  But he did not accept of it; partly I believe from a conscientious motive, being persuaded that his temper and habits rendered him unfit for that assiduous and familiar instruction of the vulgar and ignorant which he held to be an essential duty in a clergyman; and partly because his love of a London life was so strong, that he would have thought himself an exile in any other place, particularly if residing in the country.  Whoever would wish to see his thoughts upon that subject displayed in their full force, may peruse The Adventurer, Number 126.

1757:  AETAT. 48.]—­Mr. Burney having enclosed to him an extract from the review of his Dictionary in the Bibliotheque des Savans, and a list of subscribers to his Shakspeare, which Mr. Burney had procured in Norfolk, he wrote the following answer: 

’To Mr. Burney, in Lynne, Norfolk.

’Sir,—­That I may shew myself sensible of your favours, and not commit the same fault a second time, I make haste to answer the letter which I received this morning.  The truth is, the other likewise was received, and I wrote an answer; but being desirous to transmit you some proposals and receipts, I waited till I could find a convenient conveyance, and day was passed after day, till other things drove it from my thoughts; yet not so, but that I remember with great pleasure your commendation of my Dictionary.  Your praise was welcome, not only because I believe it was sincere, but because praise has been very scarce.  A man of your candour will be surprised when I tell you, that among all my acquaintance there were only two, who upon the publication of my book did not endeavour to depress me with threats of censure from the publick, or with objections learned from those who had learned them from my own Preface.  Your’s is the only letter of goodwill that I have received; though, indeed, I am promised something of that sort from Sweden.