’Seven years, my lord, have now past, since I waited in your outward room, or was repulsed from your door, during which time I have been pushing on my work through difficulties, of which it is useless to complain, and have brought it, at last, to the verge of publication without one act of assistance, one word of encouragement, or one smile of favour:  such treatment I did not expect, for I never had a patron before....  Is not a patron, my lord, one who looks with unconcern on a man who is struggling for life in the water, and, when he has reached ground, encumbers him with help?  The notice which you have been pleased to take of my labours, had it been early, had been kind; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent and cannot enjoy it; till I am solitary and cannot impart it; till I am known and do not want it.  I hope it is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received, or to be unwilling that the publick should consider me as owing that to a patron which Providence has enabled me to do for myself.’

The conduct of Johnson, on this occasion, was approved by most manly minds, except that of his publisher, Mr. Robert Dodsley; Dr. Adams, a friend of Dodsley, said he was sorry that Johnson had written that celebrated letter (a very model of polite contempt).  Dodsley said he was sorry too, for he had a property in the Dictionary, to which his lordship’s patronage might be useful.  He then said that Lord Chesterfield had shown him the letter.  ‘I should have thought,’ said Adams, ‘that Lord Chesterfield would have concealed it.’  ‘Pooh!’ cried Dodsley, ’do you think a letter from Johnson could hurt Lord Chesterfield? not at all, sir.  It lay on his table, where any one might see it.  He read it to me; said, “this man has great powers,” pointed out the severest passages, and said, “how well they were expressed."’ The art of dissimulation, in which Chesterfield was perfect, imposed on Mr. Dodsley.

Dr. Adams expostulated with the doctor, and said Lord Chesterfield declared he would part with the best servant he had, if he had known that he had turned away a man who was ‘always welcome.’  Then Adams insisted on Lord Chesterfield’s affability, and easiness of access to literary men.  But the sturdy Johnson replied, ’Sir, that is not Lord Chesterfield; he is the proudest man existing.’  ‘I think,’ Adams rejoined, ’I know one that is prouder; you, by your own account, are the prouder of the two.’  ‘But mine,’ Johnson answered, with one of his happy turns, ‘was defensive pride.’  ‘This man,’ he afterwards said, referring to Chesterfield, ’I thought had been a lord among wits, but I find he is only a wit among lords.’

In revenge, Chesterfield in his Letters depicted Johnson, it is said, in the character of the ‘respectable Hottentot.’  Amongst other things, he observed of the Hottentot, ’he throws his meat anywhere but down his throat.’  This being remarked to Johnson, who was by no means pleased at being immortalized as the Hottentot—­’Sir,’ he answered, ’Lord Chesterfield never saw me eat in his life.’