alteration. The verses to Lady Firebrace[1] may be had when you please, for you know that such a subject neither deseres much thought, nor requires it.
'The Chinese Stories[2] may be had folded down when you please to send, in which I do not recollect that you desired any alterations to be made.
'An answer to another query 1 am very willing to write, and had consulted with you about it last night if there had been time; for I think it the most proper way of inviting such a correspondence as may be an advantage to the paper, not a load upon it.
'As to the Prize Verses, a backwardness to determine their degrees of merit is not peculiar to me. You may, if you please, still have what I can say; but I shall engage with little spirit in an affair, which I shall hardly end to my own satisfaction, and certainly not to the satisfaction of the parties concerned[3].
'As to Father Paul, I have not yet been just to my proposal, but have met with impediments, which, I hope, are now at an end; and if you find the progress hereafter not such as you have a right to expect, you can easily stimulate a negligent translator.
'If any or all of these have contributed to your discontent, I will endeavour to remove it; and desire you to propose the question to which you wish for an answer.
'I am, Sir,
'Your humble servant,
'Sam. Johnson.'
'To Mr. Cave.
[No date]
'Sir,
'I am pretty much of your opinion, that the Commentary cannot be prosecuted with any appearance of success; for as the names of the authours concerned are of more weight in the performance than its own intrinsick merit, the publick will be soon satisfied with it. And I think the Examen should be pushed forward with the utmost expedition. Thus, "This day, &c., An
- ↑ They afterwards appeared in the Gent. Mag. [viii. 486] with this title—Verses to Lady Firebrace, at Bury Assizes. Boswell.
- ↑ Du Halde's Description of China was then publishing by Mr. Cave in weekly numbers, whence Johnson was to select pieces for the embellishment of the Magazine. Nichols. Boswell.
- ↑ The premium of forty pounds proposed for the best poem on the Divine Attributes is here alluded to. Nichols. Boswell.
