the size from two volumes to one which the booksellers, who estimate works by their bulk, did not much approve of. He was to have 100l. for his labour, and having delivered in his MS. complete to Messrs. Cadell and Robinson, and being distressed for money, he pressed for the payment. Some words which passed between him and the latter of these booksellers inflamed him so much as in some measure to prey upon his mind and accelerate his death. Cadell at length relented, and sent 50l., half the money agreed upon, but it did not reach Barettis house till after his death.
He was certainly a man of extraordinary talents, and perhaps no one ever made himself so completely master of a foreign language as he did of English. He came to England, I imagine, about the year 1750, and resided here principally ever since. He has, I find, given particular directions to prevent his body falling into the hands of the surgeons.
Not very long after the institution of the Club, Sir J. Reynolds was speaking of it to Garrick. “I like it much,” says he, “I think I’ll be of you.” When Sir J. R. mentioned this to Dr. Johnson, he was much displeased at the actor’s conceit. ‘‘He’ll be of us,” says Johnson, “how does he know we will permit him? The first duke in England has no right to hold such language?” However, when Garrick was regularly proposed some time afterwards, Johnson warmly supported him, being in reality a
