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 370 Essay on

��Poem on Life, Death, Judgement, Heaven, and Hell x ; and this circumstance diffused an idea of his liberality. Johnson became connected with him in business, and in a close and intimate acquaintance. Of Cave's character it is unnecessary to say any thing in this place, as Johnson was afterwards the biographer of his first and most useful patron 2. To be engaged in the translation of some important book was still the object which Johnson had in view. For this purpose he proposed to give the History of the Council of Trent, with copious notes then lately added to a French edition. Twelve sheets of this work were printed 3, for which Johnson received forty-nine pounds, as appears by his receipt in the possession of Mr. Nichols, the compiler of that entertaining and useful work, the Gentleman's Magazine. Johnson's translation was never completed ; a like design was offered to the publick, under the patronage of Dr. Zachary Pearce ; and by that contention both attempts were frustrated 4. Johnson had been commended by Pope for the translation of the. Messiah into Latin verse; but he knew no approach to so eminent a man 5. With one, however, who was connected with Pope, he became acquainted at St. John's Gate ; and that person was no other than the well-known Richard Savage, whose life was afterwards written by Johnson with great elegance, and a depth of moral reflection. Savage was a man of considerable talents. His address, his various

1 'Cave sometimes offered subjects 2 Ib. i. 256.

for poems, and proposed prizes for 3 Only six sheets. ' A few copies the best performers. The first prize were intended to be reserved ; but was fifty pounds, for which, being they were so carefully put by as to but newly acquainted with wealth, be lost in the mass of Mr. Cave's and thinking the influence of fifty papers deposited in St. John's Gate.' pounds extremely great, he expected Gentleman's Magazine, 1787, p. 345. the first authors of the kingdom to 4 Life, i. 107, 135. appear as competitors ; and offered 5 ' It was shown to Pope by a son the allotment of the prize to the of Dr. Arbuthnot, then a gentleman- universities. But when the time commoner of Christ Church. He came, no name was seen among the returned it with this encomium : writers that had ever been seen be- " The writer of this poem will leave fore ; the universities and several it a question for posterity whether private men rejected the province his or mine be the original." ' Haw- of assigning the prize.' Johnson's kins, p. 13. Works, vi. 432 ; Life, i. 91.

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