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Proposals to print Politian.

[A.D. 1734.

ever more agreeably or usefully employed, than in examining the laws and customs of foreign nations. I hope, therefore, the present I now presume to make, will not be thought improper; which, however, it is not my business as a dedicator to commend, nor as a bookseller to depreciate.'

It is reasonable to suppose that his having been thus accidentally led to a particular study of the history and manners of Abyssinia, was the remote occasion of his writing, many years afterwards, his admirable philosophical tale^[1], the principal scene of which is laid in that country.

Johnson returned to Lichfield early in 1734, and in August^[2] that year he made an attempt to procure some little subsistence by his pen; for he published proposals for printing by subscription the Latin Poems of Politian^[3]:'Angeli Politiani Poemata Latina, quibus, Notas cum historiâ Latinœ poeseos à Petrarchœ œvo ad Politiani tempora deductâ, et vitâ Politiani fusius quam antehac enarratâ, addidit Sam. Johnson^[4].

curiosity after the works of nature demonstrably multiplies the inlets to happiness.'

↑ Rasselas, Post, 1759.
↑ Hawkins (p. 163) gives the following extract from Johnson's Annates:—'Friday, August 27 (1734), 10 at night. This day I have trified away, except that I have attended the school in the morning. I read to-night in Rogers's sermons. To-night I began the breakfast law (sic) anew.'
↑ May we not trace a fanciful similarity between Folitian and Johnson? Huetius, speaking of Paulus Felissonius Fontanerius, says, '... in quo Natura, ut olim in Angelo Politiano, deformitatem oris excellentis ingenii præstantia compensavit.' Comment, de reb. ad eum pertin. Edit. Amstel. 1718, p. 200. Boswell. In Paulus Pelissonius Fontanerius we have difficulty in detecting Mme. de Sévigné's friend, Pelisson, of whom M. de Guilleragues used the phrase, 'qu'il abusait de la permission qu'ont les hommes d'être laids.' See Mme. de Sévigné's Letter, 5 Jan., 1674. Croker.
↑ The book was to contain more than thirty sheets, the price to be two shillings and sixpence at the time of subscribing, and two shillings and sixpence at the delivery of a perfect book in quires. Boswell. 'Among the books in his library, at the time of his decease, I found a very old and curious edition of the works of Politian, which appeared to belong to Pembroke College, Oxford.' Hawkins, p. 445. See post.

It

[1] Rasselas, Post, 1759.

[2] Hawkins (p. 163) gives the following extract from Johnson's Annates:—'Friday, August 27 (1734), 10 at night. This day I have trified away, except that I have attended the school in the morning. I read to-night in Rogers's sermons. To-night I began the breakfast law (sic) anew.'

[3] May we not trace a fanciful similarity between Folitian and Johnson? Huetius, speaking of Paulus Felissonius Fontanerius, says, '... in quo Natura, ut olim in Angelo Politiano, deformitatem oris excellentis ingenii præstantia compensavit.' Comment, de reb. ad eum pertin. Edit. Amstel. 1718, p. 200. Boswell. In Paulus Pelissonius Fontanerius we have difficulty in detecting Mme. de Sévigné's friend, Pelisson, of whom M. de Guilleragues used the phrase, 'qu'il abusait de la permission qu'ont les hommes d'être laids.' See Mme. de Sévigné's Letter, 5 Jan., 1674. Croker.

[p138-4] The book was to contain more than thirty sheets, the price to be two shillings and sixpence at the time of subscribing, and two shillings and sixpence at the delivery of a perfect book in quires. Boswell. 'Among the books in his library, at the time of his decease, I found a very old and curious edition of the works of Politian, which appeared to belong to Pembroke College, Oxford.' Hawkins, p. 445. See post.

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