tion will be pleased to consider, that such small particulars are intended for those who are nicely critical in composition, to whom they will be an acceptable collection."

Is it not surprising that this friend and companion of our illustrious author, who has obliged the publick with the most perfect delineation ever exhibited of any human being,and who declared so often that he was determined

"To lose no drop of that immortal man;"

that one so inquisitive after the most trifling circumstance connected with Dr. JOHNSON'S character or history, should have never heard or discovered that Dr. JOHNSON almost RE-WROTE the RAMBLER after the first folio edition? Yet the fact was, that he employed the lime laborem not only on the second, but on the third edition, to an extent I presume never known in the annals of literature, and may be said to have carried Horace's rule far beyond either its letter or spirit.

"Vos O

carmen reprehendite, quod non
Multa dies et multa litura coercuit, atque
Perfectum decies non castigavit ad unguem."

"Never the verse approve, and hold as good,
'Till many a day and many a blot has wrought
The polished work, and chasten'd every thought
By tenfold labour to perfection brought."

COLMAN.

The alterations made by Dr. JOHNSON in the second and third editions of the RAMBLER far

exceed SIX THOUSAND; a number which may

perhaps justify the use of the word re-wrote, although it must not be taken in its literal acceptation. If it be asked of what nature are these alterations, or why that was altered which the world thought perfect, the author may be allowed to answer for himself. Notwithstanding its fame while printing in single numbers, the encomiums of the learned, and the applause of friends, he knew its imperfections, and determined to remove them. He foresaw that upon this foundation his future fame would in a great measure rest, and he determined that the superstructure thrown up in haste should be strengthened and perfected at leisure. A few passages from No. 169 will explain his sentiments on this subject.

"Men have sometimes appeared of such transcendent abilities, that their slightest and most cursory performances excel all that labour and study can enable meaner intellects to compose: as there are regious of which the spontaneous products cannot be equalled in other soils by care and culture. But it is no less dangerous for any man to place himself in this rank of understanding, and fancy that he is born to be illustrious without labour, than to omit the cares of husbandry, and expect from his ground the blossoms of Arabia."-" Among the writers of antiquity I remember none except Statius, who ventures to mention the speedy production of his writings, either as an extenuation of his fault, or as a proof of his facility. Nor did Statius, when he considered himself as a candidate for lasting reputation,

think a closer attention unnecessary, but amidst all his pride and indigence, the two great hasteners of modern poems, employed twelve years upon the Thebaid, and thinks his claim to renown proportionate to his labour."-" To him whose eagerness of praise hurries his productions soon into the light, many imperfections are unavoidable, even where the mind furnishes the materials, as well as regulates their disposition, and nothing depends upon search or information. Delay opens new veins of thought, the subject dismissed for a time appears with a new train of dependent images, the accidents of reading or conversation supply new ornaments or allusions, or mere intermission of the fatigue of thinking enables the mind to collect new force, and make new excursions."

With such sentiments it must appear at least probable that our author would in his own case endeavour to repair the mischiefs of haste or negligence; but as these were not very obvious to his friends, they made no inquiry after them, nor entertained any suspicion of the labour he endured to render his writings more worthy of their praise; and when his contemporaries had departed, he might not think it necessary to tell a new generation that he had not reached perfection at once.-On one occasion Mr. BosWELL came so near the question, that if Dr. JOHNSON had thought it worth entering upon, he had a very fair opportunity. Being asked by a lady whether he thought he could make his RAMBLER better, he answered that he cer

tainly could." BOSWELL. I'll lay you a bet, Sir, you cannot. JOHNSON. But I will, Sir, if I choose. I shall make the best of them you shall pick out, better. BoswELL. But you may add to them, I will not allow of that. JOHNSON. Nay, Sir, there are three ways of making them better;-putting out,-adding-or correcting."

Perhaps at this moment Quintilian's remarks on correction might have occurred in his memory. "Hujus operis est, adjicere, detrahere, mutare. Sed facilius in his simpliciusque judicium, quæ replenda vel dejicienda sunt; premere verò tumentia, humilia extollere, luxuriantia astringere, inordinata dirigere, soluta componere, exultantia coercere, duplicis operæ."

And these, indeed, were the instructions he followed, but with such minute attention to little things, such fastidious objection to what seems orderly and harmonious, and such copious omissions and additions as probably never would have appeared necessary to any mind but his own, and may justify our advancing another passage of the RAMBLER against himself:

"Some seem always to read with the microscope of criticism, and employ their whole attention upon minute elegance, or faults scarcely visible to common observation. The dissonance of a syllable, the recurrence of the same sound, the repetition of a particle, the smallest deviation from propriety, the slightest defect in construction or arrangement, swell before their eyes into enormities."

These are some of the objects of his correct

ng hand; but as the original folio is now be come very scarce, I shall exhibit a specimen of the greater part of his "various readings" and alterations, by the transcription of a whole paper, marking by italicks the variations. This to some will probably be acceptable as a literary curiosity. "Such reliques shew how excellence is acquired; what we hope ever to do with ease, we must learn first to do with diligence*." This is my sanction for exhibiting the paper in its original state, and recommending a careful comparison with the edition in these volumes, by which it will be found, as much to the honour of his industry, as to the advantage of his readers, that he reformed his first thoughts by subsequent examination; and polished away those faults which the precipitance of ardent composition is likely to leave behind it." Let me add on the same authority, that "to those who have skill to estimate the excellence and difficulty of this great work, it must be very desirable to know how it was performed, and by what gradations it advanced to correctness. Of such an intellectual process the knowledge has very rarely been attainable;"--but in the present case, the discovery having once been made, it requires only the trouble of collation. What our author has said of POPE may be applied with the greatest truth to himself. "He laboured his works first to gain reputation, and afterwards to keep it." "He was

JOHNSON's Life of MILTON.