I fear there is more difficulty in this affair than these good-natured gentlemen apprehend, especially as their election cannot be delayed longer than the eleventh of next month.  If you see this matter in the same light that it appears to me, I hope you will burn this, and pardon me for giving you so much trouble about an impracticable thing; but, if you think there is a probability of obtaining the favour asked, I am sure your humanity and propensity to relieve merit, in distress, will incline you to serve the poor man, without my adding any more to the trouble I have already given you, than assuring you, that I am, with great truth, sir,

Your faithful humble servant,

Trentham, Aug. 1st.  Gower.

This scheme miscarried.  There is reason to think, that Swift declined to meddle in the business; and, to that circumstance, Johnson’s known dislike of Swift has been often imputed.

It is mortifying to pursue a man of merit through all his difficulties; and yet this narrative must be, through many following years, the history of genius and virtue struggling with adversity.  Having lost the school at Appleby, Johnson was thrown back on the metropolis.  Bred to no profession, without relations, friends, or interest, he was condemned to drudgery in the service of Cave, his only patron.  In November, 1738, was published a translation of Crousaz’s Examen of Pope’s Essay on Man; containing a succinct view of the system of the fatalists, and a confutation of their opinions; with an illustration of the doctrine of free will; and an enquiry, what view Mr. Pope might have in touching upon the Leibnitzian philosophy, and fatalism:  by Mr. Crousaz, professor of philosophy and mathematics at Lausanne.  This translation has been generally thought a production of Johnson’s pen; but it is now known, that Mrs. Elizabeth Carter has acknowledged it to be one of her early performances.  It is certain, however, that Johnson was eager to promote the publication.  He considered the foreign philosopher as a man zealous in the cause of religion; and with him he was willing to join against the system of the fatalists, and the doctrine of Leibnitz.  It is well known, that Warburton wrote a vindication of Mr. Pope; but there is reason to think, that Johnson conceived an early prejudice against the Essay on Man; and what once took root in a mind like his, was not easily eradicated.  His letter to Cave on this subject is still extant, and may well justify sir John Hawkins, who inferred that Johnson was the translator of Crousaz.  The conclusion of the letter is remarkable:  “I am yours, Impransus.”  If by that Latin word was meant, that he had not dined, because he wanted the means, who can read it, even at this hour, without an aching heart?