Grampian Club > Boswelliana

172 MEMOIR OF JAMES BOSWELL.
liis deliverance from pecuniary troubles, Boswell condoles with
his friend, in his lottery ticket having drawn a blank, since had
a prize turned up, he would have expected the accommoda-
tion of a loan ! He proceeds : —
" As it is, I shall, as I wrote to you, be enabled to weather
my difficulties for some time ; but I am still in great anxiety
about the sale of my book. I find so many people shake their
heads at the two quartos and two guineas. Courtenay is clear
that I should sound Eobinson and accept of a thousand guineas,
if he will give that sum. Meantime, the title-page must be
made as good as may be. It appears to me that mentioning
his studies, works, conversations, and letters, is not sufficient ;
and 1 would suggest comprehending an account, in chrono-
logical order, of his studies, works, friendships, acquaintances,
and other particulars ; his conversation with eminent men ; a
series of his letters to various persons ; also several original pieces
of his compositions never before published. The whole, &c.
You will probably be able to assist me in expressing my idea
and arranging the parts. In the advertisement I intend to
mention the letter to Lord Chesterfield, and perhaps the
interview with the King, and the names of the correspondents,
in alphabetical order. . . Do you know that my bad spirits
are returned upon me to a certain degree; and such is the
sickly fondness for change of place, and imagination of relief,
that I sometimes think you are happier by being in Dublin,
than one is in this great metropolis, where hardly any man
cares for another. I am persuaded I should relish your Irish
dinners very much. I have at length got "chambers in the
Temple, in the very staircase where Johnson lived, and when
my magnum opus is fairly launched, then shall I make a trial."
In his letter to Mr. Temple of the 2nd April, BosweU refers
to his forthcoming work in these terms : —
" My ' Life of Johnson ' is at last drawing to a close. I am
correcting the last sheet. . . I really hope to publish it on
the 25th current. ... I am at present in such bad spirits