Johnson’s Letter to Chesterfield,
7 February 1755

Edited by Jack Lynch

In 1747, Samuel Johnson approached Lord Chesterfield, a famous man of letters known for serving as the patron of many young writers, hoping he would provide financial support over the years it would take him to write it. Chesterfield seems to have given him a few token payments, but eventually lost interest and brushed Johnson off.

When the Dictionary was nearing publication, though, word had gotten around that it was going to be a major literary event, and Chesterfield wanted to be associated with it. In 1754 he published a two-part review — since the book hadn’t appeared yet, properly a preview — of Johnson’s Dictionary in a magazine called The World, praising the forthcoming book and its author.

Johnson, unimpressed, wrote this vitriolic letter in response, asserting that he did the work without Chesterfield’s help, and that he would not share any of the credit with the man who gave him no assistance.

This letter has been called the “declaration of independence of the modern author,” marking the death of the patronage system. Of course change never happens that quickly, but patronage was giving way to the modern marketplace, and Johnson’s letter is as good a marker of this shift as any.

Although Chesterfield kept the letter for years and showed it to visitors, the original is now lost; this version was cobbled together in the eighteenth century.

The paragraph numbers are my own, and the marginal glosses are just rough equivalents to aid students.


My Lord:

February 1755

[1] I have been lately informed by the proprietor of the World that two Papers in which my Dictionary is recommended to the Public were written by your Lordship. To be so distinguished is an honour which, being very little accustomed to favours from the Great, I know not well how to receive, or in what terms to acknowledge.

[2] When upon some slight encouragement I first visited your Lordship I was overpowered like the rest of Mankind by the enchantment of your address, and could not forbear to wish that I might boast myself Le Vainqueur du Vainqueur de la Terre, that I might obtain that regard for which I saw the world contending, but I found my attendance so little incouraged, that neither pride nor modesty would suffer me to continue it. When I had once addressed your Lordship in public, I had exhausted all the Art of pleasing which a retired and uncourtly Scholar can possess. I had done all that I could, and no Man is well pleased to have his all neglected, be it ever so little.

enchantment = charm
address = social bearing
contending = competing
suffer = allow
art = skill

[3] Seven years, My lord have now past since I waited in your outward Rooms or was repulsed from your Door, during which time I have been pushing on my work through difficulties of which it is useless to complain, and have brought it at last to the verge of Publication without one Act of assistance, one word of encouragement, or one smile of favour. Such treatment I did not expect, for I never had a Patron before.

[4] The Shepherd in Virgil grew at last acquainted with Love, and found him a Native of the Rocks. Is not a Patron, My Lord, one who looks with unconcern on a Man struggling for Life in the water and when he has reached ground encumbers him with help. The notice which you have been pleased to take of my Labours, had it been early, had been kind; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent and cannot enjoy it, till I am solitary and cannot impart it, till I am known, and do not want it.

had been = would have been

[5] I hope it is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligation where no benefit has been received, or to be unwilling that the Public should consider me as owing that to a Patron, which Providence has enabled me to do for myself.

asperity = roughness
confess obligation = admit a debt

[6] Having carried on my work thus far with so little obligation to any favourer of Learning I shall not be disappointed though I should conclude it, if less be possible, with less, for I have been long wakened from that Dream of hope, in which I once boasted myself with so much exultation, My lord, Your Lordship’s Most humble, most obedient servant,

S.J.


Notes

proprietor of the World
The publisher of The World, the magazine in which Chesterfield had praised Johnson’s forthcoming Dictionary.
Le Vainqueur du Vainqueur de la Terre
“the conqueror of the conqueror of the world.”
once addressed your Lordship in public
Johnson dedicated his Plan of a Dictionary (1747) to Chesterfield.
Seven years
Roughly seven years passed between Johnson’s last approach to Chesterfield and the publication of the articles in The World.
difficulties of which it is useless to complain
Johnson suffered several setbacks while he worked on the Dictionary, the most significant of which was the death of his wife, Tetty, in 1752.