16 
For the next two or three years he kept a boarding-school, 
but in 1737, armed with his wits and his pen and three acts 
of a tragedy in manuscript, he set his face towards London 
in the hope of turning them to some account. 
Prospects in literature were at this time poor indeed, for 
while the day of the generous patronage of the great had 
passed away, the present system of the patronage of the 
many had scarce made a beginning. Johnson threw in his 
lot with the professional writers who passed hungry and 
squalid lives in working for the booksellers, and for many 
years shared the extremities of their hard fortune. Giving 
signs of abilities superior to those of his fellow-hacks, Johnson 
was in 1747 commissioned by a company of booksellers to 
prepare a Dictionary of the English Language, of which a 
plan was soon published and dedicated to the Earl of Chester- 
held. Johnson was convinced that he could finish this work, 
for which he was to receive fifteen hundred guineas, in three 
years, but more than seven had elapsed before the completed 
tomes were given to the world. 
While the Dictionary was in progress, he published “ The 
Vanity of Human Wishes ” and a series of philosophical 
essays styled “ The Rambler.” In 1749 his tragedy, “ Irene,” 
was unsuccessfully produced by Garrick at Drury Lane. 
Out of his remuneration for the Dictionary Johnson had to 
pay the salaries of half-a-dozen manual assistants, and it is 
no surprise to learn that his work outlasted his wages. In 
the year following publication he was twice arrested for debt. 
Lord Chesterfield’s influence had proved of no service to 
the lexicographer. On the eve of publication, however, the 
patron’s dormant interest revived, and in hopes of the literary 
distinction which he coveted and a dedication could confer 
he contributed to “ The World ” two papers dealing with the 
forthcoming volumes and their author in the most flattering 
terms. Whereupon the toil-worn Johnson wrote the famous 
letter of repudiation in which he likens a patron to 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 Dictionary was hailed with acclamation, but to Johnson 
was permitted no slackening in toil after the necessaries of 
life. He prepared an abridgement of his Dictionary, superin- 
tended a monthly ” Literary Review,” collected subscriptions 
for an edition of Shakespeare, produced a second series of 
periodical essays, and wrote his “ History of Rasselas.” 
