'I long to see you all, but cannot conveniently come yet. You might write to me now and then, if you were good for any thing. But honores mulant mores. Professors forget their friends[961]. I shall certainly complain to Miss Jones[962]. I am,
'Your, &c.
'SAM. JOHNSON.'
'[London,] June 21, 1757.'
'Please to make my compliments to Mr. Wise.'
[Page 323: Subscribers to Johnson's SHAKSPEARE. Ætat 48.]
Mr. Burney having enclosed to him an extract from the review of his Dictionary in the _Bibliothèque des Savans[963], and a list of subscribers to his Shakspeare, which Mr. Burney had procured in Norfolk, he wrote the following answer:
'To MR. BURNEY, IN LYNNE, NORFOLK.
'SIR,
'That I may shew myself sensible of your favours, and not commit the same fault a second time, I make haste to answer the letter which I received this morning. The truth is, the other likewise was received, and I wrote an answer; but being desirous to transmit you some proposals and receipts, I waited till I could find a convenient conveyance, and day was passed after day, till other things drove it from my thoughts; yet not so, but that I remember with great pleasure your commendation of my Dictionary. Your praise was welcome, not only because I believe it was sincere, but because praise has been very scarce. A man of your candour will be surprised when I tell you, that among all my acquaintance there were only two, who upon the publication of my book did not endeavour to depress me with threats of censure from the publick, or with objections learned from those who had learned them from my own Preface. Your's is the only letter of goodwill that I have received; though, indeed, I am promised something of that sort from Sweden.