'Tuesday, Oct. 30, 1764. At a meeting of the Delegates of the Press.
'Ordered,
'That the following articles be made the foundation of the new lease to be granted of the moiety of the Printing House; that a copy of them be delivered to Mr. Baskett and Mr. Eyre, and that they be desired to give in their respective proposals at a meeting to be held on Tuesday the sixth of November.' (P. 41.)
The chief part of the lease consisted of the privilege to print Bibles and Prayer Books. I conjecture that Strahan had hoped to get a share in the lease.
VIII.
A letter about a cancel in Johnson's 'Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland', dated Nov. 30, 1774.[In the possession of Messrs. Pearson and Co., 46, Pall Mall.]
'SIR,
'I waited on you this morning having forgotten your new engagement; for this you must not reproach me, for if I had looked upon your present station with malignity I could not have forgotten it. I came to consult you upon a little matter that gives me some uneasiness. In one of the pages there is a severe censure of the clergy of an English Cathedral which I am afraid is just, but I have since recollected that from me it may be thought improper, for the Dean did me a kindness about forty years ago. He is now very old, and I am not young. Reproach can do him no good, and in myself I know not whether it is zeal or wantonness. Can a leaf be cancelled without too much trouble? tell me what I shall do. I have no settled choice, but I would not wish to allow the charge. To cancel it seems the surer side. Determine for me.
'I am, Sir, Your most humble servant,
'SAM. JOHNSON.'
'Nov. 30, 1774.
'Tell me your mind: if you will cancel it I will write something to fill up the vacuum. Please to direct to the borough.'