Notices to Correspondents [45]
Advertisements [45]
[List of Notes and Queries volumes and pages]
Notes.
CIBBER'S LIVES OF THE POETS.
It is rather extraordinary that none of Dr. Johnson's biographers appear to have been aware that the prospectus of Cibber's Lives was furnished by Johnson. In Mr. Croker's last edition of Boswell there is a long note (see Edit. 1848, p. 818.) on the claim of Theophilus Cibber to the authorship of the Lives, or a participation in it: but though he remarks that the plan on which these Lives are written is substantially the same as that which Johnson long after adopted in his own work, his attention does not seem to have been directed to the prospectus of Cibber's Lives. As, however, this prospectus was not adopted as a preface to the work, but merely appeared in the newspapers and periodicals of the day, it is the less surprising that it has hitherto remained unnoticed. The internal evidence is decisive; and, as it has never, that I am aware of, been reprinted, and is of great interest in connexion with Johnson's own Lives of the Poets, of which admirable work it may be considered to have "cast the shadows before," at the distance of nearly thirty years, I trust, though rather long, it may claim insertion in "N. & Q." It is extracted from a London newspaper of the 20th February, 1753.
JAMES CROSSLEY.
"This Day [20th Feb. 1753] is published,
"In Twelves (Price Six pence),
"NUMBER III. of