"
From the results of _Rasselas_ he sent his mother money, but she had
expired before it reached her.
Down to the time of Dr. Johnson it was the custom for writers of books
and poems to seek and enjoy the patronage of some great nobleman,
to whom they generally dedicated their works.
And in pursuance of that custom Dr. Johnson, when he first issued the
plan or prospectus of his great _Dictionary_ in 1747, addressed it to
Lord Chesterfield, who was regarded as the most brilliant and cultivated
nobleman of his time. Lord Chesterfield, however, took no notice of the
matter till the _Dictionary_ was on the point of coming out in 1755, and
then wrote some flippant remarks about it in a publication called _The
World_.
At this Dr. Johnson wrote a letter to the condescending peer, which
became celebrated throughout England and practically put an end to
writers seeking the patronage of the great.
This wonderful letter concludes thus:--
"Seven years, my lord, have now passed 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.
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