unfinished.

"My mind is burdened with no heavy crime, and therefore I compose
myself to tranquillity; endeavour to abstract my thoughts from
hopes and cares, which, though reason knows them to be vain, still
try to keep their old possession of the heart; expect, with serene
humility, that hour which nature cannot long delay; and hope to
possess, in a better state, that happiness which here I could not
find, and that virtue which here I have not attained."

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:--