of his Essays came out, there started another competitor for fame in the
same form, under the title of The Tatler Revived, which I believe was
'born but to die.' Johnson was, I think, not very happy in the choice
of his title, The Rambler, which certainly is not suited to a series
of grave and moral discourses; which the Italians have literally,
but ludicrously translated by Il Vagabondo; and which has been lately
assumed as the denomination of a vehicle of licentious tales, The
Rambler's Magazine. He gave Sir Joshua Reynolds the following account of
its getting this name: 'What MUST be done, Sir, WILL be done. When I was
to begin publishing that paper, I was at a loss how to name it. I sat
down at night upon my bedside, and resolved that I would not go to sleep
till I had fixed its title. The Rambler seemed the best that occurred,
and I took it.'

With what devout and conscientious sentiments this paper was undertaken,
is evidenced by the following prayer, which he composed and offered up
on the occasion: 'Almighty GOD, the giver of all good things, without
whose help all labour is ineffectual, and without whose grace all wisdom
is folly; grant, I beseech Thee, that in this undertaking thy Holy
Spirit may not be with-held from me, but that I may promote thy glory,
and the salvation of myself and others: grant this, O LORD, for the sake
of thy son JESUS CHRIST. Amen.'

The first paper of The Rambler was published on Tuesday the 20th
of March, 1750; and its authour was enabled to continue it, without
interruption, every Tuesday and Friday, till Saturday the 17th of March,
1752, on which day it closed. This is a strong confirmation of the truth
of a remark of his, which I have had occasion to quote elsewhere, that
'a man may write at any time, if he will set himself doggedly to it;'
for, notwithstanding his constitutional indolence, his depression of