versification of the Vanity of Human Wishes closely resemble the
versification of Irene. The poet, however, cleared, by his
benefit nights, and by the sale of the copyright of his tragedy,
about three hundred pounds, then a great sum in his estimation.

About a year after the representation of Irene, he began to
publish a series of short essays on morals, manners, and
literature. This species of composition had been brought into
fashion by the success of the Tatler, and by the still more
brilliant success of the Spectator. A crowd of small writers had
vainly attempted to rival Addison. The Lay Monastery, the
Censor, the Freethinker, the Plain Dealer, the Champion, and
other works of the same kind, had had their short day. None of
them had obtained a permanent place in our literature; and they
are now to be found only in the libraries of the curious. At
length Johnson undertook the adventure in which so many aspirants
had failed. In the thirty-sixth year after the appearance of the
last number of the Spectator appeared the first number of the
Rambler. From March 1750 to March 1752 this paper continued to
come out every Tuesday and Saturday.

From the first the Rambler was enthusiastically admired by a few
eminent men. Richardson, when only five numbers had appeared,
pronounced it equal, if not superior, to the Spectator. Young
and Hartley expressed their approbation not less warmly. Bubb
Doddington, among whose many faults indifference to the claims of
genius and learning cannot be reckoned, solicited the
acquaintance of the writer. In consequence probably of the good
offices of Doddington, who was then the confidential adviser of
Prince Frederic, two of his Royal Highness's gentlemen carried a