To this Gentleman I was indebted for my knowledge of _Sir_ JOSHUA REYNOLDS, who was as well known to his friends, for his perpetual fund of good-humour, and his unceasing wishes to oblige, as he was to the public, for the extraordinary productions of his pencil and his pen: By him I was favoured with an introduction to _Doctor_ JOHNSON, who honoured me with his notice and assisted me, as Mr. BOSWELL has told, with Remarks and Emendations for a Poem I was about to publish[1]: The _Doctor_ had been often wearied by applications, and did not readily comply with requests, for his opinion; not from any unwillingness to oblige, but from a painful contention in his mind, between a desire of giving pleasure and a determination to speak truth. No man can, I think, publish a work without some expectation of satisfying those who are to judge of its merit: but I can, with the utmost regard to veracity, speak my fears, as predominating over every pre-indulged thought of a more favourable nature, when I was told that a judge so discerning, had consented to read and give his opinion of the VILLAGE, the poem I had prepared for publication. The time of suspence was not long protracted; I was soon favoured with a few words from _Sir_ JOSHUA, who observed,--‘If I knew how cautious _Doctor_ JOHNSON was in giving commendation, I should be well satisfied with the portion dealt to me in his letter.’--Of that letter the following is a copy: “SIR; “I have sent you back Mr. CRABBE’s Poem; which I read with great delight. It is original, vigorous, and elegant.--The alterations which I have made, I do not require him to adopt; for, my lines are, perhaps, not often better [than] his own: but he may take mine and his own together, and perhaps, between them, produce something better than either.--He is not to think his copy wantonly defaced: A wet sponge will wash all the red lines away, and leave the pages clean.--His Dedication[2] will be least liked: it were better to contract it into a short sprightly Address.--I do not doubt of Mr. CRABBE’s success. “I am, SIR, your most humble servant, “_March 4 1783._” “SAM: JOHNSON.” That I was fully satisfied, my readers will do me the justice to believe; and I hope they will pardon me, if there should appear to them any impropriety in publishing the favourable opinion expressed in a private letter; they will judge, and truly, that by so doing I wish to bespeak their good opinion, but have no design of extorting their applause: I would not hazard an appearance so ostentatious, to gratify my vanity, but, I venture to do it, in compliance with my fears.