Shade of BOSWELL, awake, arise! Know that the Lord Mayor of Lichfield, Mr. A. C. BAXTER, has announced in the _Times_ that the house Dr. JOHNSON was born in is put up for sale by auction on the 20th inst. Now, then, is the time for a big brewer who would like to get bigger, or any licensed victualler, with command of a moderate capital, to invest it in the purchase of the premises in which the great Lexicographer and Moralist first saw the light, and in the conversion of them into a public-house, to be called and known by the sign and name of "The Johnson's Head." A likeness of Dr. JOHNSON, copied by a competent Artist from the best of Sir JOSHUA REYNOLDS'S portraits, and mounted on the signboard, would be sure to attract multitudes of respectable people, and others, besides forming a decoration of the tavern at Lichfield, and an ornament to that town. A pub. associated with one of the highest names in literature could hardly fail to be frequented by numerous bookmakers. The memory of Dr. JOHNSON might, however, be honoured by the preservation of his home for what many may consider a nobler purpose than that of a liquor-shop; and those who are of that opinion should look sharp and secure his birthplace by coming forward, and taking care that, when under the hammer, it shall be knocked down on their own account to the highest bidder. "The man who could make a pun would pick a pocket;" true, but he might prefer putting his hand in his own to commemorate the name of the great SAMUEL, by helping to stand Sam. * * * * * FAVOURITE SEASONING AT THE GUILDHALL BANQUET ON THE 9TH OF NOVEMBER.--_Sauce a la Maitre d'Hotel_. * * * * * [Illustration] NOTICE.--Rejected Communications or Contributions, whether MS., Printed Matter, Drawings, or Pictures of any description, will in no case be returned, not even when accompanied by a Stamped and Addressed Envelope, Cover, or Wrapper. To this rule there will be no exception. ------------------------------------- Transcriber's notes: P. 179. changed shoppy to sloppy. p. 180. 'developes' (sic): probably not an error. "and the story easily developes itself" -------------------------------------