Smart's pleasing manners, and generally inoffensive conduct, procured him the friendship of Dr. Johnson, Garrick, Dr. James, Dr. Burney, and other literary men of eminence. The friendship of these scholars, and of Lord Delaval, to whom Smart had been private tutor, were of great use to him when in distress. Dr. Johnson manifested much sympathy for poor Smart, and in a time of need promptly lent him his aid. The notices of this feeling in Boswell's Life of Johnson are very interesting; but with all literary men our poet was not in harmony, for so much rancour was manifested between Smart and Sir John Hill, that the former began a work entitled _Hilliad_, and the latter was equally pugnacious in a periodical, entitled _Smartiad_. Smart was injured by this war of obloquy with one, whom to conquer was to exceed in the worst part of his character. Hill was a compiler of books and a hackneyed practitioner in the arts of that profession. He was beneath the notice of Smart. "The Hilliad," which is perhaps one of the most bitter satires ever published, would afford a very unfavourable opinion of our author's character, had it not been an attack on a man who had rendered himself ridiculous and contemptible by practising with unblushing effrontery every species of literary and medical quackery. In 1754 was published his "Hymn to the Supreme Being," written on his recovery from a dangerous fit of illness _brought on by intemperance_. This illness continued through 1755, and part of 1756. Who can think of the benumbing and debasing effect of spirits, and not shudder at the apathy with which the practice is viewed? He could write a Hymn of Gratitude to the Supreme Being, and yet not discover the cause of his illness, and depart from the practice. The constitution of Mr. Smart required the utmost care. His mind was easily excited. His disposition was naturally amiable and placid, but the use of spirits created so much mental irritability upon an imagination uncommonly fervid, that his powers gave way, and produced strange alienation of mind; and ignorant that the use of spirits thus withered and morbidly inflamed his powers, he sought assistance from the destroying enemy, and at last his paroxysms became so violent and continued, as to render confinement necessary. In this melancholy state, his family (for he had now two children) must have been much embarrassed in their circumstances, but for the kind friendship and assistance of Mr. Newbery. Many others were forward to assist; and particularly Dr. Samuel Johnson. Your readers, Mr. Editor, after perusing this sketch of Mr. Smart's history, will doubtless be gratified by the account which Mr. Boswell narrates of a conversation with Dr. Johnson on the case of Smart. The Doctor observes: