_Cibber's Lives of the Poets_ (Vol. v., p. 25.).--MR. CROSSLEY says that
none of Johnson's biographers appear to have known that the prospectus
which he has sent you was furnished by Dr. Johnson; but of this fact he
gives no other proof than his own opinion that "the internal evidence is
decisive." Now I really must say, that to my poor judgment nothing can
be less like Johnson's peculiar style; and, moreover, MR. CROSSLEY, who
quotes Mr. Croker's note (p. 818., ed. 1848) on this subject, has
certainly not read that note accurately, for the object of that note was
to endeavour to account for Johnson's having frequently and positively
asserted that _Cibber had nothing to do with these lives_, of which MR.
CROSSLEY would have us suppose he wrote the prospectus for Cibber. If
MR. CROSSLEY will read more carefully the note referred to, which is
half Boswell's and half Croker's, and also another note (also referred
to), p. 504., he will see that it is impossible that Johnson could have
written this prospectus.
As I happen to be addressing MR. CROSSLEY, I take the liberty of asking
whether he has yet been able to lay his hands on Pope's Imitation of
Horace, _printed by Curll_ in 1716 (see "N. & Q.," Vol. iv., pp. 122.
139.), and which he tells us he possesses. I wonder and should be sorry
that _such a curiosity_ should be lost or even mislaid.