Life of Johnson, Volume 6 | Page 7

quantity
to the end of the work, unless he shall be hindered by want of Books.
He does not however expect to be always able to write according to the
order of the Alphabet but as his Books shall happen to supply him, and
therefore cannot send any part to the press till the whole is nearly
finished.
'5. He undertakes as usual the Correction.
'I am, Sir, Your most humble servant, 'SAM. JOHNSON.'
'March 22nd. 'To Mr. Strahan.'
'PROPOSAL.
'There is nothing more apparently wanting to the English Literature,
than a Geographical Dictionary, which, though its use is almost every
day necessary, not only to Men of Study, but of Trade or publick
employment, yet has been hitherto, not only unperformed, but almost
unattempted among us. Bohun's Dictionary, the only one which has any
pretension to regard, owes that pretension only to its bulk; for it is in all
parts contemptibly defective and is therefore deservedly forgotten. In
Collier's Dictionary, what Geography there is, can scarcely be found
among the crowd of other subjects, and when it is found, is of no great
importance. The books of Eachard and Salmon, though useful for the

ends proposed by them, are too small to be considered as anticipations
of this work, which is intended to consist of two volumes of the same
size and print with Harris's Dictionary, in which will be comprised the
following particulars:
'The situation of every Country with its Provinces and dependencies
according to its present state, and latest observation.
'The description of all remarkable Cities, Towns, Castles, Fortresses,
and places observable for their situation, products or other particulars.
'An account of the considerable Rivers, their Springs, Branches, Course,
Outlets, how far navigable, the Produce and Qualities of their waters.
'The course of Voyages, giving directions to sailors for navigating from
one place of the World to another, with particular attention to the
Traffic of these Kingdoms.
'An account of all the principal Ports and Harbours of the known World,
in which will be laid down the Pilotage, Bearings, depth of water,
danger from Sands or Rocks, firmness or uncertainty of Anchorage,
and degree of safety from particular Winds.
'An exact account of the Commodities of each Country, both natural
and artificial.
'A description of the remarkable Animals in every Country, whether
Beasts, Birds or Fishes.
'An account of the Buildings, whether ancient or modern, and of Ruins
or other remains of Antiquity.
'Remarks upon the soil, air, and waters of particular Places, their
several qualities and effects, the accidents to which every Region is
exposed, as Earthquakes and Hurricanes, and the diseases peculiar to
the Inhabitants or incident to strangers at their arrival.
'The political State of the World, the Government of Countries, and the
Magistracy of Cities, with their particular Laws, or Privileges.
'The most probable and authentic Calculations of the number of
Inhabitants of each place.
'The military state of Countries, their Forces, manner of making War,
Weapons, and naval Power.
'The Commercial State, extent of their Trade, Number and strength of
their Colonies, quantity of Shipping.
'The pretensions of Princes with their Alliances, Relations and
Genealogies.

'The customs of Nations with regard to Trade, and receptions of
strangers, their domestic Customs, as Rites of Marriage and Burial.
Their particular Laws. Their habits, recreations and amusements.
'The religious Opinions of all Nations.
'These and many other heads of observation will be collected, not
merely from the Dictionaries now extant in many Languages, but from
the best Surveys, Local Histories, Voyages, and particular accounts[1],
among which care will be taken to select those of the best authority, as
the basis of the Work, and to extract from them such observations as
may best promote Knowledge and gratify Enquiry, so that it is to be
hoped, there will be few remarkable places in the known World, of
which the Politician, the Merchant, the Sailor, or the Man of Curiosity
may not find a useful and pleasing account, of the credit of which the
Reader may always judge, as the Authors from whom it is taken will be
regularly quoted, a caution which if some, who have attempted such
general works, had observed, their labours would have deserved, and
found more favour from the Publick.'
[Footnote 1: That this is done will appear from the authours' names
exactly quoted.]
This letter must have been written about the year 1753, for Bathurst is
described as a physician of about eight years' standing. He took his
degree as Bachelor of Medicine at Peterhouse, Cambridge, in 1745, and
did not, it should seem, proceed to the higher degree. In 1757 he was at
the Havannah, where he died (ante, i. 242, n. i). He was Johnson's
beloved friend, of whom 'he hardly ever spoke without tears in his eyes'
(ante, i. 190,