George Adams (1709–72), Johnson’s exact coeval, was mathematical instrument maker to George III.1 There is no evidence that Johnson knew Adams, but his shop at what is now 60 Fleet Street was less than a block away from Johnson’s residence at 7 Johnson’s Court. Hawkins says that Adams gave Johnson “a very curious meteorological instrument” in payment for the dedication (Life, p. 236). The purpose of Adams’s book was to launch his new eighteen- and twelve-inch globes, which he touted as advances over previous designs. As he says in his preface, “The globes now offered to the public, are a construction new and peculiar, being contrived to solve the various phenomena of the earth and heavens, in a more easy and natural manner than hitherto published, being so suspended that the student may elevate the south pole; a thing impracticable in the use of common globes” (p. viii). He also highlights the “agreement” between the two globes, which enables users to understand the positions of various heavenly bodies as they appear from various places on earth.

There has never been any doubt of Johnson’s authorship of the dedication.2 It appeared in the thirteen subsequent editions of Adams’s book published before the death of George III, including five before Johnson’s death, but was never revised (Bibliography, II.1146–56). This dedication was the second of six that Johnson wrote to King George. He also addressed the sovereign on behalf of the Society of Artists and petitioned him on behalf of William Dodd.3