Clue: Johnson's self-assessment: he's glad to work with 14 (1,8,6)
Answer: A HARMLESS DRUDGE
Explanation: Definition: Johnson's self-assessment
Samuel Johnson defined 'lexicographer' as: *'a writer of dictionaries; a harmless drudge, that busies himself in tracing the original, and detailing the signification of words'*
(He's glad EARDRUMS)*, using the solution to 14ac as part of the fodder