OLIVER GOLDSMITH'S LIFE AND TIMES. [BOOK m.
1760. " to raise expectations which, we may perhaps find ourselves
mlJ2. " unable to satisfy: and therefore have made no mention of
" criticism or literature, which yet we do not professedly
" exclude; nor shall we reject any political essays which are
" apparently calculated for the public good." Discreetly
avoiding, thus, all undue expectation, there quietly came
forth into the world, from Mr. Bristow's office " next the
" great toy-shop in St. Paul's-churchyard," the first number
of the Public Ledger. It was circulated gratis : with
announcement that all future numbers would be sold for
two-pence half-penny each.
The first four numbers were enlightened by Probus in
politics and Sir Simeon Swift in literature ; the one
defending the war, the other commencing the " Ranger," and
both very mildly justifying the modest editorial announce-
ments. The fifth number was not so common-place. It
had a letter (vindicating with manly assertion the character
and courage of the then horribly unpopular French, and
humorously condemning the national English habit of
abusing rival nations), which implied a larger spirit as it
showed a livelier pen. The same hand again appeared in
the next number but one; and the correspondent of Green
Arbour Court became entitled to receive two guineas from
Mr. Newbery for his first week's contributions to the Public
Ledger. His arrangement was to write twice in the week,
and to be paid a guinea for each article.
books. He did not thrust all naughty boys into the jaws of the dragon, nor
elevate all good boys to ride in King Pepin's coach. That Goldsmith had a
hankering to -write for children he more than once confessed; and if he had
realised his intention of composing the fables in which little fishes and other
creatures should talk, our children's libraries would have had one rich possession
the more.