OLIVBE GOLDSMITH S LIFE AND TIMES. [BOOK in.
!"63. introductions to the various sections, full of picturesque
Mi. 35. animation. He was to have received for this labour " eleven
" guineas in full," but it was increased to nearly thirty. He
had also some share in the Martial Review or General
History of the late War, the profits of which. Newbery had
set apart for his luckless son-in-law, Kit Smart, In a
memorandum furnished by himself to the publisher, he claims
three guineas for Preface to Universal History (a rival to the
existing publication of that name, set on foot by Newbery
and edited by Guthrie); two guineas for Preface to Rhetoric,
and one for Preface to Chronicle, neither, of these last now
traceable; three guineas for Critical and Monthly, presumed
to be contributions to Newbery's magazines; and twenty-one
pounds on account of a History of England. A subsequent
receipt acknowledges another twenty-one pounds " which with
" what I received before, is in roll for the copy of the History
" of England in a series of Letters, two volumes in ISmo." *
This latter book, which was not published till the following
year, claims a word of description. Such of the labours of
1763 as had yet seen the light, were not of a land to attract
much notice. " Whenever I write anything," said Goldsmith,
" I think the public make a point to know nothing about
" it." t So, remembering what Pope had said of the lucky
lines that had a lord to own them, the present book was
issued, doubtless with Newbery's glad concurrence, as a
History of England in a series of Letters from a Nobleman
to his Son. It had a great success in that character; passed
* Fewbery MSS. Prior, i. 468, 4734, 477, 479, and 498. The subjoined is
from a copy in Goldsmith's own h'andwriting: " Brookes' History, III Us ; Pre-
" face to Universal History, 3Z 3s; Preface to Rhetoric, 2Z 2s; Preface to Chronicle,
" 11 Is; History of England, 21Z; The Life of Christ, 10Z 10s; The Life [Lives]
" of the Fathers, 10Z 10s; Critical and Monthly, 31 3s.—Total, 63Z. Eeceived,
" October 11, 1763, the contents, of Mr. Newbery. OLIVER G-OLDSMITH."
f Boswell, vii. 84.