OLIVER GOLDSMITH'S LIFE AND TIMES. [BOOK m.
1763. as he designed for one letter, putting down the passages
2BUJ5. referred to on a sheet of paper, with remarks. He then
walked out with a companion, certain of his Mends at this
time being in the habit of constantly calling upon him;
and if, on returning to dinner, his friend returned with him,
he spent the evening convivially, but without much drinking
(" which he was never in the habit of"); finally taking up
with him to his bed-room the books and papers prepared in
the morning, and there writing the chapter, or the best part
of it, before he went to rest. This latter exercise cost him
very little trouble, he said; for, having all his materials ready,
he wrote it with as much facility as a common letter.*
One may clearly trace these very moderate " convivialities,'1
I think, in occasional entries of Mrs. Fleming's incidental
expenses. The good lady was not loath to be generous
at times, but is careful to give herself the full credit of it;
and a not infrequent item in her bill is" a gentleman's dinner,
" nothing" Four gentlemen have tea, for eighteen-pence ;
" wine and cakes " are supplied for the same sum; bottles of
port are charged two shillings each; and such special favourites
are " Mr. Baggott" and one " Doctor Eeman," that three
elaborate cyphers (£0. Os. Od.) follow their teas as well as
their clinners.f Eedrnond was the latter's real name. He was
* Swop. Mag. xxiy. 94.
t " 1763. Doctor Goldsmith Dr. to Eliz. Fleming.
Aug. 22. A pint of mountain..... £010
A gentleman's dinner..... 000
24. A bottle of port...... 020
4 gentlemen's teas...... 016
Aug. 25. Dr. Reman's dinner and tea . . . . 000
Sept. 5.------------------dinner . . . . 000
7. Sassafras....... 006
11. Dr. Reman's dinner. . , . . 000
29. A bottle of port...... 020
Mr. Baggott, dinner..... 000
Carried forward
£070