OLIVER GOLDSMITH S LIFE AND TIMES. [BOOK in.
1764. thirteen guineas is acknowledged from Mr. Griffin (the
Mi. 36. publisher of the Essays in the following year), but without
mention of the labours it rewarded.
That, in all these memoranda, the entire labours of the
year cannot yet be accounted for, it is hardly necessary to
add. "We are left to guess what other work was in progress,
for which advances were not available; and in this, an
anecdote told by Eeynolds will offer some assistance. He
went out to call upon Goldsmith, he says, not having seen
him for some time; and no one answering at his door, he
opened it without announcement, and walked in. His friend
was at his desk, but with hand uplifted, and a look directed
to another part of the room; where a little dog sat with
difficulty on his haunches, looking imploringly at his
teacher, whose rebuke for toppling over he had evidently just
received. Eeynolds advanced, and looked past Goldsmith's
shoulder at the writing on his desk. It seemed to "be some
portions of a poem. He looked more closely, and was able
to read a couplet which had been that instant written. The
ink of the second line was wet.
" By sports like these are all their cares beguil'd ;
The sports of children satisfy the child."
This visit of Eeynolds is one of the few direct evidences
which the year affords of his usual intercourse with his
more distinguished friends. There is no reason to doubt,
however, that he had been pretty constant in his attendance
at the club during the past winter; he was a member of the
Society of Arts, and had been often at their meetings, of
which the only trace now left is the record of loans of money
begged from Newbery there ;* and his miseries and neces-
* Several of the entries in the memorandum subjoined (Newbery MSS, Prior,
ii. 100) are entered in pencil. " Lent Dr. Goldsmith for Ms instrument (in