CHAP, ix.] THE ARREST AND WHAT PRECEDED IT.

Dodsley had inserted a cautious proviso that he was not to ires,
be required to advance anything till the hook should he JBUJ5.
completed; and hence, in all probability, the hook was never
begun.* The overture to Tonson had not even so much
success. It was a proposition from Goldsmith for a new
edition of Pope, which Tonson was so little disposed to enter-
tain that he did not condescend to write his refusal. He sent
a printer with a message declining it; delivered with so much
insolence, that the messenger received a caning for Ms pains.
The desire to connect himself with Pope, seems to point
in the direction of those secret labours which are to prove
such wonderment to Hawkins. He was busy at this time
with his poem and his novel; and, if there be any truth
in what great fat Doctor Cheyne of Bath told Thomson,
that, as you put a bird's eyes out to make it sing the
sweeter, you should keep poets poor to animate their

* As an example of such agreements, and the first formal evidence of Goldsmith's
' growing importance with the booksellers, I subjoin Dodsley's. The original is now
in the British Museum, Mr. Eogers having lately presented it, along with his more
interesting gifts to the nation of Milton's agreement for Paradise Lost and Dryden's
for the Fables. " It is agreed between Oliver Goldsmith M.B. on one hand, and
" James Dodsley on the other, that Oliver Goldsmith shall write for James Dodsley
" a book called a Chronological History of the Lives of Eminent Persons of Great
'' Britain and Ireland, or to that effect, consisting of about two volumes Svo. about
'' the sarae size and letter with the Universal History published in Svo; for the writing
" of which and compiling the same, James Dodsley shall pay Oliver Goldsmith three
" guineas for every printed sheet, so that the whole shall be delivered complete
" in the space of two years at farthest; James Dodsley, however, shall print the
'' above work in whatever manner or size he shall think fit, only the Universal
" History above mentioned shall be the standard by which Oliver Goldsmith shall
'' expect to be paid. Oliver Goldsmith shall be paid one moiety upon delivery of
" the whole copy complete, and the other moiety, one half of it at the conclusion
" of six months, and the other half at the expiration of the twelve months next
" after the publication of the work, James Dodsley giving, however, upon the
" delivery of the whole copy, two notes for the money left unpaid. Each volume
" of the above intended work shall not contain more than five-and-thirty sheets,
" and if they should contain more, the surplus shall not be paid for by James
" Dodsley. Oliver Goldsmith shall print his name to the said work.

" OLIVER GOIDSMITH,
" March, Slut, 1763. " JAMES DODSLET.".. . Her temper has been recorded as marked with the Welsh