nological history
of the lives of eminent persons of Great Britain and Ireland
or to that effect, consisting of about two volumes 8^vo about
the same size and letter with the universal history published
in 8^vo 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 book 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 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 Goldsmith_
_Mar 31 1763_ _Jas Dodsley_

_Rischgitz Collection._] [_British Museum._

FACSIMILE OF THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN GOLDSMITH AND
DODSLEY, MARCH 31, 1763.]

Nothing can be more interesting in every period in the history of
literature, art, science, and philosophy than the manner in which,
thrown together by the mysterious magnetism of mutually alluring
greatness and power, the first and highest minds of all epochs grow
inevitably associated. We find this now in the formation of the
Literary Club, of which many of the most moving minds of that day in
which Goldsmith lived were members. The Club met on Monday evenings in
the Turk's Head Tavern, Soho. It was in working order in 1764. Sir
Joshua Reynolds was its founder. Goldsmith's membership of the
Literary Club, happy as it was, marks great misunderstandings involved
in that misguided judgment passed upon the man by his contemporaries,
which posterity has been content too easily to accept. It was thought
that Oliver Goldsmith had no learning to substantiate his position,
a