As they say of a generous man, it is a pity he is not rich, we
may say of Goldsmith, it is a pity he is not knowing. He would not keep
his knowledge to himself.'
1773: AETAT. 64.]--In 1773 his only publication was an edition of his
folio Dictionary, with additions and corrections; nor did he, so far
as is known, furnish any productions of his fertile pen to any of his
numerous friends or dependants, except the Preface to his old amanuensis
Macbean's Dictionary of Ancient Geography.
'TO JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.
'DEAR SIR,-- . . . A new edition of my great Dictionary is printed, from
a copy which I was persuaded to revise; but having made no preparation,
I was able to do very little. Some superfluities I have expunged,
and some faults I have corrected, and here and there have scattered a
remark; but the main fabrick of the work remains as it was. I had looked
very little into it since I wrote it, and, I think, I found it full as
often better, as worse, than I expected.
'Baretti and Davies have had a furious quarrel; a quarrel, I think,
irreconcileable.
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