But long before this date a change for the better had taken place in
Goldsmith's life. Henceforth he was sure of work,--mere journey-work
though much of it must have been;--and, had his nature been less
improvident, of freedom from absolute want. The humble lodgings in the
Old Bailey were discarded for new premises at No. 6 Wine Office Court,
Fleet Street; and here, on the 31st of May, 1761, with Percy, came one
whose name was often in the future to be associated with Goldsmith's,
the great Dictator of London literary society, Samuel Johnson. Boswell,
who made Johnson's acquaintance later, has not recorded the humours of
that supper; but it marks the beginning of Goldsmith's friendship with
the man who of all others (Reynolds excepted) loved him most and
understood him best.
During the remainder of 1761 he continued busily to ply his pen. Besides
his contributions to 'The Ledger' and 'The British Magazine', he edited
'The Lady's Magazine', inserting in it the 'Memoirs of Voltaire', drawn
up some time earlier to accompany a translation of the 'Henriade' by his
crony and compatriot Edward Purdon.
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