The original design of Bishop Percy in undertaking the _Memoir_ of his
friend Goldsmith was to benefit Maurice. Then Catherine, daughter of
Henry, was added as a participant in the assumed profits: afterwards
(when Maurice died and Charles revealed himself) Charles Goldsmith,
the sole then remaining brother of Oliver. Percy’s ultimate decision,
when the work took shape and he had made his agreement with Cadell
and Davies in 1797, was for 125 of the 250 free copies of the work
given to him by Cadell and Davies for disposal to be sold through
White the bookseller of Fleet Street for the benefit of Charles, and
the remaining 125 copies to be sold through Archer the bookseller of
Dublin for the benefit of Catherine, daughter of the Revd. Henry. The
London copies seem to have gone off fairly well. Percy in a Memorandum
dated Dromore, 24 May, 1808, explaining the affair long after the
event to Dr. R. Anderson (_Literary Illustrations_, VII, 189-192),
says that from Charles “the Bishop frequently heard, informing him
that the payments were duly made, and whatever copies he desired were
delivered to him to dispose of among his friends for his own benefit.
He believes Mr. Charles Goldsmith is since dead, but the account is
still open with his family, to whom Mr. White must account for any that
may have remained of the 125 copies delivered to him.” The case of the
125 Irish copies was less satisfactory. “It was principally on account
of Catherine Goldsmith, who had been reduced to indigence, that the
Bishop had applied in 1800 to Messrs. Cadell and Davies to afford some
present relief, to alleviate the distress occasioned by the delay of
the publication: which being refused by them, the Bishop had supplied
the same himself, and continued to do so till her death, which took
place before Mr. Archer had come to a settlement for the 125 copies
transmitted to him. Part of these are still unsold.... Whatever arises
from this sale, or remains of Mr. Archer’s balance that was unpaid to
or for the niece, shall be delivered to any relative of Dr. Goldsmith
who shall be found a proper object of the same.” (Nichols’ _Literary
Illustrations_, VII, 191.)
[Illustration]