This letter refers to Goldsmith's planned (but later abandoned) dictionary of the arts and sciences ‘on the model of the French Encyclopedia’ (Frances Burney, Memoirs of Doctor Burney, 3 vols. (London: Edward Moxon, 1832), I: 271). He had secured commitments from a number of friends to write various articles: Johnson on ethics; Burke on the sublime and on Berkeley; Reynolds on painting; and Garrick on acting (P, II: 428–9; Memoirs of Doctor Burney, I: 271–2). He had further solicited Garrick's assistance in signing up Charles Burney (1726–1814), composer and renowned music teacher, to write the article on music. Garrick sent the letter to Burney on 11 June with the following note: ‘My dear Doctor, I have sent you a letter from Dr. Goldsmith. He is proud to have your name among the elect. Love to all your fair ones. Ever yours, D. Garrick’. Frances Burney was sufficiently impressed by Goldsmith's letter to copy it from memory into her diary.

The copy-text is from Prior (II: 429). It was first published by Frances Burney (then Frances D’Arblay) in her Memoirs of Doctor Burney in 1832. Following Balderston, we prefer Prior's transcription, which was secured from Burney on a visit to her in August 1831, as it seems likely she introduced additional punctuation by way of correction in her published version.