SOURCE: Chalmers, Alexander. “Life of Dodsley.” In The Works of the English Poets, From Chaucer to Cowper, pp. 313-23. 1810. Reprint. New York: Johnson Reprint Corporation, 1971.

In the following essay, originally published in 1810, Chalmers provides an early assessment of Dodsley's life and literary output.

An account of Mr. Dodsley was added to the new edition of the Biographia Britannica by Dr. Kippis, but without much information from personal inquiry, which at that time must have been in the doctor's power; nor does he appear to have seen The Muse in Livery, which would have cleared up the doubts respecting the early condition of our author. In endeavouring to supply these defects, I have, perhaps, been in some measure successful; but after every inquiry, the life of Dodsley can be little more than a contribution to the general history of literature.

Robert Dodsley was born at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire, in...