 Johnson could not believe that Chesterfield would ever react favourably towards the letter, and it was not until years later that Chesterfield and Johnson would finally reconcile.Johnson began work on his "Dictionary" in 1746 and although the consortium of booksellers that commissioned the work provided him with £1,575 as expenses, Johnson also sought subscriptions from literary patrons among the aristocracy.One of those to receive a request for patronage was Lord Chesterfield, a noted patron of the arts.