what followed a few months later present himself at Surgeons'-hall will be seen to give warrant for for examination as a hospital such a surmise; but even sup-mate: an appointment sufficiently posing this to have been the real undesirable to be found motive, there is no ground for always of tolerably easy suspecting that such a motive attainment by the duly t. 30. was alleged. The most likely qualified.

1758.

supposition would probably be, But he must have decent that failure in getting together clothes to present himself in: the means for his outfit with suf- solitary suit in which he crept ficient promptitude was made between the court and the coffeeconvenient excuse for transfer- house being only fit for service ring the favour to another. That after nightfall. He had no reit was any failure of his own source but to apply to Griffiths, courage at the prospect of so with whom he had still some long an exile, or that he never small existing connection; and proposed more by his original from whom his recent acceptance scheme than a foreign flight for at the Critical, increasing his two or three years, has no other value with a vulgar mind, might or better foundation than the help in exacting aid. The bookHodson letter: on which au- seller, to whom the precise temthority it would also follow that porary purpose for which the he remained contented with what clothes were wanted does not he already possessed, subdued seem to have been told, conhis capricious wants, and turned sented to furnish them on certain to the friends, the esteem, the conditions. Goldsmith was to refined conversation, and all the write at once four articles (he had conveniences of life which awaited given three to the Critical) for the him in Green-arbour-court, with Monthly Review. Griffiths would a new and virtuous resolve of then become security with a quiet thankfulness. tailor for a new suit of clothes; Alas! far different were the which were either to be returned, feelings with which he now a- or the debt for them discharged, scended Break-neck Steps; far within a given time. This pauper different his mournful conviction, proposal acceded to, Goldsmith that, but to flee from the misery doubtless returned to Greenthat surrounded him, no office arbour-court with the four books could be mean, and no possible under his arm.

endurance hard. His determina- They were: Some Enquiries Contion was taken at once: probably cerning the First Inhabitants of grounded on the knowledge of Europe, * by a member of the Some passages in the life of society of antiquaries, known Smollett, and of his recent ac- Monthly Review, XIX. 513, December quaintance Grainger. He would 1758.

1758.

***

afterwards as Francis Wise and poor Goldsmith altogether of his, Thomas Warton's friend; Anselm cannot now be ascertained. All Bayly's Introduction to Languages; that is known is told in a dry the Pentalogia of Doctor extract from the books of the Burton;** and a new Trans- college of surgeons. "At a Court Et. 30. lation of Cicero's Tusculan" of Examiners held at the Theatre Disputations. The notices of "21st December, 1758. Present" them thus extorted made due the names are not given, but appearance as the first four ar- there is a long list of the canticles of the Monthly Review for didates who passed, in the midst December 1758. The tailor was of which these occur: "James then called in, and the compact "Bernard, mate to an hospital. completed. Oliver Goldsmith, found not quaEquipped in his new suit, and "lified for ditto." A rumour of this rejection long existed, and one can well imagine with what on a hint from Maton the king's an anxious, hopeful, quaking heart, Goldsmith offered himself physician the above entry was for examination at Surgeons'-hall

66

66

found.*

66

(the new building erected six A harder sentence, a more years before in the Old Bailey) cruel doom than this at the time on the 21st December. "The must have seemed, even the Old "beadle called my name," says Bailey has not often been witness Roderick Random, when he found to; yet, far from blaming that himself in similar condition at worthy court of examiners, should that place of torture, "with a voice we not rather feel that much "that made me tremble as much praise is due to them? That they "as if it had been the sound of really did their duty in rejecting "the last trumpet: however there the short, thick, ungainly, over66 'was no remedy: I was con-anxious, over-dressed, simple"ducted into a large hall, where looking Irishman who presented "I saw about a dozen of grim himself that memorable day, can "faces sitting at a long table, hardly, I think, be doubted; but "one of whom bade me come unconsciously they also did a "forward in such an imperious great deal more. They found "tone that I was actually for a him not qualified to be a sur"minute or two bereft of my geon's mate, and left him quali"senses." Whether the same fied to heal the wounds and process, conducted through a abridge the sufferings of all the like memorable scene, bereft world. They found him querulous with adversity, given up to

1758.

*Monthly Review, XIX. 519, December irresolute fears, too much blinded with failures and sorrows to see

** Ibid, 522. *** Ibid, 524.

* Prior, 1. 281-2.

1758.

Æt.

the divine uses to which they the ordinary filth and noise of tended still; and from all this, number twelve in Green-arbourtheir sternly just decision re- court there was added an unsolutely drove him back. While usual lamentation and sorthe door of the Surgeons'-hall row. An incident had ocwas shut upon him that day, the curred, of which, painful 30. gate of the beautiful mountain as were the consequences inwas slowly opening. Much of volved in it, the precise details can the valley of the shadow he had only be surmised and guessed still indeed to pass; but every at, and must be received with outlet save the one was closed that allowance, though doubtless upon him, it was idle any longer in the main correct. It would to strike or struggle against the appear that the keeper of this visions which sprang up in his wretched lodging had been suddesolate path, and as he so denly dragged by bailiffs from passed steadily if not cheerily on his home on the previous night, he saw them fade and become and his wife, with loud wailings, impalpable before him. Steadily, now sought the room of her then, if not cheerily, for some poorer lodger. He was in debt months more! "Sir," said John-to the unfortunate couple, who, son, "the man who has vigour for the amusement of their chil"may walk to the East just as dren by his flute, had been kind "well as to the West, if he hap- to him according to their miser"pens to turn his head that able means: and it was the "way." So, honour to the court woman's sobbing petition that of examiners I say, for that, he should try to help them. whether Goldsmith would or There was but one way; and in would not, they turned back his the hope, through Hamilton or head to the East! The hopes Griffiths, to be able still to meet and promise of the world have a the tailor's debt, the gay suit in perpetual springtime there; and which he went to Surgeons'-hall, he was hereafter to enjoy them, and in which he was dressed for briefly for himself, but for the his doleful holiday, appears to world eternally.

CHAPTER V. Discipline of Sorrow. 1758-1759.

have been put off and carried to the pawnbroker's. Nor had a week passed, before the pangs of his own destitution sharply struck him again; and, without other remaining means of earthly Ir was four days after the reaid, for death had taken in Docjection at Surgeons'-hall, the tor Milner his apparently last Christmas day of 1758, when to he had recently reviewed for friend, he carried the four books *Boswell's Life, IV. 24. Griffiths to a neighbouring house,

"Sir, I know of no misery but a gaol

and left them in pledge with an acquaintance for a trifling loan. to which my own imprudencies and your letter seem to point. I have seen it inIt was hardly done when a letter evitable these three or four weeks, and, from Griffiths was put into by heavens! request it as a favour, as a 1758. his hand, peremptorily de-favour that may prevent somewhat more fatal. I have been some years struggling Et. 30. manding the return of the with a wretched being, with all that conbooks and the suit of clothes, or tempt which indigence brings with it, instant payment for both.

friend from whom my necessities oblig'd

with all those strong passions which make contempt insupportable. What Goldsmith's answer, and the then has a gaol that is formidable? I bookseller's violent retort, are shall at least have the society of wretches, and such is to me true society. I tell to be presumed from the poor you again and again I am now neither debtor's second letter: the only able_nor willing to pay you a farthing, one preserved of this unseemly ment you or the taylor shall make; thus but I will be punctual to any appoint- ́ correspondence. He appears far at least I do not act the sharper, since first to have written in a tone unable to pay my debts one way I would of mixed astonishment, anger, No Sir, had I been a sharper, had I been willingly give some security another. and solicitation; to have prayed possessed of less good nature and native for some delay; and to have generosity I might surely now have been been in better circumstances. I am guilty I met by coarse insult, own of meannesses which poverty unthreats, and the shameless im- avoidably brings with it, my reflections putation of crime. These forced are filled with repentance for my im-. from him the rejoinder found in prudence, but not with any remorse for being a villain. That may be a characthe bookseller's papers, endorsed ter you unjustly charge me with. Your by Griffiths with the writer's books I can assure you are neither name and as "Recd. in Jany. pawn'd nor sold, but in the custody of a "1759;" which passed afterwards me to borrow some money; whatever into the manuscript collections becomes of my person, you shall have of Mr. Heber, and is now in my both the reports you have heard and them in a month. It is very possible possession. Its appearance har-your own suggestions may have brought monises with its contents, for you false information with respect to my there is nothing of the freedom character, it is very possible that the man whom you now regard with detestation or boldness of hand in it which may inwardly burn with grateful resentone may perceive in his ordinary manuscript. Most interesting of all the Goldsmith papers that have been preserved to our time, it is here printed with the strictest accuracy. The pointing is imperfect and confused, nor is there any break or paragraph from the first line to the signature; but all concealment at least is ended in it, and stern plain truth is told.

ment, it is very possible that upon a second perusal of the letter I sent you, you may see the workings of a mind strongly agitated with gratitude and jealousy. If such circumstances should appear at least spare invective 'till my book with Mr. Dodsley shall be publish'd, and then perhaps you may see the bright side of a mind when my professions but of choice. You seem to think Dr. shall not appear the dictates of necessity Milner knew me not. Perhaps so; but he was a man I shall ever honour. But ask pardon for taking up so much time. I have friendship only with the dead! I Nor shall I add to it by any other pro

fessions than that I am Sir your Humble exposed himself to a remark

Servt.

"OLIVER GOLDSMITH.

reiterated in Grainger's letters to Bishop Percy, that he was not to

"P.S. I shall expect impatiently the be trusted in any verbal result of your resolutions."

not

1758.

agreement upon matters Æt. 30. Now, this Ralph Griffiths the of his trade, *__it may bookseller, whom the diploma of have been the least bitter of his some American university as ob- remembrances, if it ever hapscure as himself made sub-pened to occur to him, that to sequently Doctor Griffiths, was Oliver Goldsmith, in the depths one of the most thriving men of of a helpless distress, he had apthe day. In little more than three plied the epithets of sharper and years after this he was able to villain. retire from bookselling, and hand From Goldsmith himself they over to Becket the publication of fell harmless. His letter is exhis Review. As time wore on, tremely affecting: but the truth he became a more and more re- is manfully outspoken in it, and gular attendant at the meeting- for that reason it is less painful house, rose higher and higher in to me than those in which the the world's esteem, and at last truth is concealed. When such kept his two carriages, and a mind is brought to look its "lived in style." But he lived, sorrow in the face, and undertoo, to see the changes of thirty stand clearly the condition in years after the grave had rewhich it is, without further ceived the author of the Vicar of doubling, shrinking, or feeble Wakefield; and though he had compromising with false hopes, some recollections of the errors-it is master of a great gain. of his youth to disturb his de- With the accession of strength corous and religious peace of so received it may see the sormind, such as having become row anyway increase, and calm the proprietor of an infamous its worst apprehension. novel, and dictated the praise of most touching passage of that it in his Review;* such as having letter is the reference to his project, and the bright side of his

The

*See Monthly Review, II. 431, March mind it may reveal. I will date 1750. For other evidences of the man's from it the true beginning of taste in such matters, see the Monthly Goldsmith's literary career. Not Review, v. 43, 70, June 1751; and, at the close of volume VII, the list of books till he was past thirty, he was published by R. Griffiths." The book

to which I allude in the text is that which famous descendant or kinsman is printed was written by the son of a Colonel Cle- in the Garrick Correspondence, 1. 56-59. land who is generally supposed to have *"You must have little dependence been Pope's Cleland, but is more likely "upon Griffiths. Do not go on with to have been his brother or cousin."him without a positive bargain," &c. &c. Pope's friend is described always as Grainger to Percy, Nichols's Illustrations, Major Cleland.

A letter from his in-vII. 259.