1760.

and

first

Tristram Shandy, comes up from Sterne was boasting, to friends, country quiet to enjoy popu- of dinner engagements fourteen larity. deep, even while he declared the How sudden and decisive it way to fame to be like was, need not be related. No that to heaven, through one was so talked of in London much tribulation, and de- Æt. 32. this year, and no one so ad-scribed himself, in the midst of mired, as that tall, thin, hectic- his triumphs, "attacked looking Yorkshire parson. He "pelted from cellar and garret." who was to die within eight Perhaps he referred to Goldyears, unheeded and untended, smith, from whose garret in in a common lodging-house, was Green - arbour - court the everywhere the honoured guest heavy blow was levelled at him; of the rich and noble. His book but there were other assailants, had become a fashion, and east as active though less avowed, in and west were moved alike. Mr. cellars of Arlington-street and Dodsley offered him 650/. for a garrets of Strawberry-hill. second edition and two more Walpole may more easily be forvolumes; Lord Falconberg gave given than Goldsmith in such a him a curacy of 150l. a year: Mr. case. The attack in the Citizen Reynolds painted his portrait; of the World was aimed, it is and Warburton, not having yet true, where the work was most pronounced him an "irrecover- vulnerable;* and it was not ill "able scoundrel," went round to the bishops and told them he was the English Rabelais. "They had "never heard of such a writer," masterly criticism of Tristram Shandy I adds the sly narrator of the in-refer to a paper on Sterne in the Quarterly Review, understood to be by the Rev. Mr. cident.* "One is invited to din-Elwin. It is one of a series which apner where he dines," said Gray, peared between 1854 and 1859, compris"a fortnight beforehand:"** and ing Johnson, Gray, and other writers;

* Walpole's Coll. Lett. rv. 39.

Yet

ready to throw his periwig in the face "tottering on the verge of laughter, and

"of his audience." III. 251. For a most

and belonging to a time now nearly extinct, when English literature was really understood by the persons who wrote about it, or had charge of the reviews professing to give account of it. 1870.

**Letter to Wharton, 22nd April 1760. Works, III. 241. In another letter to Wharton two months later, he writes, "If a bawdy blockhead thus breaks with his usual manly appreciation of all "in on the community, he sets his whole that is good and original, "there is much "fraternity in a roar; nor can he escape, good fun in Tristram, and humour "even though he should fly to the nobility "sometimes hit, and sometimes missed. "for shelter." Citizen of the World, Let"I agree with your opinion of it, and ter LXXV. The sarcasm of this may be shall see the two future volumes with forgiven, since Goldsmith showed always "pleasure. Have you read his sermons an honest and high-minded dislike of all (with his own comic figure at the head coarseness, all approach to even sensual "of them)? They are in the style, I allusion, in his own writings. But why "think, most proper for the pulpit, and blockhead? except indeed that the man "show a very strong imagination and a who resorts to improprieties of that kind "sensible heart. But you see him often may be held so far to open himself to the

46

done to protest against the in- spection, maintains an insolent decency and affectation, which benevolence to all whom he has doubtless had largely contributed to do with, and will desire one of to the so sudden popu- ten times his substance to let

Æt. 32.

1760. larity, as they found him see him sometimes, hinting promptest imitators;-but that he does not forget him, is the humour and wit ought surely not more delicious in his vanity to have been admitted; and if than the other. The country the wisdom and charity of an ramble of the Man in Black, uncle Toby, a Mr. Shandy, or a wherein, to accompaniment of Corporal Trim, might anywhere the most angry invective, he perhave claimed frank and imme-forms acts of the most exquisite diate recognition, it should have charity; where with harsh loud been in that series of essays voice he denounces the poor, which Beau Tibbs and the Man while with wistful compassionate in Black have helped to make im- face he relieves them; where, by mortal. way of detecting imposture, he Most charming are these two domineeringly buys a shilling's characters. Addison would have worth of matches, receives the admired, and Steele delighted in astonished beggar's whole bundle them. Finery and poverty, sur- and blessing, and, intimating liness and goodnature, were that he has taken in the seller never brought together with and shall make money of his more playful wit, or a more tender bargain, bestows them next mosweetness. Fielding's majestic ment on a tramper with an obmajor who will hear of nothing jurgation; is surely never to be less than the honour and dignity read unmoved. For Beau Tibbs, of a man, and is caught in an who has not laughed at and loved old woman's bedgown warming him, from the first sorry glimpse his sick sister's posset, is not a of his faded finery? Who has nobler specimen of manhood than not felt in the airs of wealth and the one; Steele's friend at the grandeur with which his amusing trumpet club, that very insig- impudence puffs up his misernificant fellow but exceeding gra- able poverty, that he makes out cious, who has but a bare sub- a title to good natured cheerfulsistence, yet is always promising ness and thorough enjoyment to introduce you into the world, who answers to matters of no consequence with great circumimputation expressed by Roscommon's couplet, so often given to Pope,

"His hat was pinched up with pe"culiar smartness; his looks were pale, "thin, and sharp; round his neck he

66

wore a broad black ribbon, and in his "bosom a buckle studded with glass; his "coat was trimmed with tarnished twist;

"Immodest words admit of no de-"he wore by his side a sword with a

"black hilt; and his stockings of silk, of "though newly washed, were grown yel"low by long service." Letter LIV.

1760.

Æt. 32.

which all the real wealth might his pocket, and any lack of Irish have purchased cheaply? What hangers-on to share the spoil?), would his friends Lords Muddler at which Pilkington, son of the and Crump, the Duchess of Pic- notorious Lætitia, was most cadilly or the Countess of All- assiduous. But with other night, have given for it? Gladly, than his usual begging for but a tithe of it, might the aspect, he appeared in Greenlords have put up with his two arbour-court one day; for good shirts, and uncomplainingly the luck had dawned on him at last, ladies assisted Mrs. Tibbs, and he said, and his troubles were her sweet pretty daughter Caro- over. A very small sum (and he lina Wilhelmina Amelia, in see-ran about the room for joy of the ing them through the wash-tub. announcement) was all he wanted It is an elegant little dinner he to make his fortune. There was talks of giving his friend, with a great duchess who had the bumpers of wine, a turbot, an most surprising passion for white ortolan, and what not: but who mice; two she had procured alwould not as soon have had the ready, and for years had been smart bottled-beer which was all looking out for two more, which he had to give, with the nice she was ready to offer the most pretty bit of ox-cheek, piping- extravagant price for. Aware of hot, and dressed with a little of her grace's weakness, he had Mrs. Tibbs's own sauce which long ago implored of a friend "his grace" was so fond of? It going out to India to procure is supposed that this exquisite him, if possible, two white mice, sketch had a living original in and here they were actually arone of Goldsmith's casual ac- rived; they were in the river at quaintance; a person named that moment, having come by an Thornton, once in the army. Indiaman, now in the docks; and This is not improbable, any the small sum, to which allusion more than that the beau's two had been made, was all that now shirts might have been copied stood between Jack Pilkington from Goldsmith's own; for every- and independence for life! Yes; where throughout the Letters all he wanted was two guineas, actual incidents appear, and the to buy a cage for the creatures "fairy tale" of the prince and sufficiently handsome to be rethe white mouse had an origin ceived by a duchess;-but what whimsical as the story itself. was to be done, for Goldsmith Mr. Newbery's two guineas a had only half a guinea? The week would seem to have at- anxious client then pointed to tracted weekly levies, in a double a watch, with which his poor sense, from Grub-street (when patron (indulging in a luxury was there ever a goodnatured which Johnson did not possess Irishman with five shillings in till he was sixty) had lately

enriched himself; deferentially | The same journal (by the suggested one week's loan as a favour of an old friend, Kenrick) solution of the difficulty; and described for the public at the carried it off.* And though same time an amusing adventure 1760. Goldsmith never again had in White-conduit-gardens, of Æt. 32. tidings of either, or of the which no other than "Mr. curious white mice, till a para- “G-d—th" himself was the graph in the Public Ledger informed hero. Strolling through that him of certain equivocal modes scene of humble holiday, he whereby "Mr. P-lk-g-on was seems to have met the wife and "endeavouring to raise money,' two daughters of an honest -yet a messenger, not long tradesman who had done him afterwards, carried to the poor some service, and invited them starving creature's death-bed "a to tea; but after much enjoyment "guinea from Mr. Goldsmith." of the innocent repast, he dis*Cooke gives the story as one which covered a want of money to disGoldsmith used himself to tell very hu- charge the bill, and had to unmorously; informing us, however, that dergo some ludicrous annoyeven Goldsmith's credulity could not at first be imposed upon by so preposterous ances, and entertain his friends a flam. But Jack was prepared for the at other expense than he had worst, and he instantly produced his bargained for, before means were friend's letter advising of the shipping of found for his release. Another the white mice, their size, qualities, &c. which so entirely convinced the Doctor Contemporary anecdote reverses of the fact, that he wished him joy of it. this picture a little, and ex"How much will a cage cost?' said hibits him reluctant paymaster, 66 Goldsmith, upon this. "About two

"guineas,' replied Pilkington. In truth, at the Chapter-coffee-house, for "Jack, then you're out of luck, for I Churchill's friend Charles Lloyd, "have got but half-a-guinea in the who in his careless way, without "world.' 'Ay, but my dear Doctor,'

66

continues Pilkington, you have got a a shilling to pay for the enter"watch, and though I would rather die tainment, invited him to sup with "than propose such an indelicacy upon some friends of Grub-street, and

66 6 any other occasion than the present,

46.6

66

"if you could let me have that, I could left him to pay the reckoning.* pawn it across the way for two 666 'guineas, and be able to repay you, Cooke tells this story pleasantly "with heartfelt gratitude, in a few enough, and I think it worth quoting, with "'days. This last bait took poor Gold- some obvious and unimportant correc"smith fully on the hook; he confidently tions rendered necessary by its date. 'gave him his watch, which he was some "Goldsmith sitting one morning at the "months after obliged to take up himself," Chapter-coffee-house, Lloyd came up to "without hearing anything more of his "him with great frankness, and asked "friend or the success of his white mice."him how he did? Goldsmith, who cer"The Doctor used to tell this story with "tainly was a very modest man, seeing a £6 some humour, and never without an stranger accost him so intimately, eulogium on the ingenuity of Pilking-"shrunk back a little, and returned his "ton, who could take him in after "inquiries with an air of distant civility. "such experience of his shifts and con- "Pho! pho!' says Lloyd, 'my name is "trivances." European Magazine, XXIV. 66 'Lloyd, and you are Mr. Goldsmith, 259-60. "and, though not formally introduced

"men; therefore, without any cere

66

Æt. 32.

A third incident of the same date "This, sir, is a new plume to presents him with a similar party “him.” If the somewhat doubtat Blackwall, where so violent a ful surmise of the beating be dispute arose about Tristram correct, the scene of it was 1760. Shandy at the dinner-table, that Blackwall; and if (a surpersonalities led to blows, and mise still more doubtful) the feast ended in a fight. "Why, the story Hawkins tells about the "sir," said Johnson laughing, trick played off by Roubiliac, when Boswell told him some which like all such tricks tells years later of a different kind of against both the parties to it, be fracas in which their friend had also true, this was the time when been engaged, "I believe it is it happened. The "little" sculp"the first time he has beat; he tor, as he is called in the Chinese "may have been beaten before. Letters, being a familiar acquaintance and fond of music, Gold"to one another, we should be ac- smith would play the flute for “quainted as brother poets and literary him; and to such assumed de"mony, will you sup with me this even- light on the part of his listener 'ing at this house, where you will meet did he do this one day, that "half-a-dozen honest fellows, who, I "think, will please you?' Goldsmith, Roubiliac, protesting he must "who admired the frankness of the in- copy the air upon the spot, took “party, which principally consisted of up a sheet of paper, scored a "authors and booksellers, was, as Lloyd few lines and spaces (the form "predicted, quite agreeable to Gold- of the notes being all he knew of "smith, and the glass circulated to a late the matter), and with random "the company broke up, Lloyd went out blotches pretended to take down of the room, and, in a few minutes the tune as repeated by the "afterwards, his voice was heard rather "loud in the adjoining passage in congood-natured musician; while “versation with the master of the house. gravely, and with great attenGoldsmith immediately flew to his new tion, Goldsmith, surveying these "friend, to inquire what was the matter; musical hieroglyphics, "said they "when he found Lloyd in vain attempt were very correct, and that if "ing to come to an understanding with "the landlord, who, protesting that al- "he had not seen him do it, he "ready he owed more than 14, swore. 'never could have believed his "that nothing should induce him to take "either his word or his note for the "friend capable of writing music "reckoning. Pho! pho!' says Gold-"after him." Sir John Hawkins "smith, my dear boy, let's have no more tells the story with much satis"words about the matter, 'tis not the first

"troduction, immediately accepted. The

"hour in the morning. A little before

"time a gentleman wanted cash; will faction. Exposure of an ignorant "you accept my word for the reckon- flute-player, with nothing but ""ing?' The landlord assented. 'Why "then,' says Lloyd, whispering to him vulgar accomplishments of "ear" "and forgetting all animosities, send in to bestow upon his friends, yet "another cast of wine, and add it to the with an innocent conceit of pre"bill. The bill ultimately had to be "paid by Goldsmith." European Maga- tending to the science of music, gives great delight to the pomp

Eine, XXIV. 93-4.