1763.

Æt. 35.

between each, from two guineas lent to him by Newbery, a 'comto one guinea and half a guinea. pilation on popular philosophy The whole amount, from January seems to have been contemto October 1763, is little more plated; he was certainly than £96; upwards of £60 of engaged in the revision of which Goldsmith had meanwhile what was meant to be a satisfied by "copies of different humorous recommendation of "kinds," when on settlement female government entitled Deday he gave his note for the scription of Millenium Hall, as well balance.* as in making additions to four What these "copies" in every juvenile volumes of Wonders of case were, it is not so easy to Nature and Art; and he had yet discover. From a list of books** more to do with another book,

A promissory note "on demand," written at the top of a blank page of the account, was given by Goldsmith for the balance. Newbery MSS. in Mr. Murray's possession.

** "Nov. 25, 1762. Lent Dr. Goldsmith. Martin's Philosophy, 3 vols 8vo; "Kiel's Introduction; Machaire's Chemistry, 3 vols, French; Encyclopedia (sic), "8 vols folio, French; Chinese Letters, French; Persian Do; Pemberton's View of "Newton's Philosophy; Hale's Vegetable Statics, 2 vols Svo; Ferguson's Astronomy, "4to; Buffon's Natural History, 9 vols 4to; The Origin of Laws, Arts, and Sciences, "3 vols 8vo, Edinburgh." Newbery MSS. in Mr. Murray's possession.

Oliver Goldsmith's Life and Times. I.

15

the System of Natural History by This latter book, which was Dr. Brookes (the author of the not published till the following Gazetteer), which he thoroughly year, claims a word of descriprevised, and to which he tion. Such of the labours of

1763.

not only contributed a 1763 as had yet seen the light

Et. 35. graceful preface, but were not of a kind to attract

several introductions to the vari- much notice. "Whenever I write ous sections, full of picturesque "anything," said Goldsmith, "I animation. He was to have re-"think the public make a point to ceived for this labour "eleven "know nothing about it."* So, "guineas in full," but it was in- remembering what Pope had said creased to nearly thirty. He had of the lucky lines that had a also a large share in the Martial lord to own them, the present Review or General History of the book was issued, doubtless with late War, the profits of which Newbery's glad concurrence, as Newbery had set apart for his a History of England in a series of luckless son-in-law, Kit Smart.* Letters from a Nobleman to his Son. In a memorandum furnished by himself to the publisher, he claims three guineas for Preface to Universal History (a rival to the existing publication of that name,

set

from a copy in Goldsmith's own handwriting: "Brookes' History, 11/ 11s; Pre66 face to Universal History, 31 3s; Preface to Rhetoric, 21 2s; Preface to "Chronicle, 1 1s; History of England,

211; The life of Christ, 104 10s; The life "(sic) of the Fathers, 107 10s; Critical and Monthly, 31 38.-Total, 631. Re"ceived, October 11, 1763, the contents, "of Mr. Newbery. OLIVER GOLDSMITH." But besides this general receipt the cautious Mr. Newbery seems also to have required specific additional acknowledg

ments. Thus on one sheet, among the

on foot by Newbery and edited by Guthrie); two guineas for Preface to Rhetoric, and one for Preface to Chronicle, neither of these last now traceable; three guineas for Critical and Monthly, presumed to be contributions papers in Mr. Murray's possession, I find to Newbery's magazines; and the following: "October 11, 1763. Re"ceivd of Mr. John Newbery eleven twenty-one pounds on account "guineas in full for writing the introducof a History of England. A sub-tion and preface to Dr. Brookes' Nasequent receipt acknowledges an- "tural History. OLIVER GOLDSMITH."other twenty-one pounds, "which, "Oct. 11, 1763. Received of Mr. John "with what I received before, is "in full for the copy of the "History of England in a series "of Letters, two volumes in 12mo." ""**

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"Newbery three guineas for a Preface to "the History of the World. OLIVER "GOLDSMITH." "Oct. 11, 1763. Receivd "of Mr. John Newbery twenty-one "pounds, which, with what I receivd "before, is in full for the copy of the "history of England, in a series of let"ters, two volumes in 12mo. OLIVER *This compilation by Goldsmith about "GOLDSMITH."-" Oct. 11, 1763. Receivd the war had been printed from week to "of Mr. John Newbery twenty-one week in a newspaper of which Newbery "pounds for translating the Life of Christ, was principal proprietor, and published" and the Lives of the Fathers. OLIVER in his native town of Reading. "GOLDSMITH." *Boswell, VII. 84.

**Newbery MSS. The subjoined is

1763.

It had a great success in that the bookseller's interest to concharacter; passed through many tinue it, and not less the author's editions; and was afterwards as well, when in his own name translated into French by the he subsequently went over wife of Brissot, with notes by the same ground. But it the revolutionary leader himself. was not concealed from his Æt. 35. The nobleman was supposed to friends; copies of the second edibe Lord Chesterfield, so refined tion of the book were sent with was the style; Lord Orrery had his autograph to both Percy and also the credit of it; but the per-Johnson; and his friend Cooke suasion at last became general tells us, not only that he had that the author was Lord Lyttel- really written it in his lodgings ton,* and the name of that grave at Islington, but how and in what good lord is occasionally still way he did so. In the morning, seen affixed to it on the book- says this authority, he would stalls. The mistake was never study, in Rapin, Carte, Kennett's formally corrected:** it being Complete History, and the recent volumes of Hume, as much of * As late as 1793, it became matter of what related to the period on discussion in the Gentleman's Magazine (LXIII. 799, &c.) which of these three which he was engaged as he denoblemen had written the letters; where-signed for one letter, putting told Mr. Urban the real name of the down the passages referred to writer, and added: "Goldsmith was much on a sheet of paper, with regratified to find the assumed character marks. He then walked out with 66 so well sustained, as to pass upon the "world for real; and was often diverted certain of his a companion, with the contending opinions of such as friends at this time being in the "ascribed it to one or other of the above habit of constantly calling upon "noblemen. This information comes

upon a better informed correspondent

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"from one who had a copy given him him; and if, on returning to din"by the real author when it first came ner, his friend returned with him, "from the press, and who had often he spent the evening convivially, "laughed with him at the success of his but without much "fiction." Gent. Mag. LXIII. 1189. drinking

**It may have been in consequence of ("which he was never in the its success in this instance that the reck-habit of"); finally taking up less author of Dr. Syntax, Combe, placed with him to his bed-room the

the name of the second or "wicked" lord

to his wonderfully clever collection of books and papers prepared in letters. In the course of a recent attempt the morning, and there writing in the Quarterly Review (xc. 91-163), to the chapter, or the best part of

identify this second lord with Junius,

which I cannot but regard as altogether

unsound though in parts ingenious, a death, wherein the writer is as severely wholly unwarranted assumption is made critical, in regard to the vices of improof the genuineness of these letters in the vidence and extravagance, as it behoved main. There cannot be a doubt that a man to be who ran through more than they are spurious, and all written by one fortune, and closed a career of Combe. One of them, I may take this riotous vicissitude by extremely asopportunity of saying, is a sort of homily siduous literary labours in the king'son the moral of Goldsmith's life and bench prison.

1763.

it, before he went to rest. This He might have been on his way latter exercise cost him very to Goldsmith. He was a bustling, little trouble, he said; for, having active, stout little man, dressed all his materials ready, he in a sky-blue coat. His admirer wrote it with as much fa- saw him at a distance, turning Æt. 35. cility as a common letter.* the corner; and, running with all One may clearly trace these expedition to have a nearer view, very moderate "convivialities," I came up with him in Castlehink, in occasional entries of street, as he stood patting one of Mrs. Fleming's incidental ex- two quarrelling boys on the back, penses. The good lady was not and, looking steadfastly at the loath to be generous at times, expression in the coward's face, but is careful to give herself the was saying in very audible voice, full credit of it; and a not in-"Damn him, if I would take it of frequent item in her bill is "A"him! at him again!" Enemy gentleman's dinner, Nothing." Four or admirer could not in circumgentlemen have tea for eigh-stances more appropriate have teen-pence; "wine and cakes" seen William Hogarth. He might, are supplied for the same sum; in that little incident, see his inbottles of port are charged two terest in homely life, his preshillings each; and such special ference of the real in art, and his favourites are "Mr. Baggott" quick apprehension of character; and one "Doctor Reman," that his love of hard hitting, and his three elaborate ciphers (o. os. indomitable English spirit. The od.) follow their teas as well as admirer, who, at the close of his their dinners.** Redmond was own chequered life, thus rememthe latter's real name. He was bered and related it, was James a young Irish physician who had Barry of Cork; who had followed lived some years in France, and Mr. Edmund Burke to London was now disputing with the with letters from Doctor Sleigh, Society of Arts on some alleged and whose birth, genius, and discoveries in the properties of poverty soon made him known to antimony. Among Mrs. Fleming's Goldsmith.

tors.

anonymous entries, however, Between Goldsmith and Howere some that must have re-garth existed many reasons for lated to more distinguished visi- sympathy. Few so sure as the great, self-taught, philosophic The greatest of these I would artist, to penetrate at once, introduce as he was seen one through any outer husk of disday in the present year by a advantage, to discernment of an young and eager admirer, passing honest and loving soul. Genius, quickly through Cranbourn-alley. in both, took side with the homeEurop. Mag. XXIV. 94. ly and the poor; and they had **See post, chapter IX. of this Book III. personal foibles in common. No

1763.

man can be supposed to have Goldsmith and the connoisread the letters in the Public seurs were at war, too; and this Ledger with heartier agreement would help to make more agreethan Hogarth; no man so little able the intercourse which likely as Goldsmith to suffer a Hogarth has more parsky-blue coat, or conceited, ticularly associated with t. 35. strutting, consequential airs, to these Islington lodgings by both weigh against the claims of the the memorials to which reference painter of Mariage à la Mode. has been made. One of them* How they first met has not been shows Goldsmith very hard at related, but they met frequently; work, not without satiric indicaand two portrait-memorials from tion of the habits that made such the old artist's pencil, one to be drudgery now more than ever mentioned presently and the needful; while the other, also a other to be referred to on a later portrait in oil, representing an page, * remain to show his kindly elderly lady in satin with an open interest in the clever young Irish- book before her and exhibited in man. In these last two years of London several years back** as Hogarth's life, admiration had "Goldsmith's Hostess," connects become precious to him; and itself not less with the present Goldsmith was ready with his time, and the difficulties contribute. Besides, there was sequent on the habits in quesWilkes to rail against and tion. It involves no great stretch Churchill to condemn, as well as of fancy to suppose it painted in Johnson to praise and love. "I'll the Islington lodgings, at some "tell you what," Hogarth would crisis of domestic pressure. say: "Sam Johnson's conversation Newbery's accounts reveal to us "is to the talk of other men like how often it was needful to "Titian's painting compared to mitigate Mrs. Fleming's im"Hudson's: but don't you tell patience, to moderate her wrath, people, now, that I say so; for and, when money was not im"the connoisseurs and I are at mediately at hand, to minister to war, you know; and because I her vanities. For Newbery was "hate them, they think I hate "talents, however, subservient to the "Titian-and let them!"** great purposes of morality, and the earnest desire he had to mend man

66

66

66

an ethical dissertation, and a serious charge to me never to forget his picture "of the Lady's last Stake."

*An engraving from it will be mentioned shortly.

*See post, chap. XIV. of this Book III."kind, his discourse commonly ended in ** Mrs. Piozzi's Anecdotes, 136. 66 Many "were the lectures," adds the lively little lady, "I used to have in my very early 66 days from dear Mr. Hogarth, whose regard for my father induced him perhaps to take notice of his little girl, and 66 give her some odd particular directions about dress, dancing, and many other matters, interesting now only because 'they were his. As he made all his

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** In the 1832 exhibition of the works of deceased British artists. It then belonged to Mr. Graves, in whose family it had been for many years, always bearing the name of Goldsmith's Hostess.