1771.

pears to give startling life to the all may, and do, strengthen the forms and colours on the pic-painter's claims to consideration tured walls. and esteem, and give, to that Undoubtedly this anits objects, or betrayed it into any wrong nual dinner, then, must be direction. His principle is thoroughly pronounced one of the sound. It is to draw from the study of happiest of those devices of the the actual the noblest lessons of the ideal. "I cannot help imagining," he president by which he steered said, in a striking passage of that noble the new and unchartered Aca- Second Discourse of the 11th December,

Æt. 43.

smith listened with such delight, "that I

demy through the quicksands 1769, to which Johnson, Burke, and Goldand shoals that had wrecked "see a promising young painter equally the chartered institution out of "vigilant, whether at home, or abroad which it rose. Academies cannot "in the streets, or in the fields. Every 66 object that presents itself, is to him a create genius; academies had "lesson. He regards all Nature with a nothing to do with the begetting "view to his profession; and combines

examines the countenances of

of Hogarth, or Reynolds, or "He "her beauties, or corrects her defects. Wilson, or Gainsborough, the "men under the influence of passion; greatest names of our English "and often catches the most pleasing school; but they may assist in "hints, from subjects of turbulence or "deformity. Even bad pictures themthe wise development of such "selves supply him with useful docuoriginal powers, may guide and "ments," &c. (Works, 1. 47). As this page is passing through the press (12th Deregulate their prudent and succember, 1853), I have had the privilege cessful application,* and above of hearing the address on the distribu

tion of prizes by the distinguished artist * "Could we teach taste or genius by who now fills the chair of Reynolds; and 'rules," said Reynolds in his Third Dis- so appropriate was it to the remarks here course (delivered on the 14th December, made, that I could not perhaps better 1770), "they would be no longer taste define its subject than by calling it a 66 or genius." And he proceeded to show Discourse on the non-Academical merits that there could not be any precise in- of a well-directed Academy. The imvariable rules for the acquisition or ex-portance of rules admitted, it was an ercise of those great qualities, yet that argument to show that the subtleties of they would always be found to operate art might lie in disregarding them; it in proportion to habits of attention ac-was an earnest adjuration to the students quired in observing the works of nature, to seek always the ideal in the actual, to skill shown in selecting, and to care even as Reynolds again and again addisplayed in digesting, methodising, and vised them; and, as well in the elegance comparing observations. "Experience of the composition, and the simplicity "is all in all," said Reynolds with subtle and unaffectedness of diction, as in the truth; "but it is not every one who profits scholarly abundance of the illustration by experience." (Works, 1. 57.) It seems used, it was impossible not to feel that to me a great wrong to Reynolds to ac- the first and greatest of the presidents cuse him, as it is the cant of his objec-has found no unworthy representative tors to do, of having unfairly depreciated in Sir Charles Eastlake. 1853. The genius as contrasted with study or memory of this excellent man, who died labour, or of having taught that it was at Pisa on the Christmas Eve of 1865, not to nature, but to modifications of it will survive in his valuable and most existing in idea, the student's devotion original writings on art; in his fine early should be paid. I have formerly said landscapes, and those later pictures which (1. 231) that he overrated the effects of are masterpieces of enchanting grace, education; but he never misunderstood rich sentiment, and refined execution; in

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Æt.

sense of dignity which should in- did not feel. "Dining at the vest every liberal art, and which "Royal Academy, he said, too often passes for an airy no- "Doctor Goldsmith drew the atthing amid the hustle and crowd "tention of the company 1771. of more vulgar pretences, "a"with an account of a "local habitation and a name." "marvellous treasure of 43. This was the main wise drift "ancient poems lately discovered of Reynolds and his fellow-"at Bristol, and expressed enlabourers; it was the charter that "thusiastic belief in them, for held them together in spite of "which he was laughed at by all their later dissensions; and to "Doctor Johnson, who was this day it outweighs the gravest "present. I soon found this was fault or disadvantage that has "the trouvaille of my friend yet been charged against the "Chatterton, and I told Doctor Royal Academy. "Goldsmith that this novelty was

A fragment of the conversa-"known to me, who might, if I tion at this first Academy dinner "had pleased, have had the has survived; and takes us from "honour of ushering the great it to the darkest contrast, to the "discovery to the learned world. most deplorable picture of hu-"You may imagine, sir, we did man misery and disadvantage, "not at all agree in the measure which even these pages have de-"of our faith; but though his scribed. Goldsmith spoke of an "credulity diverted me,** my extraordinary boy who had come "mirth was soon dashed; for on up to London from Bristol, died "asking about Chatterton, he very suddenly and miserably, "told me he had been in Lonand left a wonderful treasure of "don, and had destroyed himancient poetry behind him. Ho-"self. The persons of honour race Walpole listened carelessly "and veracity who were present at first, it would seem; but very "will attest with what surprise soon perceived that the subject of conversation had a special in- *Nevertheless Dr. Johnson could say terest for himself. Some years "ordinary young man that has encounyears later, "This is the most extraafterwards he described what "tered my knowledge. It is wonderful passed, with an affectation of "how the whelp has written such things." equanimity which even then he Boswell, vI. 173.

66

six

** "I supposed," he says in the same the very remarkable letters lately pub-paper printed at Strawberry-bill in 1779, lished by Lady Eastlake (Life of Sir and to be found in his Works, iv. 225Charles Lock Eastlake: Murray, 1868); and 235, "the pieces were of the age of by its lasting association with the Na-"Richard I; that impression was tional Gallery, which first under his "strong on my mind, that two years direction became worthy of the nation, "after, when Doctor Goldsmith told me and has since found a director in Mr. "they were allotted to the age of Boxall bent on giving full completion "Henry IV or V, I said with surto his predecessor's noblest designs. "prise, "They have shifted the date ex-. 1870. "tremely."

all

"and concern I thus first heard ful invention of literature, "of his death." Yes; for the things considered) had not only concern was natural. Even a communicated his discovery to

Goldsmith credulity, for the "learned Mr. Walpole," but 1771. once, would have been the learned Mr. Walpole had Et. 43. Walpole's better friend. with profuse respect and deHis mirth was dashed at the ference believed in it, till Gray time, and his peace was for many and Mason laughed at him; years invaded, by that remorse- when, turning coldly away from ful image of Chatterton. "From Chatterton's eager proposals, he "the time he resisted the im- planted in that young ambitious "position," says Miss Hawkins heart its bitterest thorn. As for in her considerate way, "he be- Goldsmith's upholding of the 66 gan to go down in public authenticity of Rowley, it may "favour." An imposition it pass with a smile, if it really undoubtedly was, even such an meant anything more than a beimposition as he had himself lief in poor Chatterton himattempted with his Castle of self; * and it is a pity that Dr. Otranto; and he had a perfect Percy should have got up a right on that ground to resist it. quarrel with him about it, as he It was no guilt he had committed, but it was a great occasion lost. The poor boy who invented Rowley (the most wonder

wrote having reference to this sore and * In another of the many letters he sensitive subject, Walpole, addressing Cole in 1780 on Herbert Croft's Love and Madness, has a passage which seems *Anecdotes, 107. The same lady has hardly reconcilable with the impression given us one of the most lively por- he had elsewhere conveyed of Goldtraitures of the appearance and manner smith's credulous faith in all the stateof Horace Walpole at this particular ments put forth by Chatterton, a matter time which any one has preserved for us. quite distinct from admiration of the He did not more oddly contrast with genius displayed in Rowley. "I did not Goldsmith in mind than he did in per-"repeat what Dr. Goldsmith told me at son! "His figure," says Miss Hawkins, "the Royal Academy when I first heard 66 was.. not merely tall, but more pro-" of his death, that he went by the appel"perly long and slender to excess; his "lation of The Young Villain." ("This, "complexion and particularly his hands,"I am sure," writes Southey in his Com"of a most unhealthy paleness. I speak mon Place Book, 1. 532, “is false.") I may "of him before the year 1772. His eyes at the same time add that Goldsmith's were remarkably bright and penetrat- alleged admiration of the poems, well "ing, very dark and lively: his voice justified as it was by their own merit, is "was not strong, but his tones were ex-borne out by an anecdote of the time. "tremely pleasant, and if I may so say, "The Doctor was a great admirer of "highly gentlemanly. I do not remem- "Rowley's poems, and wished much to "ber his common gait; he always en- "purchase the MS. copy of them, then in "tered a room in that style of affected "the possession of Mr. George Catcott of "delicacy, which fashion had then made "Bristol. The Doctor had, however, "almost natural;-chapeau bas between "nothing but his note of hand to offer for "his hands as if he wished to compress "them. 'Alas, sir,' replied Mr. Catcott, "it, or under his arm,-knees bent, and "I fear a poet's note of hand is not "feet on tiptoe, as if afraid of a wet "very current upon our exchange of "floor." Anecdotes, 106. "Bristol.'" Europ. Mag. XXI. 88.

1771.

Æt. 43.

is said to have done. There is collection. The one was a youth nothing so incredible that the named Robert Day, afterwards wisest may not be found to be- one of the Irish judges, and more lieve. Hume believed in Ossian famous for his amiability once, though a few years later he than his law,* first made doubted, and at his death scorn- known to Goldsmith by fully disbelieved. his namesake John Day, afterGoldsmith's stay in London, wards an advocate in India; the at this time, was to see his other was Day's friend and felEnglish History through the press; low-student, now ripening for a and it did not long detain him. great career, and the achieveBut his reappearance in the ment of an illustrious name. Temple seldom failed to bring The first_strong impression of him new acquaintances now. Henry Grattan's accomplishHis reputation kept no one at ments was made upon Golda distance: for his hospitable smith; and it need not be habits, his genial unaffected reckoned their least distinction. ways, were notorious to all; and Judge Day lived to talk and in particular to his countrymen. write to a biographer of the poet The Temple student from Ire- about these early times; ** and land, with or without introduc- described the "great delight” tion, seems to have walked into which the conversation and sohis chambers as into a home. ciety of Grattan, then a youth of To this period belong two such about nineteen, seemed to give new acquaintances, sufficiently to their more distinguished counfamous to have survived for re- tryman. Again and again he would come to Grattan's room "How frail alas! are all human in Essex-court; till "his warm "friendships! I was witness to an en"tire separation between Percy and "heart," Mr. Day modestly adds, "Goldsmith, about Rowley's poems." "became naturally prepossessed Cradock, 1. 206. The separation was not towards the associate of one "entire," for their intimacy was re

newed; but of Percy's hasty temper "whom he so much admired." Goldsmith's personal appear

there can be no doubt. When Dr. Anderson described to the bishop, in 1805, ance and manners made a livethe proposal. he had made to Messrs. Longman and Rees for a new edition of ly impression on the young the Northern Antiquities and Mr. Long- Templar. man's instant preference of the bishop vividly after a lapse of nearly

แ

over Walter Scott as its editor, he went

He recalled them

on to say that Mr. Rees "peremptorily seventy years, and Day's de"declined the undertaking, which Long- scription is one of the best we man caught eagerly, and said, from the have. He was short, he says; "account Mr. Davies had given him of

66 your temper and conduct in the edition "of Goldsmith, he would have no con"cern with you in any like undertaking 'whatever." Nichols's Illustrations, VII. 155-6. This may explain ante, 1. 125.

about five feet five or six inches; evident in Reynolds's paintings strong, but not heavy in make, than in Bunbury's whimsical and rather fair in complexion; drawings; though I fancy it with

at

his hair, such at least as more of a simple plaintive ex1771. could be distinguished pression* than has been given to Æt. 43. from his wig, was brown. it by the president, who, with a "His features were plain, but natural and noble respect, was "not repulsive; certainly not so perhaps too anxious to put the "when lighted up by conversa-author before the man. His "tion." Though his complexion manners were kindly, genial, was pale, his face round and and "perhaps on the whole, we pitted with the small-pox, and a "may say not polished:' somewhat remarkable projection least, Mr. Day explains, without of his forehead and his upper lip that refinement and good breedsuggested excellent sport for ing which the exquisite polish of the caricaturists,* the expres- his compositions would lead us sion of intelligence, benevolence, to expect. He was always cheerand good-humour predominated ful and animated, "often indeed over every disadvantage, and "boisterous in his mirth;" enmade the face extremely pleas-tered with spirit into convivial ing.** This indeed is not more society; contributed largely to its enjoyments by solidity of information, and by the naïveté and originality of his character; talked often without premedita"the general features of his mind, those tion, and laughed loudly without "of his person were not perhaps so en- restraint. It was a laugh ambi"gaging. His stature was under the tious to compete with even John"and his limbs more sturdy than ele- son's: which Tom Davies, with gant: his complexion was pale, his an enviable knowledge of na"forehead low, his face almost round tural history, compared to the

*See ante, p. 134-5.

**Substantially it is the same description as we find in the Percy Memoir.

"Nothing could be more amiable than

"middle size, his body strongly built,

66

"and pitted with the small-pox; but

"marked with strong lines of thinking.

"His first appearance was not captivat-"been drawn for him." Nichols's Il"ing; but when he grew easy and cheer-lustrations, VII. 145.

"ful in company, he relaxed with such a *This, I confess, I miss in it, though "display of good humour as soon re- it is only fair to say that Leslie found it, "moved every unfavourable impres- and a great deal more. He calls it "the "sion." 117-118. It is perhaps worth "most pathetic picture Reynolds ever adding that Percy afterwards discovered "painted: not only because, in looking and described a singular likeness to "at it, I think of the Deserted Village, Goldsmith in his poor weaver-boy pro-"but far more because the sufferings of a tégé, the self-taught poet William Cun- "whole life, and of the tenderest of ningham. "Cunningham, though very "hearts, are written in it. The Ugolino "unlike, in his bodily frame, to Gold-"of Reynolds is agonising; but the porsmith, who was short and not slender, "trait of Oliver Goldsmith displays a "so strongly resembled him in face, "gentler, yet a rarer power." (Life, 1. "that, when he stood near the profile of 361.) We must surely confess that there "the Doctor, his portrait seemed to have is some exaggeration here.