flatly, I don't value them, or their fine skins, or eyes, or good sense, or -, a potato; for I say, and will maintain it, and as a convincing proof (I am in a great passion) of what I assert, the Scotch ladies say it themselves. But to be less serious; where will you find a language so prettily become a pretty mouth as the broad Scotch? And the women here speak it in its highest purity; for instance, teach one of your young ladies at home to pronounce the "Whoar wull I gong?" with a becoming widening of the mouth, and I'll lay my life they'll wound every hearer. We have no such character here as a coquet, but alas! how many envious prudes! Some days ago I walked into my Lord Kilcoubry's (don't be surprised, my lord is but a glover), when the Duchess of Hamilton (that fair who sacrificed her beauty to her ambition, and her inward peace to a title and gilt equipage) passed by in her chariot; her battered husband, or more properly the guardian of her charms, sat by her side. Straight, envy began, in the shape of no less than three ladies who sat with me, to find faults in her faultless form. "For my part," says the first, "I think, what I always thought, that the Duchess has too much of the red in her complexion." "Madam, I am of your opinion," says the second; "I think her face has a palish cast too much on the delicate order." "And let me tell you," added the third lady, whose mouth was puckered up to the size of an issue," that the Duchess has fine lips, but she wants a mouth." At this every lady drew up her mouth as if going to pronounce the letter P. But how ill, my Bob, does it become me to ridicule women with whom I have scarcely any correspondence? There are, 'tis certain, handsome women here; and 'tis as certain they have handsome men to keep them company. An ugly and a poor man is society only for himself; and such society the world lets me enjoy in great abundance... I leave you to your own choice what to write. While I live, know you have a true friend in yours, &c. &c. &c. OLIVER GOLDSMITH. P.S. Give my sincere respects (not compliments, do you mind) to your agreeable family, and give my service to my mother if you see her; for, as you express

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it in Ireland, I have a sneaking kindness for her still. Direct to me,, Student in Physic, in Edinburgh.'

38. The first letter mentioned in the text is dated 8th May, 1753, and runs thus: MY DEAR UNCLE, In your letter (the only one I received from Kilmore), you call me the philosopher who carries all his goods about him. Yet how can such a character fit me, who have left behind in Ireland every thing I think worth possessing; friends that I loved, and a society that pleased while it instructed? Who but must regret the loss of such enjoyments? Who but must regret his absence from Kilmore, that ever knew it as I did? Here, as recluse as the Turkish Spy at Paris, I am almost unknown to every body, except some few who attend the professors of physic as I do. Apropos, I shall give you the professors' names, and, as far as occurs to me, their characters; and first, as most deserving, Mr. Munro, Professor of Anatomy; this man has brought the science he teaches to as much perfection as it is capable of; and not content with barely teaching anatomy, he launches out into all the branches of physic, when all his remarks are new and useful. 'Tis he, I may venture to say, that draws hither such a number of students from most parts of the world, even from Russia. is not only a skilful physician, but an able orator, and delivers things in their nature obscure in so easy a manner, that the most unlearned may understand him. Plume, Professor of Chemistry, understands his business well, but delivers himself so ill, that he is but little regarded. Alston, Professor of Materia Medica, speaks much, but little to the purpose. The Professors of Theory and Practice (of Physic) say nothing but what we may find in books laid before us; and speak that in so drowsy and heavy a manner, that their hearers are not many degrees in a better state than their patients. You see then, dear sir, that Munro is the only great man among them; so that I intend to hear him another winter, and go then to hear Albinus, the great professor at Leyden. Í read (with satisfaction) a science the most pleasing in nature, so that my labours are but a relaxation, and, I may truly say, the only thing

He

here that gives me pleasure. How I enjoy the pleasing hope of returning with skill, and to find my friends stand in no need of my assistance! How many happy years do I wish you! and nothing but want of health can take from you happiness, since you so well pursue the paths that conduct to virtue. I am, my dear Uncle, your most obliged, most affectionate nephew, OLIVER GOLDSMITH. P.S. I draw this time for 67., and will draw next October but for 4., as I was obliged to buy everything since I came to Scotland, shirts not even excepted. I am a little more early the first year than I shall be for the future, for I absolutely will not trouble you before the time hereafter. My best love attend Mr. and Mrs. Lauder, Heaven preserve them! I am again your dutiful nephew, O.G. I have been a month in the Highlands. I set out the first day on foot, but an ill-natured corn I have got on my toe has for the future prevented that cheap method of travelling; so the second day I hired a horse of about the size of a ram, and he walked away (trot he could not) as pensive as his master. In three days we reached the Highlands. This letter would be too long if it contained the description I intend giving of that country, so shall make it the subject of my next.' The second letter is not dated, but was undoubtedly written at the close of 1753. MY DEAR UNCLE, After having spent two winters in Edinburgh, I now prepare to go to France on the 10th of next February. I have seen all that this country can exhibit in the medical way, and therefore intend to visit Paris, where the great Mr. Farhein, Petit, and Du Hammel de Monceau instruct their pupils in all the branches of medicine. They speak French, and consequently I shall have much the advantage of most of my countrymen, as I am perfectly acquainted with that language, and few who leave Ireland are so. Since I am upon so pleasing a topic as self applause, give me leave to say that the circle of science which I have run through, before I undertook the study of physic, is not only useful, but absolutely necessary to the making a skilful physician. Such sciences enlarge our understanding, and sharpen our sagacity; and what is a practitioner without both but an empiric, for |

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never yet was a disorder found entirely the same in two patients. A quack, unable to distinguish the particularities in each disease, prescribes at a venture: if he finds such a disorder may be called by the general name of fever for instance, he has a set of remedies which he applies to cure it, nor does he desist till his medicines are run out, or his patient has lost his life. But the skilful physician distinguishes the symptoms, manures the sterility of nature, or prunes her luxuriance; nor does he depend so much on the efficacy of medicines as on their proper application. I shall spend this spring and summer in Paris, and the beginning of next winter go to Leyden. The great Albinus is still alive there, and 'twill be proper to go, though only to have it said that we have studied in so famous an university ... How does my dear cousin Jenny, and has she recovered her late complaint? How does my poor Jack Goldsmith? I fear his disorder is of such a nature as he won't easily recover. I wish, my dear Sir, you would make me happy by another letter before I go abroad, for there I shall hardly hear from you. I shall carry just 33. to France, with good store of clothes, shirts, &c. &c., and that with economy will serve I have nothing new to add from this country; and I beg, dear Sir, you will excuse this letter, so filled with egotism. I wish you may be revenged on me, by sending an answer filled with nothing but an account of yourself. I am, dear Uncle, your most devoted OLIVER GOLDSMITH. Give my how

• .

shall I express it? Give my earnest love to Mr. and Mrs. Lauder.' 48. For 'kinsman,' read brother-inlaw.'

55. The lines quoted from the Traveller

are given by mistake from one of the earlier editions. The sixth, published in 1770, is undoubtedly the best. 'Mansion,' in the third line, should be mansions;' and, in the sixteenth, 'breathes 'should be 'breasts.' The improvement by the change to the latter word is very marked and striking.

'Cheerful at morn he wakes from short герове,

Breasts the keen air, and carols as he goes...

82, 83. The Poker Club was not so named till 1762. But the men spoken of in the text were precisely that select

PAGE

section of Edinburgh society, already existing as a Club, which, on Scotland being refused a Scotch Militia, called itself the Poker, 'to stir up the fire of the nation.' turns,' read 'turn.'

84. For

94. For 101. For

115. For

Miller,' read' Milles.' Newberry,' read Newbery.' Lawder,' read 'Lauder." 155. For Eastern, 'read' Easton.' 155. I had not the original authority im

mediately at hand when the quotation beginning I called on Goldsmith was made. Hence there are some verbal inaccuracies, though not important. Poor and miserable,' (155) should be 'poor and uncomfortable.' 'Miserable dirty-looking room,' (156) should be wretched dirty room.' 'Of a very becoming demeanour,' (156) should be of very decent behaviour.' 263. For 'Lyttleton, read Lyttelton." The name affixed to the catchpenny collection of letters referred to in the text was that of the second Lord Lyttelton.

263. For Gentleman's Magazine, read European Magazine.

266. It may be necessary (to avoid misapprehension) to remark that the artist, before executing the design in this page, had failed to obtain a drawing of the 'portrait' referred to in the text. 271. For under-secretary at-war,' read 'secretary in the War Office." Chamier was not appointed undersecretary till 1775. In the account of the Club are one or two slight inaccuracies, but they will be found corrected in subsequent parts of the narrative. Thus the number of members was definitively limited to twelve in the second year of the Club; and they changed the night to Friday earlier, and did not substitute the dinner for the supper till somewhat later, than I at first state. Obvious errors exist in every description of this celebrated society, from the first supplied by Malone to the last furnished by Mr. Hatchett. 295-299. A brief letter of Goldsmith's with which I have been favoured since this part of my narrative was printed, corroborates the statements made in it. It would seem that between the date of his leaving Wine Office Court in an early month of 1764.' (p. 295) and his return to Islington at the beginning of April' in that year (p. 299), he had occupied, while his attic in the Library Staircase of the Tem

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ple was preparing, a temporary lodging in Gray's Inn; and that the engagement with the Dodsleys which I have described as opened at this time (p. 296), had actually proceeded as far as the preparation of copy, and the claim for advance of money. This, as well as the sharp poverty he was suffering (p. 297), appears from the brief note to John Dodsley which has been communicated to me by my friend Mr. Peter Cunningham, whose success in matters of literary research is as undoubted as the ability with which he communicates his discoveries. Sir,' it runs, being dated from Gray's Inn,' on the 10th of March, 1764, 'I shall take it as a favour if you can let me have ten guineas per bearer, for which I promise to account. I am, sir, your humble servant, OLIVER GOLDSMITH, P.S. I shall call to see you on Wednesday next with copy, &c.' Whether the money was advanced or the copy supplied does not appear. 297. For blossoming,' read 'blooming.' 299. The text of the song quoted is from collation of the early and later copies.

305. For Lady Susan Ilchester,' read 'Lady Susan Fox.'

317. Thomson's letter quoted in the text first appeared in Seward's Anecdotes several years after Goldsmith's death.

319. The Geographie Curicuse, which appears to have been Goldsmith's authority, was nevertheless itself incorrect, in the family name of the brothers. They were George and Luke, as stated, and George underwent the punishment of the 'iron crown'; but the family name was Dosa. See Biographie Universelle Tom. xi. p. 604.

330. For monthly,' read 'weekly.' 340. Percy's election is here a little antedated. See p. 496.

355. The statement that Goldsmith had

not, as I have said, 'claimed the interval for any purpose of retouching his work, is strengthened by a communication of Doctor Farr's to Percy. The Doctor, mentioning some instances of haste or carelessness in the Vicar, was told by Goldsmith that itwas not from want of time they had not been corrected, but for another reason. £60 for the copy; and had I made it ever so perfect or correct, I should not have had a shilling more.' 370, 371. The occasional verses'attributed by Goldsmith to Nugent in

'I got

'Clarinda, dearly lov'd attend

The counsels of a faithful friend;' and this had become confounded in Goldsmith's recollection with Lyttelton's Advice to a Lady,' beginning

'The counsels of a friend, Belinda, hear.' 376. For 'author's night,' read' author's nights.'

385. For General,' read' Colonel.' Lee's commission of General' was given him by Washington.

389. For Macaulay,' read Macauley.' 396. For Thomas,' read' Joseph' Warton.

409. For this letter, found among the papers of Mr. Morris, I am indebted to the kindness of my friend Mr. Raymond.

463. For Bishop's

'Bishop's son.'

brother,'

read

480. For bak,' read back." 505. Cadell became subsequently the owner of a part of this copyright, as the assignee of Davies; but the fact does not vitiate the statement in the text.

581. For semicolon after 'pantomimes' substitute comma.

693. Mr. Croker, in his greatly enriched edition of Boswell's Johnson, very recently published in a single volume (which, as it now stands, and in spite of some few annotations I could wish to see removed, is one of the best edited books in the language), has given a translation of the Epitaph on Goldsmith's Monument so nearly literal, and at the same time so faithful to the spirit and manner of the original, that I prefer quoting it to making an inferior attempt. Mr. Croker justly expresses himself at a loss to discover how an English inscription should disgrace an English church, or a writer whose fame is exclusively English; and seems disposed,

OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH..

A Poet, Naturalist, and Historian, who left scarcely any style of writing untouched,

and touched nothing that he did not adorn:

Of all the passions, whether smiles were to be moved or tears,

a powerful yet gentle master: In genius, sublime, vivid, versatile, in style, elevated, clear, elegant.. The love of Companions, the fidelity of Friends, and the veneration of Readers, have by this monument honoured The Memory.

He was born in Ireland,
At a place called Pallas,

(in the parish) of Forney, (and county) of Longford,

On the 29th Nov. 1731, Educated at the (University of Dublin, And died in London, 4th April, 1774.

I may here subjoin, with a translation from the same hand which is infinitely better than that wherewith Mr. Seward favoured the world in his Anecdotes, and is indeed both spirited and faithful, the Greek tetrastich which Johnson (p. 692) sent to Langton.

Τὸν τάφον εἰσοράας τὸν Ολιβάρειο Zevizy

*Αφροσι μὴ σεμνὴν, Ξεῖνι, πόδεσσι

πάτει.

Οἷσι μέμηλε φύσις, μέτρων χάρις, ἔργα παλαιῶν, Κλαίετε ποιητὴν, ἱστορικὸν, φυσικόν.

Here GOLDSMITH lies. O ye, who deeds of Eld

Or Nature's works, or sacred
Song regard;

With reverence tread.. for be in all excelled:

Historian and Philosopher and
Bard.

THE END.

LONDON: