his talents to literature. He conducted for a time the "Annual Register," one of the most useful publications ever attempted; and ere his vast abilities were turned to practical politics, published "A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful," an example, Dr. Johnson said, of true criticism. Goldsmith reviewed this admirable essay in the "Monthly Review;" and those who presume to sneer at the reasoning powers of the poet, would do well to read that review, to be found in Cunningham's edition of his works, by Murray. The precision of thought which it displays, the clearness of style, and the knowledge of the subject, prove how carefully Goldsmith studied a question of nicety or difficulty before he began to write upon it, and how capable he was of so doing. Burke was gratified by the discriminating notice taken of his Essay, and was prepared to like Goldsmith; they met, and their friendship was cemented by mutual admiration and esteem. Alas for our fallible nature! Why did not our sweetest poet profit more in his conduct through life, by contact with one of the wisest and greatest men Ireland has produced? There was at the same time struggling in London, another Irishman of genius, Barry, the painter, an irregular but gifted man, whom Burke laboured to assist, and to direct. The letters on his own art, addressed to Barry and given by Prior in his Life of Burke, are masterpieces of criticism on the art of painting, and prove how universal was the genius of the writer. Barry did some considerable things; but although Burke could give him the best advice, and extend towards him a helping hand, he could not teach him prudence or judicious conduct, and so Barry lived a reckless and unhappy life. Like Goldsmith he never acquired fortune; unlike him he did not gain imperishable fame.

Burke was then preparing for his grand political career.

Literature, science, history, art, classical knowledge, public economy, habits of study, and of composition, and of deep discourse, all furnished their rich contributions to the formation of his character as a statesman. What that subsequent career was, it is for the historian of high politics to trace; none but a great statesman can do adequate justice to his merits. This illustrious statesman delighted in the society of literary men, he was one himself; nowhere was he more happy than when seated at the modest supper between Goldsmith and Johnson, where politics were the only forbidden subject. What a triumvirate!

When it is said Johnson was the best talker of his time, it should be added, except Burke; I do not believe Johnson was second to any man in conversational conflict, except to our great countryman. If Burke could have submitted to the persecutions of a Boswell, or if another Boswell could have been found in the world, we might have had ten volumes of Burke's talk of superior quality.

It is a significant fact, that Boswell ever names Burke with profound respect, and thus we are prepared for the admiration of Johnson; the only quality the great talker would not allow to our countryman was wit; and in this he is contradicted by Boswell and by Croker. The opinion of Johnson was thus expressed. "Yes, Burke is an extraordinary man -his stream of mind is perpetual." When the latter was elected a member of the House of Commons, Dr. Johnson said to Sir Joshua Reynolds, "Now we who know Mr. Burke, know that he will be one of the first men in this country." Once, when Johnson was ill, and unable to exert his faculties as much as usual without fatigue, Mr. Burke having been mentioned, he said, "that fellow calls forth all my powers; were I to see Burke now it would kill me." No higher testimony could be borne to his conversational abilities.

Goldsmith's critical judgment was, that Burke was superior to Johnson in conversation because "he so wormed himself into his subject." Only that he volunteered to deny it, Johnson would have concluded Burke to be the author of Junius, because he thought him the only man in the literary world capable of writing the celebrated Letters. On his death-bed, Dr. Johnson said affectionately to his friend, "I must be in a wretched state, indeed, when your company would not be a delight to me ;" all the statesmen of the age formed the same high estimate of Burke, yet the highest office ever bestowed on him by the party he served was that of Paymaster of the Forces.

These accomplished scholars met weekly in the Club, the Turk's Head, Gerard-street, Soho, to enjoy the highest intellectual treat-vigorous, sustained, and brilliant conversation. They decided the fate of books and the fame of authors here Goldy chuckled, Gibbon doubted, Reynolds listened, while Burke and Johnson waged their intellectual strife.

My friend, Sir Bulwer Lytton, in his noble poem of St. Stephen's, introduces thus these master-spirits of the age:

"Breathe calmer air, but whither shall we turn?

To club or tavern as the whim prevails

Nay, see Sir Joshua; come with him to Thrale's,

There mark yon man, large browed, with thoughtful frown,

Arguing with Johnson-Well, Sir, argued down?

No, Boswell's glorious savage butted full,

Yet our vast boa foils his mighty bull;

Now glides away in glittering volumes rolled,

Now coils around in unrelenting fold.

Which shall prevail? the boldest wight would fear

Now to adjudge, as then to interfere.

'Twixt Burke and Johnson Jove himself is mute,

Lest Earth should rise to share in the dispute.

May we untrembling in the Elysian shore,

Hear them yet arguing better than before;

And as they glide down some ambrosial walk,
May babbling phantoms Boswellise their talk."

And thus happily he describes Goldsmith :—

"What gaudy clown invites, yet shrinks, from note,
Like Marlow blushing in Sir Fopling's coat?
Boswell stalks by him with contemptuous strut,
Garrick smiles joyful to behold a butt;
Reynolds, half doubtful if worth while to hear,
Fidgets his trumpet as he bends his ear;
But freed from Burke, and willing to unbend,
There rolls great Johnson, and salutes a friend;
From teasing wit, and (worse) the blockhead's jest,
Shields the shy victim with his burly breast.
So huge Alcides on his club reclined,
And tired of fighting monsters for mankind:
Smoothes awful brows, from solemn toil beguil'd,
And rocks in fostering arms a dreaming child;
Child, thou, sweet bard of Auburn, child! what then?
A child inspired, and worth a world of men.

Scorn if ye will that wish the eye to gain,
Childhood too loving ever yet was vain.
Disdain that gall-less, yet resentful sigh,
When the world pass'd its gentlest minstrel by.
If that was envy, envy ne'er before

So much the look of wronged affection wore ;
And ne'er did bee such golden honey bring
To ruder hands, yet, writhing, leave no sting.
Thus he bids farewell to the Club:-

"Immortal conclave, learning, genius, wit,

And all by stars that moved in concord lit-
Who could believe ye lived and wrote, and thought
For that same age the schools of Diderot taught?
That Gospel truths spoke loud from Johnson's chair,
While the world's altars reel'd beneath Voltaire ?
That Rousseau polish'd for the maids of Gaul
The virtuous page design'd to vitiate all,
While GOLDSMITH's Vicar tells his harmless tale,
Smiles at the hearthstone, and converts the jail."

CHAPTER III.

THE Vicar of Wakefield introduced by the verses of Sir Bulwer LyttonRousseau and Voltaire in contrast with Johnson and GoldsmithCharacter value and excellence of the book-Critical opinions thereon. Macaulay's rejected-Schlegel's preferred, "The gem of European works of fiction is the Vicar of Wakefield"-Historical abridgments— An amusing Dialogue between Boswell and his master on the superior merits of Goldsmith as an Historian-"The Animated Nature as entertaining as a Persian tale."

WE are, by the lines I have read, suddenly introduced to the Vicar of Wakefield, but how? In a manner more suggestive of deep thought, than any of the various biographers of Goldsmith have imagined. Sir Bulwer Lytton raises our thoughts from the beauty and pathos of the author, to a con templation of the conflict then raging in Europe between the powers of light and darkness, and to the effect of the moral of the Vicar of Wakefield upon the awful struggle. The infidels of France falsely called philosophers, backed by English sceptics, were, by all the arts of ridicule, sophistry, and wit, striving to unsettle the belief in Christianity and the practice of moral virtue amongst men. Earthly thrones reeled when the Throne of Heaven was attacked. The poet and statesman puts in brief but pointed contrast the efforts of the French infidels to overthrow Christianity-the efforts of the highest moralist, and of our own Goldsmith, to uphold and endear it to the human heart. If Goldsmith, “by his Vicar of Wakefield, has contributed to repair the mischief