MEMOIRS

OF

OLIVER GOLDSMITH, M.B.

BY DR. AIKIN.

Ir cannot be said of this ornament of British literature, as has been observed of most authors, that the memoirs of his life comprise little more than a history of his writings. Goldsmith's life was full of adventure; and a due consideration of his conduct, from the outset to his death, will furnish many useful lessons to those who live after him.

Our Author, the third son of Mr. Charles Goldsmith, was born at Elphin, in the county of Roscommon, Ireland, on the 29th of November, 1728. His father, who had been educated at Dublin College, was a clergyman of the established church, and had married Anne, daughter of the Rev. Oliver Jones, master of the diocesan school of Elphin. Her mother's brother, the Rev. Mr. Green, then rector of Kilkenny West, lent the young couple the house in which our author was born; and at his death Mr. Green was succeeded in his benefice by his clerical protégée.

Mr. Charles Goldsmith had five sons and two daughters. Henry, the eldest son (to whom the poem of The Traveller' is dedicated), distinguished himself greatly both at school

and at college; but his marriage at nineteen years of age appears to have been a bar to his preferment in the church; and we believe that he never ascended above a curacy.

The liberal education which the father bestowed upon Henry had deducted so much from a narrow income that, when Oliver was born, after an interval of seven years from the birth of the former child, no prospect in life appeared for him, but a mechanical or mercantile occupation.

The rudiments of instruction he acquired from a schoolmaster in the village, who had served in Queen Anne's wars as a quarter-master in that detachment of the army which was sent to Spain. Being of a communicative turn, and finding a ready hearer in young Oliver, this man used frequently to entertain him with what he called his adventures; nor is it without probability supposed, that these laid the foundation of that wandering disposition which became afterwards so conspicuous in his pupil.

At a very early age Oliver began to exhibit indications of genius; for, when only seven or eight years old, he would often amuse his father and mother with poetical attempts, which attracted much notice from them and their friends; but his infant mind does not appear to haye been much elated by their approbation; for after his verses had been admired, they were, without regret, committed by him to the flames.

He was now taken from the tuition of the quondam soldier, to be put under that of the Rev. Mr. Griffin, schoolmaster of Elphin; and was at the same time received into the house of his father's brother, John Goldsmith, Esq., of Ballyoughter, near that town.

Our author's eldest sister, Catharine, (afterwards married