The warm friendship which had subsisted for Soon after the publication of "The Deserted years between the painter and the poet, warranted Village," Goldsmith found leisure to accompany a this dedication; while the fine qualities which dis-party of ladies on an excursion to Paris. The tinguished that eminent artist, richly merited the only memorial which has been preserved of this elegant compliment thus paid him by Goldsmith. journey, is the following fragment of a letter ad"Reynolds," says Mr. Cumberland, "was a per- dressed to his friend Sir Joshua. fect gentleman; had good sense, great propriety, "MY DEAR FRIEND,-We had a very quick paswith all the social attributes, and all the graces of sage from Dover to Calais, which we performed in hospitality, equal to any man. He well knew how three hours and twenty minutes, all of us extremeto appreciate men of talents, and how near akin ly sea-sick, which must necessarily have happened, the muse of poetry was to that art of which he was as my machine to prevent sea-sickness was not so eminent a master. From Goldsmith he caught completed. We were glad to leave Dover, bethe subject of his famous Ugolino; what aids he cause we hated to be imposed upon; so were in got from others, if he got any, were worthily be- high spirits at coming to Calais, where we were stowed and happily applied. Great as an artist, told that a little money would go a great way. Upon Sir Joshua was equally distinguished as a man; landing two little trunks, which was all we carried and as few have better deserved, so few have had with us, we were surprised to see fourteen or fifa more ample share of prosperity dealt out to them. teen fellows, all running down to the ship to lay He sunned himself, as it were, in an unclouded their hands upon them; four got under each trunk, sky, and his Muse, that gave him a palette dressed the rest surrounded, and held the hasps; and in by all the Graces, brought him also a cornucopia, this manner our little baggage was conducted with rich and full as Flora, Ceres, and Bacchus could a kind of funeral solemnity, till it was safely lodgconspire to make it. When he was lost to the ed at the custom-house. We were well enough world," continues Mr. Cumberland, "his death pleased with the people's civility, till they came to was the dispersion of a bright and luminous circle be paid. Every creature that had the happiness of ingenious friends, whom the elegance of his of but touching our trunks with their finger, exmanners, the equability of his temper, and the at-pected sixpence; and they had so pretty a civil traction of his talents, had caused to assemble manner of demanding it, that there was no refusround him as the centre of their society. In all the ing them. When we had done with the porters, we most engaging graces of his art, in disposition, at- had next to speak with the custom-house officers, titude, employment, character of his figures, and who had their pretty civil way too. We were diabove all, in giving mind and meaning to his por-rected to the Hotel d'Angleterre, where a valet de traits, if I were to say Sir Joshua never was ex-place came to offer his services; and spoke to me celled, I am inclined to believe so many better ten minutes before I once found out that he was opinions would be with me, that I should not be found to have said too much."

"The controversy concerning the identity of this Auburn was formerly a standing theme of discussion among the learn ed of the neighbourhood, but since the pros and cons have been all ascertained, the argument has died away. Its abet tors plead the singular agreement between the local history of the place and the Auburn of the poem, and the exactness with

which the scenery of the one answers to the description of the other. To this is opposed the mention of the nightingale,

And fill'd each pause the nightingale had made ;--

speaking English. We had no occasion for his services, so we gave him a little money because he spoke English, and because he wanted it. I can not help mentioning another circumstance; I bought a new ribbon for my wig at Canterbury, and the barber at Calais broke it, in order to gain sixpence by buying me a new one."

About this period, the Royal Academy of painting was established, and Sir Joshua seized the opportunity it afforded him of testifying his regard and partiality for Goldsmith, by procuring for him the appointment of Professor of Ancient History. there being no such bird in the island. The objection is slight- Though unattended with either emolument or ed, on the other hand, by considering the passage as a mere trouble, it conferred some respectability, and entitled poetical license: 'Besides,' say they, 'the robin is the Irish him to a seat at the occasional meetings of the acanightingale.' And if it be hinted, how unlikely it was that Goldsmith should have laid the scene in a place from which demicians, as well as at their annual dinner. He he was and had been so long absent, the rejoinder is always, himself properly considered it a more complimenta'Pray, sir, was Milton in hell when he built Pandemonium?ry distinction, and from a passage in the following "The line is naturally drawn between;-there can be no letter to his brother Maurice, it is evident he would doubt that the poet intended England by

have prized his new office much more highly had it been coupled with that unpoetical accompaniment, a salary. Maurice was the poet's youngest brother. Not having been bred to any business, he, upon some occasion, complained to Oliver, that he found it difficult to live like a gentlemen. On

which the poet begged he would without delay rive, I hope one day to return, and increase their quit so unprofitable a pursuit, and betake him- good-humour by adding to my own. I have sent self to a trade. Maurice wisely took the hint, and my cousin Jenny a miniature picture of myself, as 1 bound himself apprentice to a cabinet-maker. He believe it is the most acceptable present I can offer. had a shop in Dublin when the Duke of Rutland I have ordered it to be left for her at George Faulkwas Lord Lieutenant; and his grace, at the in- ner's, folded in a letter. The face, you well know, stance of Mr. Orde (afterwards Lord Bolton,) is ugly enough, but it is finely painted. I will shortmade him an inspector of the licenses in that city, ly also send my friends over the Shannon some out of regard for his brother's memory. He was mezzotinto prints of myself, and some more of my also appointed mace-bearer on the erection of the friends here, such as Burke, Johnson, Reynolds, Royal Irish Academy; both of them places very and Colman. I believe I have written a hundred compatible with his business. In the former, he letters to different friends in your country, and gave proofs of his integrity, by detecting several never received an answer from any of them. I do frauds in the revenue in his department, by which not know how to account for this, or why they are he himself might have profited, if he had not been unwilling to keep up for me those regards which I a man of principle. He died without issue. must ever retain for them. If then you have a mind The letter is dated January, 1770. to oblige me, you will write often, whether I an"DEAR BROTHER,-I should have answered swer you or not. Let me particularly have the news your letter sooner, but in truth I am not fond of of our family and old acquaintances. For instance, thinking of the necessities of those I love, when it you may begin by telling me about the family is so very little in my power to help them. I am where you reside, how they spend their time, and sorry to find you are still every way unprovided whether they ever make mention of me. Tell me for; and what adds to my uneasiness is, that I have about my mother, my brother Hodson, and his son, received a letter from my sister Johnson,* by which my brother Harry's son and daughter, my sister I learn that she is pretty much in the same circum-Johnson, the family of Ballyoughter, what is bestances. As to myself, I believe I could get both come of them, where they live, and how they do. you and my poor brother-in-law something like You talked of being my only brother; I don't unthat which you desire, but I am determined never derstand you: Where is Charles? A sheet of pato ask for little things, nor exhaust any little inter-per occasionally filled with news of this kind would est I may have, until I can serve you, him, and make me very happy, and would keep you nearer myself more effectually. As yet, no opportunity my mind. As it is, my dear brother, believe me to has offered, but I believe you are pretty well con- be yours most affectionately."* vinced that I will not be remiss when it arrives. The lives of Lord Bolingbroke and Dr. Parnell, The king has lately been pleased to make me Pro- undertaken for the booksellers, were the next professor of Ancient History in a Royal Academy of ductions that came from his pen. They were prePainting, which he has just established, but there fixed to the respective works of these writers, pubis no salary annexed; and I took it rather as a com-lished about 1770 or 1771. Both performances are pliment to the institution, than any benefit to my-executed with his wonted taste and felicity of exfelf. Honours to one in my situation are something pression; and, in his memoir of Parnell, the poverlike ruffles to a man that wants a shirt. You tell ty of incident peculiar to the life of a scholar is inme that there are fourteen or fifteen pounds left me geniously supplied by the author's own reflections. in the hands of my cousin Lawder, and you ask When Dr. Johnson afterwards undertook to write me what I would have done with them. My dear the "Lives of the Poets," he concluded the series brother, I would by no means give any directions to with that of Parnell, and seized the opportunity it my dear worthy relations at Kilmore how to dis- afforded him of paying an elegant compliment to pose of money, which is, properly speaking, more the memory of his deceased friend. "The life of theirs than mine. All that I can say, is, that I en- Dr. Parnell," said he, "is a task which I should tirely, and this letter will serve to witness, give up very willingly decline, since it has lately been writany right and title to it; and I am sure they will ten by Goldsmith; a man of such variety of powers, dispose of it to the best advantage. To them I en- and such felicity of performance, that he always tirely leave it, whether they or you may think the seemed to do best that which he was doing; a man whole necessary to fit you out, or whether our poor who had the art of being minute without tedioussister Johnson may not want the half, I leave en-ness, and general without confusion; whose lantirely to their and your discretion. The kindness guage was copious without exuberance, exact withof that good couple to our poor shattered family, out constraint, and easy without weakness. demands our sincerest gratitude: and though they have almost forgot me, yet, if good things at last ar

To the original of this letter there is annexed a receipt, which shows the sum of 151. was paid to Maurice Goldsmith, for a legacy bequeathed to Oliver Goldsmith by the late Rev. • His youngest sister, who had made an unfortunate marriage. Thomas Contarine, dated 4th February, 1770.

"What such an author told, who would tell it you, and staying double the time of our late intendagain? I have made an abstract from his larger nar-ed visit. We often meet, and never without reration; and have this gratification from my attempt, membering you. I see Mr. Beauclerk very often, that it gives me an opportunity of paying due tri- both in town and country. He is now going dibute to the memory of Goldsmith." rectly forward to become a second Boyle: deep in Amongst his various undertakings for the book-chemistry and physics. Johnson has been down sellers at this period, there was one, however, in upon a visit to a country parson, Dr. Taylor, and which Goldsmith was peculiarly unfortunate. He is returned to his old haunts at Mrs Thrale's. had been employed by Griffin to make a selection Burke is a farmer, en attendant a better place; but of elegant poems from the best English classics, for visiting about too. Every soul is visiting about, the use of boarding-schools, and to prefix to it one and merry, but myself: and that is hard, too, as 1 of his captivating prefaces. In noting the selections have been trying these three months to do somefor the printer, Goldsmith unluckily marked off one thing to make people laugh. There have I been of the most indecent tales in Prior,-a circumstance strolling about the hedges, studying jests, with a The Natural Histothat effectually ruined the reputation and the sale most tragical countenance. of the work at the same time. It has been said, ry' is about half finished, and I will shortly finish that the error in this instance must have arisen the rest. God knows I am tired of this kind of from inadvertency or carelessness; but the inadver- finishing, which is but bungling work; and that tency must have been excessive, as the tale is actually introduced with a criticism.

not so much my fault as the fault of my scurvy circumstances. They begin to talk in town of Goldsmith, when conversing on the subject of his the Opposition's gaining ground; the cry of liberty labours at this time as a compiler, used to refer to is still as loud as ever. I have published, or Davies the "Selection of English Poetry," as a striking has published for me, 'An Abridgment of the Hisinstance of the facility with which such work might tory of England,' for which I have been a good sometimes be performed. He remarked "that of deal abused in the newspapers for betraying the all his compilations, this showed most the art of the liberties of the people. God knows I had no thought profession." To furnish copy for it required no in- for or against liberty in my head; my whole aim vention, and but little thought: he had only to being to make up a book of a decent size, that, as mark with a pencil the particular passages for the Squire Richard says, 'would do no harm to noboprinter, so that he easily acquired two hundred dy. However, they set me down as an arrant pounds; "but then," said he, "lest the premium Tory, and consequently an honest man. will say that should be deemed more than a compensation for the you come to look at any part of it, you labour, a man shows his judgment in these selec- I am a sour Whig. God bless you; and, with my tions, and he may be often twenty years of his life cultivating that judgment."

In 1771, Goldsmith was invited by Mr. Bennet Langton and his lady, the Countess of Rothes, to spend some part of the autumn with them at their seat in Lincolnshire. Sir Joshua Reynolds, it would seem, had promised to accompany him on this visit; but, from the following letter to Mr. Langton, neither he nor Sir Joshua were able at that time to avail themselves of the invitation. The letter is dated Temple, Brick-court, September 7,

1771.

When

most respectful compliments to her ladyship, I remain, dear sir, your most affectionate humble servant."

Goldsmith's residence at the farmer's house mentioned in this letter, appears to have been continued for a considerable time. It was situated near to the six-mile stone on the Edgeware-road; and Mr. Boswell mentions that he and Mr. Mickle, translator of "The Lusiad," paid him a visit there, in April, 1772. Unfortunately they did not find him at home; but having some curiosity to see his apartment, they went in, and found curious scraps of

"MY DEAR SIR,-Since I had the pleasure of descriptions of animals scrawled upon the wall, seeing you last, I have been almost wholly in the with a black lead pencil. He had carried down his country at a farmer's house quite alone, trying to books thither, that he might pursue his labours write a comedy. It is now finished, but when, or with less interruption. According to the testimohow it will be acted, or whether it will be acted at ny of a literary friend, who had close intercourse all, are questions I can not resolve. I am therefore with him for the last ten years of his life, the folso much employed upon that, that I am under the lowing was his mode of study and living, while in necessity of putting off my intended visit to Lin- the country. He first read in a morning from the colnshire for this season.-Reynolds is just return-original works requisite for the compilation he had ed from Paris, and finds himself now in the case of in hand, as much as he designed for one letter or a truant, that must make up for his idle time by chapter marking down the passages referred to on diligence. We have therefore agreed to postpone a sheet of paper, with remarks. He then rode or our journey till next summer, when we hope to have the honour of waiting upon Lady Rothes and

walked out with a friend or two, returned to dinner, spent the day generally convivially, without much

drinking, to which he was never addicted; and besides a critic of acknowledged taste and acumen. when he retired to his bed-chamber, took up his His reluctance to accept of our author's play, books and papers with him, where he generally therefore, and his decided condemnation of it at its wrote the chapter, or the best part of it, before he last rehearsal, was almost considered decisive of its went to rest. This latter exercise, he said, cost fate. Goldsmith, however, did not despair of it him very little trouble; for having all his materi- himself; and the opinion of Dr. Johnson, without als duly prepared, he wrote it with as much ease as being sanguine, leaned to the favourable side. In a common letter. The mode of life and study thus a letter to Mr. Boswell he says, "Dr. Goldsmith described, Goldsmith, however, only pursued by has a new comedy, which is expected in the spring. fits. He loved the gaieties, amusements, and so- No name is yet given to it. The chief diversion ciety of London; and amongst these he would oc- arises from a stratagem, by which a lover is made casionally lose himself for months together. To to mistake his future father-in-law's house for an make up for his lost time he would again retire to inn. This, you see, borders upon farce. The di the farm-house, and there devote himself to his la- alogue is quick and gay, and the incidents are so bours with such intense application, that, for weeks prepared as not to seem improbable." And aftersuccessively, he would remain in his apartments wards, when Colman had actually consented to without taking exercise. This desultory system is bring it out, Johnson wrote thus to the Rev. Mr. supposed to have injured his health, and to have White: "Dr. Goldsmith has a new comedy in rebrought on those fits of the strangury to which he hearsal at Covent Garden, to which the manager was subject in the latter part of his life. He used predicts ill success. I hope he will be mistaken: to say, that "he believed the farmer's family with I think it deserves a very kind reception." Others whom he lodged thought him an odd character, simi- of Goldsmith's friends also entertained favourable lar to that in which the Spectator appeared to his opinions of the piece; and a few of them even prolandlady and her children: he was The Gentleman." phetically anticipated a triumph over the judgment About this period he was concerned in a work of the manager. Perhaps, however, the strong and called "The Gentleman's Journal," published once decided interest taken by these friends in the fate a fortnight. It was conducted under the joint ma- of the play was one great cause of its success. A nagement of Kenrick, Bickerstaff, and others; but large party of them, with Johnson at their head, was soon discontinued. When a friend was talk-attended to witness the representation, and a scheme ing to our author one day on the subject of this to lead the plaudits of the house, which had been work, he concluded his remarks by observing, preconcerted with much address, was carried into what an extraordinary sudden death it had. "Not execution with triumphant effect. This contriat all, sir," said Goldsmith; "a very common case; vance, and the circumstances which led to it are it died of too many doctors." detailed by Mr. Cumberland in his Memoirs. "It His next performance was his second attempt was now," says Mr. Cumberland, "that I first met as a dramatist. Not discouraged by the cold re-him at the British Coffee-house. He dined with ception which his first play had met with, he re-us as a visiter, introduced, as I think, by Sir Joshua solved to try his fate with a second, and, maugre a Reynolds, and we held a consultation upon the host of adverse critics, succeeded. In his letter to naming of his comedy, which some of the companyMr. Langton he mentions, that he had been occu- had read, and which he detailed to the rest after pied in writing a comedy, "trying these three his manner with a great deal of good humour. months to do something to make the people laugh," Somebody suggested—She Stoops to Conquer; and and "strolling about the hedges, studying jests, that title was agreed upon. When I perceived an with a most tragical countenance." This was the embarrassment in his manner towards me, which drama which he afterwards christened "She Stoops I could readily account for, I lost no time to put to Conquer; or, The Mistakes of a Night." Al-him at his ease; and I flatter myself I was successthough then just finished, its publication was de- ful. As my heart was ever warm towards my conlayed till it should be acted at one of the theatres; temporaries, I did not counterfeit, but really felt a and from the various obstacles and delays which cordial interest in his behalf; and I had soon the are there thrown in an author's way, it was not pleasure to perceive, that he credited me for my produced till March, 1773. Much difference of sincerity.-'You and I,' said he, 'have very differopinion existed as to the probability of its success. ent motives for resorting to the stage. I write for The majority of critics to whom it had been sub-money, and care little about fame."—I was touched mitted were apprehensive of a total failure; and it by this melancholy confession, and from that mowas not till after great solicitation, that Mr. Col- ment busied myself assiduously amongst all my man, the manager of Covent Garden theatre, con- connexions in his cause. The whole company sented to put it in rehearsal. That gentleman had pledged themselves to the support of the ingenukimself given incontestable proofs of dramatic ge-ous poet, and faithfully kept their promise to him. nius, in the production of various pieces, and was In fact, he needed all that could be done for him,

as Mr. Colman, then manager of Covent Garden grossed by his person and performances, that the theatre, protested against the comedy, when as yet progress of the play seemed likely to become a se he had not struck upon a name for it. Johnson condary object, and I found it prudent to insinuate at length stood forth in all his terrors as champion to him that he might halt his music without any for the piece, and backed by us, his clients and re- prejudice to the author; but, alas! it was now too tainers, demanded a fair trial. Colman again pro-late to rein him in: he had laughed upon my sigtested; but, with that salvo for his own reputation, |nal where he found no joke, and now unluckily he liberally lent his stage to one of the most eccentric fancied that he found a joke in almost every thing productions that ever found its way to it; and that was said; so that nothing in nature could be 'She Stoops to Conquer' was put into rehearsal.

more mal-a-propos than some of his bursts every now and then were. These were dangerous moments, for the pit began to take umbrage; but we carried our point through, and triumphed not only over Colman's judgment but our own."

"We were not over sanguine of success, but perfectly determined to struggle hard for our author: we accordingly assembled our strength at the Shakspeare Tavern in a considerable body for an early dinner, where Samuel Johnson took the The victory thus achieved was a source of infichair at the head of a long table, and was the life nite exultation to Goldsmith, not more from the and soul of the corps: the poet took post silently pride of success, than from the mortification he by his side, with the Burkes, Sir Joshua Reynolds, imagined it caused to the manager, at whom he Fitzherbert, Caleb Whitefoord, and a phalanx of was not a little piqued in consequence of the folNorth British predetermined applauders, under lowing circumstance. the banner of Major Mills, all good men and true. On the first night of performance he did not Our illustrious president was in inimitable glee: come to the house till towards the close of the reand poor Goldsmith that day took all his raillery presentation, having rambled into St. James's as patiently and complacently as my friend Bos- Park to ruminate on the probable fate of his piece; well would have done any day, or every day of his and such was his anxiety and apprehension, that life. In the mean time we did not forget our du- he was with much difficulty prevailed on to repair ty; and though we had a better comedy going, in to the theatre, on the suggestion of a friend, who which Johnson was chief actor, we betook our-pointed out the necessity of his presence, in order selves in good time to our separate and allotted to mark any objectionable passages, for the purpose posts, and waited the awful drawing up of the cur- of omission or alteration in the repetition of the tain. As our stations were preconcerted, so were performance. With expectation suspended be our signals for plaudits arranged and determined tween hope and fear, he had scarcely entered the upon in a manner that gave every one his cue passage that leads to the stage, when his ears were where to look for them, and how to follow them up. shocked with a hiss, which came from the audience "We had amongst us a very worthy and efficient as a token of their disapprobation of the farcical member, long since lost to his friends and the supposition of Mrs. Hardcastle being so deluded world at large, Adam Drummond, of amiable me as to suppose herself at a distance of fifty miles mory, who was gifted by nature with the most so- from home while she was actually not distant fifty norous, and at the same time the most contagious, yards. Such was our poor author's tremor and laugh that ever echoed from the human lungs. agitation on this unwelcome salute, that running The neighing of the horse of the son of Hystaspes up to the manager, he exclaimed, "What's that? was a whisper to it; the whole thunder of the thea- what's that?"-"Pshaw, doctor!" replied Colman, tre could not drown it. This kind and ingenu- in a sarcastic tone, "don't be terrified at squibs, ous friend fairly forewarned us, that he knew no more when to give his fire than the cannon did that was planted on a battery. He desired, therefore, to have a flapper at his elbow, and I had the honour to be deputed to that office. I planted him in an upper box, pretty nearly over the stage, in The play of "She Stoops to Conquer" is foundfull view of the pit and galleries, and perfectly welled upon the incident already related, which befel situated to give the echo all its play through the the author in his younger days, when he mistook hollows and recesses of the theatre. The success a gentleman's house for an inn. Although, from of our manœuvres was complete. All eyes were the extravagance of the plot, and drollery of the upon Johnson, who sat in a front row of a side incidents, we must admit that the piece is very box; and when he laughed, every body thought nearly allied to farce, yet the dialogue is carried on themselves warranted to roar. In the mean time in such pure and elegant language, and the strokes my friend followed signals with a rattle so irresisti- of wit and humour are so easy and natural, that oly comic, that, when he had repeated it several few productions of the drama afford more pleasure times, the attention of the spectators was so en- in the representation. It still keeps possession o

when we have been sitting these two hours upon a barrel of gunpowder." The pride of Goldsmith was so mortified by this remark, that the friendship which had before subsisted between him and the manager was from that moment dissolved.