ADVERTISEMENT. IN collecting and republishing these scattered productions of a writer, who has deserved by the simple and enchanting graces of his style (both in prose and rhyme) to be esteemed as a Classic in our language, the Editor conceives that he cannot more properly recommend them to the notice of the Public, than by transcribing the brief but comprehensive Eulogy, which Dr. Johnson has bestowed on Goldsmith. "He was a man of such variety of powers, and such felicity of performance, that he always seemed to do best that which he was doing; a man who had the art of being minute without tediousness, and general without confusion, whose language was copious without exuberance, exact without constraint, and easy without weakness." The account of his life is composed from the information of persons, who were intimate with the Poet at an early period, and who were honoured with a continuance of his friendship till the time, when the deprived of this fascinating writer. a 2 world was Their names, were the Editor at liberty to mention them, would immediately dispel all doubts as to the authenticity of the Memoirs, and reflect distinguished credit on the publication. In addition to the acknowledged performances of our Author, the Editor has introduced into these volumes several Essays, which appeared in the periodical works of the day, and which he has ascertained to have proceeded from the pen of Dr. Goldsmith. The family endeavours to cope with their betters. The 1 |