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ADVERTISEMENT, NOTES, AND CORRECTIONS.

OCCASIONAL kindness and service rendered to this biography have been referred to in the course of it. The diligent labour, enthusiasm, and ability displayed by Mr. Prior, in his edition and elaborate memoir published twelve years ago, laid every subsequent writer under weighty obligations to him. The author has to add, with grateful acknowledgment, that three of the designs in this volume are friendly contributions to it from Mr. Stanfield and Mr. Maclise; that for three others he has to thank the ready kindness of Mr. Leech and Mr. Richard Doyle; that the rest of the designs have been supplied by Mr. R. J. Hamerton; and that for the engraved head on the title-page he is indebted to the courtesy of Mr. Longman. It appeared in that edition of the Poetical Works which had the benefit of Mr. Bolton Corney's care and judgment in its preparation; and which, apart from the grace and beauty of the illustrations contributed to it by the Etching Club, is by far the most correct and careful of the existing editions of Goldsmith's Poetry.

58, LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS, March, 1848.

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1. Pallas is often written Pallice, or Pallis, and seems to have been so written by Goldsmith's father.

5. Strean was a physician who had taken orders. He died eleven years ago, at nearly ninety years of age. He then held the perpetual cure of St. Peter's, in Athlone; but had formerly succeeded Henry Goldsmith in the curacy the latter occupied at the period of his death (probably that of Kilkenny West). His relative by marriage, the Rev. Edward Mangin, to whose intelligent enquiries we owe much of our knowledge of the poet's youth, still lives in Bath.

7. The Biographical Preface, for which the materials had been collected by Percy, Malone, and other friends, was drawn up in the first instance by Percy's friend, Doctor Campbell; it then received ample correction from Percy, whose remarks and interlineations were engrafted into

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the text; but on its being handed to the publishers of the Miscellaneous Works, a disagreement sprang up with Mr. Rose (Cowper's friend), employed as their editor, and Percy ultimately declined to sanction the publication. His correspondence with Malone shows ample traces of this quarrel, and of his dissatisfaction with Mr. Rose, whom he accuses of impertinently tampering with the memoir. I never,' writes Malone to Percy, in corroboration of his complaints, observed any of those grimaces or fooleries that the interpolator talks of.' It should be added that many of the materials for a life which Percy had obtained from Goldsmith himself, were lost by being intrusted to Johnson, when the latter proposed to be his friend's biographer. But the failure of Johnson's design arose less from his own dilatoriness than from a dif

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ficulty started by Francis Newbery's surviving partner (Carnan), who held the copyright of She Stoops to Conquer, and who refused to join the other possessors of Goldsmith's writings in the Edition and Memoir' which Johnson had undertaken.

18. For Bernard,' read ‘Barnard.' 34. For fifteen,' read 'seventeen.' 37. I subjoin the letter referred to in the text. It is dated Edinburgh, Sept. 26, 1753; and is addressed to Robert Bryanton at Ballymahon, Ireland. MY DEAR BOB, HOW many good excuses (and you know I was ever good at an excuse) might I call up to vindicate my past shameful silence. I might tell how I wrote a long letter on my first coming hither, and seem vastly angry at my not receiving an answer; I might allege that business (with business you know I was always pestered) had never given me time to finger a pen. But I suppress those, and twenty more as plausible, and as easily invented, since they might be attended with a slight inconvenience of being known to be lies. Let me then speak truth. An hereditary indolence (I have it from the mother's side) has hitherto prevented my writing to you, and still prevents my writing at least twenty-five letters more, due to my friends in Ireland. No turnspit dog gets up into his wheel with more reluctance than I sit down to write; yet no dog ever loved the roast meat he turns better than I do him I now address. Yet what shall I say now I am entered? Shall I tire you with a description of this unfruitful country; where I must lead you over their hills all brown with heath, or their valleys scarcely able to feed a rabbit? Man alone seems to be the only creature who has arrived to the natural size in this poor soil. Every part of the country presents the same dismal landscape. No grove, nor brook, lend their music to cheer the stranger, or make the inhabitants forget their poverty. Yet with all these disadvantages to call him down to humility, a Scotchman is one of the proudest things alive. The poor have pride ever ready to relieve them. If mankind should happen to despise them, they are masters of their own admiration; and that they can plentifully bestow upon themselves. From their pride and poverty, as I take it, results one advantage this

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country enjoys; namely, the gentlemen here are much better bred than among us. No such characters here as our fox-hunters; and they have expressed great surprise when I informed them, that some men in Ireland of one thousand pounds a year, spend their whole lives in running after a hare, drinking to be drunk, and . Truly, if such a being, equipped in his hunting dress, came among a circle of Scotch gentry, they would behold him with the same astonishment that a countryman does King George on horseback. The men here have generally high cheek bones, and are lean and swarthy, fond of action, dancing in particular. Now that I have mentioned dancing, let me say something of their balls, which are very frequent here. When a stranger enters the dancing hall, he sees one end of the room taken up by the ladies, who sit dismally in a group by themselves in the other end stand their pensive partners that are to be but no more intercourse between the sexes than there is between two countries at war. The ladies indeed may ogle, and the gentlemen sigh; but an embargo is laid on any closer commerce. At length, to interrupt hostilities, the lady directress, or intendant, or what you will, pitches upon a lady and gentleman to walk a minuet; which they perform with a formality that approaches to despondence. After five or six couple have thus walked the gauntlet, all stand up to country dances; each gentleman furnished with a partner from the aforesaid lady directress ; so they dance much, say nothing, and thus concludes our assembly. I told a Scotch gentleman that such profound silence resembled the ancient procession of the Roman matrons in honour of Ceres; and the Scotch gentleman told me (and faith, I believe he was right) that I was a very great pedant for my pains. Now I am come to the ladies; and to show that I love Scotland, and everything that belongs to so charming a country, I insist on it, and will give him leave to break my head that denies it, that the Scotch ladies are ten thousand times finer and handsomer than the Irish. To be sure, now, I see your sisters Betty and Peggy vastly surprised at my partiality: but tell them

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or

flatly, I don't value them, or their fine skins, or eyes, or good sense, 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.

He

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. I 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

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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 41., 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 repose,

Breasts the keen air, and carols as be goes.'..

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

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84. For turns,' read 'turn.'

Hence there inaccuracies,

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94. For Miller,' read Milles.' 101. For Newberry,' read Newbery.' 115. For 'Lawder,' read 'Lauder.' 155. For Eastern,'read' Easton.' 155. I had not the original authority immediately at hand when the quotation beginning I called on Goldsmith' was made. are some verbal 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 Curieuse, 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 it was not from want of time they had not been corrected, but for another reason. 'I got £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

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