Where shading elms along the margin grew,
And freshen'd from the wave the zephyr flew :
And haply, though my harsh touch, falt'ring still,
But mock'd all tune, and marr'd the dancer's skill,
Yet would the village praise my wondrous power,
And dance, forgetful of the noontide hour.

The learned and religious houses also appear to have been equally hospitable. « With the members of these establishments,” said he, « I could converse on topics of literature, and then I always forgot the meanness of my circumstances."

In many of the foreign universities and convents there are, upon certain days, philosophical theses maintained against every adventitious disputant; for which, if the champion opposes with any dexterity, he can claim a gratuity in money, a dinner, and a bed for one night. The talents of Goldsmith frequently enabled him to command the relief afforded by this useful and hospitable custom. In this manner, without money or friends, he fought his way from convent to convent, and from city to city, examined mankind more nearly, and, as he himself expressed it, saw both sides of the picture.

To Goldsmith's close and familiar intercourse with the scenes and natives of the different countries through which he passed, the world is indebted for his «Traveller." For although that poem was afterwards « slowly and painfully elaborated," still the nice and accurate discrimination of national character displayed could only be acquired by actual examination. In the progress of his journey, he seems to have treasured his facts and observations, with a view to the formation of this delightful poem. The first sketch of it is said to have been written after his arrival in Switzerland, and was transmitted from that country to his brother Henry in Ireland.

After his arrival in Switzerland, he took up his abode for some time in Geneva. Here he appears to have found friends, or formed acquaintances; for we find him recommended at this place as tutor to a young gentleman on his travels. The youth to whom he was recommended was the nephew of Mr S******, pawnbroker in London, who had unexpectedly acquired

a large fortune by the death of his uncle. Determined to see the world, he had just arrived at Geneva on the grand tour, and not being provided with a travelling tutor, Goldsmith was hired to perform the functions of that office. They set out together for Marseilles; but never were tutor and pupil so miserably assorted. The latter, before acquiring his fortune, had been for some time articled to an attorney, and while in that capacity had so well learned the art of managing in money concerns, that it had at length become his favourite study. Naturally avaricious, his training as an attorney had nothing diminished the reign of that sordid passion, and it discovered its most odious features in almost every transaction. When he engaged a tutor, therefore, he took care to make a special proviso, that in all money matters he should be at liberty to tutor himself. A stipulation of this kind so cramped the views and propensities of Goldsmith, and afforded to the pupil so many opportunities of displaying his mean disposition, that disgust and dislike almost immediately ensued. When arrived at Marseilles they mutually agreed to separate; and the poet having received the small part of his salary that was due, his pupil, terrified at the expense of travelling, instantly embarked for England,

Goldsmith, thus freed from the trammels of tutorship, set out once more on foot, and in that manner travelled through various districts of France. He finally pursued his journey into Italy, visiting Venice, Verona, Florence, and other celebrated places. At Padua, where he staid six months, he is said to have taken a medical degree, but upon what authority is not ascertained. While resident at Padua he was assisted, it is believed, by remittances from his uncle Contarine, who, however, unfortunately died about that time.' In Italy, Goldsmith found

The Rev. Thomas Contarine was descended from the noble family of the Contarini of Venice. His ancestor, having married a nun in his native country, was obliged to fly with her into France, where she died of the small-pox. Being pursued by ecclesiastical censures, Contarini came to England; but the puritanical manners which then prevailed, having afforded him but a cold reception, he was on his way to Ireland, when at Chester he met with a young lady of the name of

his talent for music almost useless as a means of subsistence, for every peasant was a better musician than himself; but his skill in disputation still served his purpose, and the religious estab lishments were equally hospitable. At length, curiosity being fully gratified, he resolved to retrace his steps towards his native home. He returned through France, as the shorter route, and as affording greater facilities to a pedestrian. He was lodged and entertained as formerly, sometimes at religious and learned establishments, and sometimes at the cottages of the peasantry, and thus, with the aid of his philosophy and his flute, he disputed and piped his way homewards.

When Goldsmith arrived at Dover from France, it was about the breaking out of the war in 1755-6. Being unprovided with money, a new difficulty now presented itself, how to fight his way to the metropolis. His whole stock of cash could not defray the expense of the ordinary conveyance, and neither flute nor logic could help him to a supper or a bed. By some means or other, however, he contrived to reach London in safety. On his arrival he had only a few halfpence in his pocket. To use his own words, in one of his letters, he found himself << without friend, recommendation, money, or impudence;"> and, contrary to his usual habits, began to be filled with the gloomiest apprehensions. There was not a moment to be lost, therefore, in seeking for a situation that might afford him the means of immediate subsistence. His first attempt was to get admission as assistant to a boarding-school or academy, but, for want of a recommendation, even that poor and painful situation was found difficult to be obtained. This difficulty appears also to have been nothing lessened by his stooping to make use of a feigned name. What his motives were for such a measure has never been fully explained; but it is fair to infer, that his literary pride revolted at servitude, and perhaps, conscious that his powers would ultimately enable him to emerge

Chaloner whom he married. Having afterwards conformed to the established church, he, through the interest of his wife's family, obtained ecclesiastical preferment in the diocese of Elphin. This gentleman was their lineal descendant.— Campbell's Biography of Goldsmith.

from his present obscurity, he was unwilling it should afterwards be known that he had occupied a situation so humble. Deceit and finesse, however, are at all times dangerous, be the motive for employing them ever so innocent; and in the present instance our author found them productive of considerable embarrassment; for, when the master of the school demanded a reference to some respectable person for a character, Goldsmith was at a loss to account for using any other name than his own. In this dilemma he wrote to Dr Radcliff, a mild benevolent man, who had been joint-tutor with his persecutor Wilder, in Trinity College, and had sometimes lectured the other pupils. Having candidly stated to the doctor the predicament in which he was placed, and explained the immediate object in view, he told him that the same post which conveyed this information would also bring him a letter of inquiry from the schoolmaster, to which it was hoped he would be so good as return a favourable answer. It appears that Dr Radcliff promptly complied with this request, for Goldsmith immediately obtained the situation. We learn from Campbell's Philosophical Survey of the South of Ireland, that our author's letter of thanks to Dr Radcliff on that occasion was accompanied with a very interesting account of his travels and adventures.

The employment of usher at an academy in London, is of itself a task of no ordinary labour; but, independent of, the drudgery and toil, it is attended with so many little irritating circumstances, that of all others it is perhaps a situation the most painful and irksome to a man of independent mind and liberal ideas. To a person of our author's temper and habits, it was peculiarly distasteful. How long he remained in this situation is not well ascertained, but he ever spoke of it in bitterness of spirit. The very remembrance of it seemed to be gall and wormwood to him; and how keenly he must have felt its mortification and misery, may be gathered from the satire with which it is designated in various parts of his works. The language which he has put into the mouth of the Wanderer's cousin, when he applies to him for an ushership, is feelingly characteristic. « I,» said he, « have been an usher to a boarding

school myself; and may I die by an anodyne necklace, but I had rather be an under-turnkey in Newgate! I was up early and late: I was browbeat by the master, hated for my ugly face by the mistress, worried by the boys within, and never permitted to stir out to meet civility abroad. But, are you sure you are fit for a school? Let me examine you a little. Have you been bred apprentice to the business?»-No. -<< Then you won't do for a school. Can you dress the boys' hair?»—No.— ແ Then you won't do for a school. Have you had the smallpox?»-No.-« Then you won't do for a school. Can you lie three in a bed?»—No.-« Then you will never do for a school. Have you got a good stomach ?»—Yes.—« Then you will by no means do for a school. No, sir: if you are for a genteel, easy profession, bind yourself seven years as an apprentice to turn a cutler's wheel; but avoid a school by any means."

On another occasion, when talking on the same subject, our author thus summed up the misery of such an employment:« After the fatigues of the day, the poor usher of an academy is obliged to sleep in the same bed with a Frenchman, a teacher of that language to the boys, who disturbs him every night, an hour perhaps, in papering and filleting his hair, and stinks worse than a carrion, with his rancid pomatums, when he lays his head beside him on his bolster."

Having thrown up this wretched employment, he was obliged to cast about for one more congenial to his mind. In this, however, he again found considerable difficulty. His personal appearance and address were never prepossessing, but at that particular period were still less so from the thread-bare state of his wardrobe. He applied to several of the medical tribe, but had the mortification to meet with repeated refusals; and on more than one occasion was jeered with the mimicry of his broad Irish accent. At length a chemist, near Fish-street-hill, took him into his laboratory, where his medical knowledge soon rendered him an able and useful assistant. Not long after this, however, accident discovered to him that his old friend and fellow-student, Dr Sleigh, was in London, and he determined, if possible, to renew his acquaintance with him. «It was Sunday,"