and when I could find no objection to receiving surely a considerable man." Sheridan had accordhim, exclaimed, "he will disturb us by his buf-ingly the honour to be elected. The importance foonery!" and afterwards so managed matters, that thus attached by its members to this celebrated he was never formally proposed, and by conse-club, seems justified by time and public opinion. quence never admitted. No association of a like kind has existed, and retained its original high character, for so long a period; and none has ever been composed of men so remarkable for extraordinary talent. In justice both to Mr. Garrick and Dr. Johnson, Mr. Boswell has rectified this mis-statement. "The truth is," says he, "that not very long after the institution of our club, Sir Joshua Reynolds was In 1774, an accession of new members was addspeaking of it to Garrick: 'I like it much (said the ed by the election of the Hon. Charles James Fox, latter); I think I shall be of you.' When Sir Sir Charles Bunbury, Dr. George Fordyce, and Joshua mentioned this to Dr. Johnson, he was George Steevens, Esq.; and this brings the annals much displeased with the actor's conceit. 'He'll of the club down to the death of Goldsmith. Either be of us (said Johnson), how does he know we will then, or soon after, the number of the members was permit him? The first duke in England has no increased to thirty; and, in 1776, instead of supright to hold such language.' However, when ping once a week, they resolved to dine together Garrick was regularly proposed some time after- once a-fortnight during the sitting of Parliament; wards, Johnson, though he had taken a momentary and now the meetings take place every other Tuesoffence at his arrogance, warmly and kindly sup- day at Parsloe's, in St. James's-street. It is believported him; and he was accordingly elected, was a ed, that this increase in the number of the memmost agreeable member, and continued to attend bers, originally limited to twelve, took place in conour meetings to the time of his death." This state-sequence of a suggestion on the part of our author. ment, while it corrects the inaccuracy of Sir John, Conversing with Johnson and Sir Joshua Reyaffords also a proof of the estimation in which the nolds one day, Goldsmith remarked, "that he wishLiterary Club was held by its own members, and the ed for some additional members to the Literary nicety that might be opposed to the admission of a Club, to give it an agreeable variety; for (said he) candidate. The founders appear to have been there can be nothing new among us; we have trasomewhat vain of the institution, both as unique in velled over one another's minds." Johnson, howits kind, and as distinguished by the learning and ever, did not like the idea that his mind could be talent of its members. Dr. Johnson, in particular, travelled over or exhausted, and seemed rather disseems to have had a sort of paternal anxiety for its pleased; but Sir Joshua thought Goldsmith in the prosperity and perpetuation, and on many occasions right, observing, that "where people have lived a exhibited almost as jealous a care of its purity and great deal together, they know what each of them reputation as of his own. Talking of a certain will say on every subject. A new understanding, lord one day, a man of coarse manners, but a man therefore, is desirable; because, though it may only of abilities and information, "I don't say," con- furnish the same sense upon a question which tinued Johnson, "he is a man I would set at the would have been furnished by those with whom we head of a nation, though perhaps he may be as are accustomed to live, yet this sense will have a good as the next prime minister that comes: but he different colouring, and colouring is of much effect is a man to be at the head of a club, I don't say our in every thing else as well as painting."* club, for there is no such club." On another occasion, when it was mentioned to him by Mr. Beauclerk that Dr. Dodd had once wished to be a member of the club, Johnson observed, "I should be sorry indeed if any of our club were hanged," and added, jocularly, "I will not say but some of them deserve it," alluding to their politics and religion, which were frequently in opposition to his own. But the high regard in which the doctor held this association was most strikingly evinced in the election of Mr. Sheridan. In return for some literary civilities received from that gentleman while he had as yet only figured as a dramatist, Johnson thought the finest compliment he could bestow would be to procure his election to the Literary Club. When the ballot was proposed, therefore, he ex-Sir Robert Chambers. erted his influence, and concluded his recommendation of the candidate by remarking, that "he who has written the two best comedies of his age, is From the institution of the Literary Club to the present time, it is believed that the following is a correct list of the members: Lord Ashburton (Dunning.) Dr. Douglas, Bishop of Salis. bury. *Mr. Dyer. Dr. Barnard, Bishop of Kila. Lord Elliot. loe. Mr. Topham Beauclerk. Sir Charles Blagden. Mr. Boswell. 'Sir Charles Bunbury. Richard Burke (his son.) Mr. Chamier. George Colman. Rev. Dr. Farmer. David Garrick. Dr. Goldsmith. Sir William Hamilton. "Sir John Hawkins. Dr. Hinchliffe, Bishop of Pe- Dr. Johnson. Mr. Langton In a society thus composed of men distinguished | self is very true, he always gets the better when he for genius, learning, and rank, where the chief ob- argues alone: meaning, that he is master of a subject of the institution was social and literary enjoy-ject in his study, and can write well upon it; but ment, it is certainly interesting to know what kind when he comes into company grows confused, and of intellectual sauce was usually served up to give a unable to talk. Take him as a poet, his "Travelzest to their periodical suppers. Happily, Mr. ler" is a very fine performance; ay, and so is his Boswell has supplied such a desideratum; and as a "Deserted Village," were it not sometimes too fair specimen of the numerous conversations which much the echo of his "Traveller." Whether, inhe has reported of the members, it may not be un-deed, we take him as a poct, as a comic writer, or amusing to our readers to be presented with part of as a historian, he stands in the first class.' Boswell, the discussion which took place at the time of his 'A historian! my dear sir, you will not surely rank own election in April, 1773, and a full report of his compilation of the Roman History with the the sitting of the club on the 24th of March, 1775. works of other historians of this age?" Johnson, This we do with the more pleasure, on account of 'Why, who is before him? Boswell, 'Hume, Rothe first discussion being in some sort illustrative of bertson, Lord Lyttleton,' Johnson (his antipathy the character and writings of our author. to the Scotch beginning to rise,) 'I have not read "On Friday, April 30," says Mr. Boswell, "Hume; but, doubtless, Goldsmith's History is betdined with Dr. Johnson at Mr. Beauclerk's, where ter than the verbiage of Robertson, or the foppery were Lord Charlemont, Sir Joshua Reynolds, and of Dalrymple.' Boswell, 'Will you not admit the some more members of the Literary Club, whom he superiority of Robertson, in whose History we find nad obligingly invited to meet me, as I was this such penetration, such painting?" Johnson, 'Sir, evening to be balloted for as candidate for admission you must consider how that penetration and that into that distinguished society. Johnson had done painting are employed. It is not history; it is ima me the honour to propose me, and Beauclerk was gination. He who describes what he never saw, very zealous for me. draws from fancy. Robertson paints minds as "Goldsmith being mentioned, Johnson said, 'It Sir Joshua paints faces in a history-piece: he imais amazing how little Goldsmith knows. He sel- gines a heroic countenance. You must look upon dom comes where he is not more ignorant than any Robertson's work as romance, and try it by that one else,' Sir Joshua Reynolds, 'Yet there is no standard. History it is not. Besides, sir, it is the man whose company is more liked.' Johnson, 'To great excellence of a writer to put into his book as be sure, sir. When people find a man, of the most much as his book will hold. Goldsmith has done distinguished abilities as a writer, their inferior this in his History. Now Robertson might have while he is with them, it must be highly gratifying put twice as much into his book. Robertson is to them. What Goldsmith comically says of him- like a man who has packed gold in wool: the wool takes up more room than the gold. No, sir, I always thought Robertson would be crushed by his own weight-would be buried under his own ornaments. Goldsmith tells you shortly all you want to know; Robertson detains you a great deal too long. No man will read Robertson's cumbrous detail a second time; but Goldsmith's plain narrative will please again and again. I would say to Robertson what an old tutor of a college said to one of his pupils: "Read over your compositions and wherever you meet with a passage which you think is particularly fine, strike it out." Goldsmith's abridgment is better than that of Lucius Florus or Eutropius: and I will venture to say, that if you compare him with Vertot, in the same places of the Roman History, you will find that he excels Vertot. Sir, he has the art of compiling, and of saying every thing he has to say in a pleasing manner. He is now writing a Natural History, and will make it as entertaining as a Persian Tale.' Duke of Leeds. • Earl Lucan. Earl Macartney. Mr. Malone. Lord Minto. Dr. French Lawrence. Dr. Marlay, Bishop of Clon- Henry Vaughan, M. D. ⚫Dr. Nugent. 'Mr. George Steevens. Hon. Frederick North (now 'Dr. Warren. Earl of Guilford.) Earl of Upper Ossory. Viscount Palmerston. Dr. Percy, Bishop of Dro more. Major Rennel. Sir Joshua Reynolds. Sir W. Scott (now Lord Stowell) 'M. R. B. Sheridan. Dr. Shipley, Bishop of St. Dr. Adam Smith. Mr. George Ells. Dr. Joseph Warton. Right Hon. William Wind. ham. Right Hon. George Canning. Mr. Marsden. Right Hon. Thos, Grenville. Right Hon. Sir William Grant, Master of the Rolls. "I can not dismiss the present topic (continues The members whose names are distinguished by an asterisk who owned that he often talked for victory, rather Mr. Boswell) without observing, that Dr. Johnson, In the foregoing list have all paid the debt of nature. Among those who survive, it is generally understood that the spirit of urged plausible objections to Dr. Robertson's exthe original as жciation is still preserved. cellent historical works in the ardour of contest, than expressed his real and decided opinion; for| Boswell, is of the discussion which took place at it is not easy to suppose, that he should so widely the meeting of 24th March, 1775. "Before Johndiffer from the rest of the literary world. son came in, we talked of his 'Journey to the Wes"Johnson, 'I remember once being with Gold-tern Islands,' and of his coming away 'willing to smith in Westminster Abbey. While we surveyed the Poet's-Corner, I said to him, Forsitan et nostrum nomen miscebitur istis,* When we got to Temple-Bar he stopped me, pointed to the heads upon it, and slily whispered me, believe the second sight,' which seemed to excite some ridicule. I was then so impressed with the truth of many of the stories of which I nad been told, that I avowed my conviction, saying 'He is only willing to believe; I do believe. The evidence is enough for me, though not for his great mind. What will not fill a quart bottle will fill a pint bottle. I am filled with belief.' 'Are you,' said Colman, 'then cork it up.' Forsitan et nostrum nomen miscebitur istis.'t "Johnson praised John Bunyan highly. His "Pilgrim's Progress" has great merit, both for in- "I found his 'Journey' the common topic of vention, imagination, and the conduct of the story; conversation in London at this time, wherever I and it has had the best evidence of its merits, the happened to be. At one of Lord Mansfield's forgeneral and continued approbation of mankind. mal Sunday evening conversations, strangely callFew books, I believe, have had a more extensive ed levees, his Lordship addressed me, 'We have sale. It is remarkable, that it begins very much all been reading your Travels, Mr. Boswell.' I anlike the poem of Dante; yet there was no trans-swered, 'I was but the humble attendant of Dr. lation of Dante when Bunyan wrote. There is Johnson.' The Chief-Justice replied, with that reason to think that he had read Spenser." air and manner which none who ever heard or saw him can forget, 'He speaks ill of nobody but Ossian.' "A proposition which had been agitated, that monuments to eminent persons should, for the time to come, be erected in St. Paul's Church as "Johnson was in high spirits this evening at well as in the Westminster Abbey, was mention- the club, and talked with great animation and ed; and it was asked, who should be honoured by success. He attacked Swift, as he used to do upon having his monument first erected? Somebody all occasions: "The Tale of a Tub" is so much su saggested Pope. Johnson, 'Why, sir, as Pope was perior to his other writings, that we can hardly a Roman Catholic, I would not have his to be believe he was the author of it: there is in it such first. I think Milton's rather should have the pre- a vigour of mind, such a swarm of thoughts, so codence. I think more highly of him now than I much of nature, and art, and life.' I wondered to did at twenty. There is more thinking in him hear him say of 'Gulliver's Travels,' 'When and Butler than in any one of our poets.' once you have thought of big and little men, it is "The gentlemen (continues Mr. Boswell) now very easy to do all the rest.' I endeavoured to went away to their club, and I was left at Beau- make a stand for Swift, and tried to rouse those clerk's till the fate of my election should be an- who were much more able to defend him; but in nounced to me. I sat in a state of anxiety, which vain. Johnson at last, of his own accord, allowed even the charming conversation of Lady Divery great merit to the inventory of articles found Beauclerk could not entirely dissipate. In a short in the pocket of 'the Man Mountain,' particulartime I received the agreeable intelligence that I ly the description of his watch, which it was conwas chosen. I hastened to the place of meeting, and was introduced to such a society as can seldorn be found. Mr. Edmund Burke, whom I then saw for the first time, and whose splendid taknts had long made me ardently wish for his acquaintance; Dr. Nugent, Mr. Garrick, Dr. Gold ith, Mr. (afterwards Sir William) Jones, and the company with whom I had dined. Upon my entrance, Johnson placed himself behind a chair, on which he leaned as on a desk or pulpit, and, with humourous formality, gave me a charge, pointing out the conduct expected from me as member of this club." The next conversational specimen given by Mr. •Ovid. de Art. Amand. 1. iii. 5. 13. a jectured was his god, as he consulted it upon all occasions. He observed, that 'Swift put his name but to two things (after he had a name to put), the "Plan of the Improvement of the English Language," and the last "Drapier's Letters." "From Swift there was an easy transition to Mr. Thomas Sheridan. Johnson, 'Sheridan is a wonderful admirer of the tragedy of Douglas, and presented its author with a gold medal. Some years ago, at a Coffee-house in Oxford, I called to him "Mr. Sheridan, Mr. Sheridan, how came you to give a gold medal to Home, for writing that foolish play?" This, you see, was wanton and insolent; but I meant to be wanton and insolent. A medal has no value but as a stamp of merit. And was Sheridan to assume to himself the right of ilusion to Dr. Johnson's supposed political principles, giving that stamp? If Sheridan was magnificent dj shape his own. enough to bestow a gold medal as an honorary re E. ward of dramatic excellence, he should have re- how much may be done, without the aid of extraquested one of the universities to choose the per-vagant incident, to excite the imagination and inson on whom it should be conferred. Sheridan terest the feelings. Few productions of the kind had no right to give a stamp of merit: it was afford greater amusement in the perusal, and still counterfeiting Apollo's coin."" fewer inculcate more impressive lessons of moraliNow that Goldsmith had acquired fame as a ty. Though wit and humour abound in every poet of the first rank, and was associated with page, yet in the whole volume there is not one the wit and talent that belonged to this cele- thought injurious in its tendency, nor one sentibrated club, his publisher, Mr. Newberry, thought ment that can offend the chastest ear. Its language, he might venture to give the "Vicar of Wakefield” in the words of an elegant writer, is what "angels to the world. It was accordingly brought out in might have heard and virgins told." In the deli1766, and not only proved a most lucrative specu- neation of his characters, in the conduct of his falation for the bookseller, but brought a fresh ac- ble, and in the moral of the piece, the genius of the cession of literary celebrity to its author. Notwith-author is equally conspicuous. The hero displays standing the striking merit of this work, it is a with unaffected simplicity the most striking virtues fact not less singular than true, that the literary that can adorn social life: sincere in his professions, friends to whom Goldsmith submitted it for criti- humane and generous in his disposition, he is himcism, before publication, were divided in opinion as self a pattern of the character he represents. The to the probability of its success; and it is still more other personages are drawn with similar discrimisingular that Dr. Johnson himself should have en- nation. Each is distinguished by some peculia. tertained doubts on the subject. It has been as- feature; and the general grouping of the whole has serted, that the publisher put it to press in the this particular excellence, that not one could be crude state in which he found it, when the bar-wanted without injuring the unity and beauty of gain was made with Johnson for the manuscript; the design. The drama of the tale is also managed but such a conclusion is obviously erroneous. with equal skill and effect. There are no extraGoldsmith was at that time on the best terms with vagant incidents, and no forced or improbable situNewberry, and engaged in the completion of vari-ations; one event rises out of another in the same ous minor pieces for him; and as the fame of the easy and natural manner as flows the language of one as well as the profit of the other were equally the narration; the interest never flags, and is kept at stake on the success of the performance, it is ex- up to the last by the expedient of concealing the ceedingly improbable that both author and pub-real character of Burchell. But it is the moral of lisher should be regardless of such revisal and cor- the work which entitles the author to the praise of rection as was clearly for the benefit of both. supereminent merit in this species of writing. No That Goldsmith did alter and revise this work be-writer has arrived more successfully at the great fore publication, may be gathered from a conversa- ends of a moralist. By the finest examples, he intion which took place between Johnson and Mr. culcates the practice of benevolence, patience in Boswell. "Talking of a friend of ours," says the suffering, and reliance on the providence of God. latter, "who associated with persons of very dis- A short time after the publication of the "Vicar cordant principles and characters, I said he was a of Wakefield," Goldsmith printed his beautiful very universal man, quite a man of the world." ballad of the "Hermit." His friend Dr. Percy "Yes, sir," said Johnson, "but one may he so had published, in the same year, "Reliques of Anmuch a man of the world, as to be nothing in the cient English Poetry;" and as the "Hermit" was world. I remember a passage in Goldsmith's 'Vi- found to bear some resemblance to a tale in that car of Wakefield,' which he was afterwards fool collection, entitled "The Friar of Orders Gray," enough to expunge; 'I do not love a man who is the scribblers of the time availed themselves off the zealous for nothing."' Boswell, "That was a fine circumstance to tax him with plagiarism. Irritated passage." Johnson, "Yes, sir; there was another at the charge, he published a letter in the St. fine passage which he struck out: 'When I was a young man, being anxious to distinguish my self, I was perpetually starting new propositions; but I soon gave this over; for I found that generally what was new was false.'" James's Chronicle, vindicating the priority off his own poem, and asserting that the plan of the other must have been taken from his. It is probable, however, that both poems were taken from very ancient ballad in the same collection, beginning The "Vicar of Wakefield" has long been con- "Gentle Heardsman." Our author had seen and sidered one of the most interesting tales in our admired this ancient poem, in the possession of language. It is seldom that a story presenting Dr. Percy, long before it was printed; and some of merely a picture of common life, and a detail of the stanzas he appears, perhaps undesigndly, to domestic events, so powerfully affects the reader. have imitated in the "Hermit," as the reader will The irresistible charm this novel possesses, evinces perceive on examining the following specimens: And FROM THE OLD BALLAD. grew soe coy and nice to please, As women's lookes are often soe, Thus being wearyed with delayes, And there hee dyed without releeffe. And for his sake these weeds I weare, Thus every day I fast and pray, FROM THE HERMIT. For still I tried each fickle art, And while his passion touch'd my heart, Till, quite dejected by my scorn, He left me to my pride; And sought a solitude forlorn, In secret, where he died. But mine the sorrow, mine the fault, I'll seek the solitude he sought, And there forlorn, despairing, hid, gratification of being recognized by a man of the duke's high rank as a literary friend. This distinguished peer and his duchess were accustomed to spend part of each summer at Bath; and one year, after their return to London, her grace related to Dr. Percy, with considerable humour, the following occurrence, characteristic of our author's occasional abstraction of mind. On one of the parades at Bath, the duke and Lord Nugent had hired two adjacent houses. Goldsmith, who was then resident on a visit with the latter, one morning walked up into the duke's dining room, as he and the duchess were preparing to sit down to breakfast. In a manner the most free and easy he threw himself on a sofa; and, as he was then perfectly known to them both, they inquired of him the Bath news of the day. But perceiving him to be rather in a meditative humour, they rightly guessed there was some mistake, and endeavoured, by casy and cheerful conversation to prevent his becoming embarrassed. When breakfast was served up, they invited him to stay and partake of it; and then poor Goldsmith awoke from his reverie, declared he thought he had been in the house of his friend Lord Nugent, and with confusion hastily withdrew; not, however, till the goodhumoured duke and duchess had made him promise to dine with them. Something akin to this incident, is the well known blunder committed by our author during a conversation with the Earl of Shelbourne. One evening, while in company with this nobleman, Goldsmith, after a variety of conversation, fell into a fit of musing. At last, as if suddenly recovering There has been an attempt, in later days, to cast from his abstraction, he addressed his lordship aba doubt upon the title of Goldsmith to the whole ruptly in this manner;-"My lord, I have often of this poem. It has been asserted that the "Her-wondered why every body should call your lordship mit" was a translation of an ancient French poem Malagrida; for Malagrida, you know, was a very entitled "Raimond and Angeline." The pretend- good man." The well bred peer only replied to ed original made its appearance in a trifling peri- this awkward compliment by a smile, and the odical publication, entitled "The Quiz." It bears heedless poet went on totally unconscious of his internal evidence of being in reality an imitation of error. It was afterwards remarked by Dr. JohnGoldsmith's poem. The frivolous source of this son, that this mistake of Goldsmith was only a flippant attack, and its transparent falsity, would blunder in emphasis, and that the expression meant have caused it to pass unnoticed here, had it not nothing more than, "I wonder they should use been made a matter of grave discussion in some Malagrida as a term of reproach." periodical journals. To enter into a detailed refutation would be absurd. About this period, or perhaps a little earlier, Goldsmith, in addition to the apartments he occuThe poem of "The Hermit" was at first in-pied in the Temple, took a country-house on the scribed to the Countess (afterwards Duchess) of Edgeware-road, in conjunction with a Mr. Bott, Northumberland, who had shown a partiality for one of his literary friends, for the benefit of good productions of this kind, by patronizing Percy's air, and the convenience of retirement. To this "Reliques of Ancient English Poetry" This led little mansion he gave the jocular appellation of Shoeto a renewed intercourse with the Cake, to whom maker's Paradise, the architecture being in a fanwe have already narrated Goldsmith's first visit; tastic style, after the taste of its original possessor, but the time had gone by when his grace could who was one of the craft. Here he began and have been politically useful, and we do not know finished one of his most pleasing and successful that our author reaped any other advantage from compilations, a "History of England, in a Series the notice that nobleman took of him, than the of Letters from a Nobleman to his Son." This |