original from which the inimitable portrait of Dr. Primrose is taken.

He is drawn as pious, learned, charitable, hospitable; fearless in the cause of sanctity and rectitude; in affliction, at once magnanimous and resigned; in prosperity, grateful and humble; a kind and sympathizing neighbour; a most affectionate parent; and, as a pastor, almost worshipped for his virtues by the flock under his care.

As a shade, to counteract the dazzling effect of so much excellence, his learning is represented as not quite. unmixed with inoffensive pedantry; and

the awe inspired by his good natural understanding, is admirably tempered with a very endearing cast of simplicity; and the solemnity of his deportment relieved, by a well-managed introduction of comic traits.

If any thing can equal this portrait of the vicar, it is the delicacy with which his story is related; and the art shown by the author in conducting the personages of his fable through various vicissitudes, without the least appearance of exaggeration or force. The reader sheds tears at their sorrows, and exults in their restoration to felicity: but the

depression of spirits created by the perusal has in it nothing shocking, nothing disgusting; it is rather the "luxury of grief:" and the most unsullied chastity may, without self-reproach, smile at all the pleasantries of Goldsmith.

This dexterity in the author of a novel cannot be too highly praised; particularly if we consider the period when Goldsmith wrote, the opportunities his own hard lot in life had afforded him of becoming acquainted with every phrase of vulgar humour, and how strongly (had he pleased to do so) he

might have pourtrayed many of the in

cidents in his narrative.

His powers of description and command of language were nearly unlimit ed, and many of the events in the Vicar

of Wakefield are such as would have

tempted a writer of meaner talents and

less true sensibility, to exceed those boundaries which he scorned to over

leap confident that the object in view

might be otherwise attained, and that

success would be purchased at too great a price by an outrage against the morals of his country

Of a work so well known and so well

well executed, it is needless to quote what are usually esteemed the brilliant passages; and, in fact, to do this would be little else than to transcribe the entire. But, in general, it may be affirmed of it, that it includes examples of every variety of excellence required in a performance of the kind.

Though I have already extended this article farther than may be thought necessary, I must, before I quit the subject, request greater indulgence from

my

reader; and entreat his attention to

a few remarks, which will probably tend still more than what has been said to

elevate the character of Goldsmith.

K