CONTENTS. Pag MEMOIRS of the life and writings of Dr. Gold The Preface to the Roman History, 236 7 The Preface to a History of England, . . 231 The Vicar of Wakefield, . . . . 57 The Preface to the History of the Earth, etc. 232 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. Criticism on Massey's Translation of the Prologue by Laberius, . . . . . 143 The Double Transformation, . . Criticism on Barrett's Translation of Ovid's New Simile, in the manner of Swift, . Description of an Author's Bedchamber, LETTERS FROM A CITIZEN OF THE WORLD TO HIS FRIENDS IN THE EAST. Stanzas on Woman, . . . . . ib. The Traveller; or, a Prospect of Society, I. Introduction. A character of the Chi. The Deserted Village . . . . 152 II. The arrival of the Chinese in Lon- Epitaph on Dr. Parnell, . . . . ib. don. His motives for the journey. Epilogue to the Comedy of the Sisters, Some description of the streets and Epilogue spoken by Mrs. Bulkley and M III. The description of London continu- Epilogue intended for Mrs. Bulkley, . . Its benefits. The fine gentleman, Song from the Oratorio of the Captivity, IV. English pride. Liberty. An instance of both. Newspapers. Politeness, 251 V. English passion for politics. A spe- An Elegy on Mrs. Mary Blaize, . . ib. cimen of a newspaper. Character- istic of the manners of different Postscript to ditto, . . . . . 163 VI. Happiness lost by seeking after re- finement. The Chinese philoso- Epilogue spoken by Mr. Lewes, . pher's disgraces, . . . . 253 The Logicians Refuted, . . . . 165 VII. The tie of wisdom only to make us Stanzas on the Taking of Quebec, happy. The benefits of travelling On a beautiful Youth struck blind by Light- upon the morals of a philosopher, 254 VIII. The Chinese deceived by a prostitute in the streets of London, . . 255 DRAMATIC. IX. The licentiousness of the English with regard to women. A charac- ter of a woman's man, . . 256 She Stoops to Conquer, or, the Mistakes of a X. The journey of the Chinese from Pe- An Oratorio; first printed in the Paris edi- the Daures, . . . . 257 XI. The benefits of luxury in making a Goldsmith's own handwriting, . . 221 people more wise and happy, 258 PREFACES AND CRITICISM. XII. The funeral solemnities of the En- glish. Their passion for flattering Introduction to a New History of the World, 228! XIII. An account of Westminster Abbey, 260 . . . . XIV. The reception of the Chinese dom. An allegory to prove its from a Lady of distinction, . 262 XV. Against cruelty to animals. A XXXVIII. The Chinese philosopher praises the justice of a late sentence, and instances the injustice of XVI. Of falsehood propagated by books the King of France, in the case of the Prince of Charolais, 293 XVII. Of the war now carried on be XXXIX. The description of true polite- ness. Two letters of different with its frivolous motives, .265 XVIII. The story of the Chinese ma- thought polite at home, 295 though not versifiers, . . 298 XLI. The behaviour of the congrega- XX. Some account of the republic of 269 XLII. The history of China more re- XXI. The Chinese goes to see a play, 270 XXII. The Chinese philosopher's son made a slave in Persia, .272 XLIII. An apostrophe on the supposed XXIII. The English subscription in fa- vour of the French prisoners XLIV. Wisdom and precept may lessen our miseries, but can never in- XXIV. The venders of quack medicines crease our positive satisfactions 301 and nostrums ridiculed, . 274 XLV. The ardour of the people of Lon- don in running after sights and history of the kingdom of Lao, 275 XLVI. A dream, . . . . 304 XXVI. The character of the man in XLVII. Misery best relieved by dissipa- his inconsistent conduct, .276 XLVIII. The absurdity of persons in high station pursuing employments beneath them, exemplified in don. Some of the causes, .280 XLIX. The fairy tale continued, , 308 XXIX. A description of a club of au- L. An attempt to define what is XXX. The proceedings of the club of LI. A bookseller's visit to the Chi- XXXI. The perfection of the Chinese LII. The impossibility of distinguish- ing men in England by their description of a Chinese garden 384 dress. Two instances of this, 312 XXXII. Of the degeneracy of some of the LIII. The absurd taste for obscene and pert novels, such as Tristram room feast among the Tartars, 285 XXXIII. The manner of writing among LIV. The character of an important the Chinese. The eastern tales of magazines, etc, ridiculei, . 287 LV. His character continued ; with that of his wife, his house, and of the nobility for painting, .288 XXXV. The philosopher's son describes LVI. Some thoughts on the present situation of affairs in the differ- ent countries of Europe, . . $17 LVII. The difficulty of rising in litera- ry reputation without intrigue XXXVII. The correspondence still con- LVIII. A visitation dinner described, 319 gusted in the pursuit of wis- LIX. The Chinese philosopher's son escapes with the beautiful cap LXXXV. The trifling squabbles of stage LX The history of the beautiful cap LXXXVI. The races of Newmarket ridi- LXI. Proper lessons to a youth enter- ing the world, with fables suit LXXXVII. The folly of the western parts LXII. An authentic history of Cathe- Russians to fight their battles, 356 rina Alexowna, wife of Peter LXXXVIII. The ladies advised to get hus- LXIII. The rise or the decline of litera- pose, . . . . . . less disquisitions among the LXIV. The great exchange happiness XC. The English subject to the respect of use to society, .327 XCI. The influence of climate and soil upon the temper and dis- LXVI. The difference between love and XCII. The manner in which some philosophers make artificial LXV!. The folly of attempting to learn wisdom by being recluse, .231 XCIII. The fondness of some to ad- LXVIII. Quacks ridiculed. Some particu- mire the writings of lords, etc. 363 larly mentioned, . . . 232 XCIV. The philosopher's son is again LXIX. The fear of mad-dogs ridiculed, 333 LXX. Fortune proved not to be blind. The story of the avaricious miller 335 XCV. The father consoles him upon LXXI. The shabby beau, the man in black, the Chinese philosopher, XCVI. The condolence and congratu- lation upon the death of the late king ridiculed. English LXXIII. Life endeared by age, . . 339 LXXIV. The description of a little great XCVII. Almost every subject of litera- LXXV. The necessity of amusing each other with new books insisted XCVIII. A description of the courts of justice in Westminster Hall 367 LXXVI. The preference of grace to beau- XCIX. A visit from the little beau. ty; an allegory, . . . 343 The indulgence with which the fair sex are treated in several parts of Asia, . . 368 LXXVIII. The French ridiculed after their A life of independence praised, 369 CI. That people must be contented LXXIX. The preparations of both thea- tres for a winter campaign, . 346 LXXX. The evil tendency of increasing ern. A story to this effect, 370 penal laws, or enforcing even CII. The passion for gaming among rigour, . . . . .347 CIII. The Chinese philosopher be- gins to think of quitting En- LXXXII. The sciences useful in a populous state, prejudicial in a barbarous CIV. The arts some make use of to LXXXIII. Some cautions on life taken from CV. The intended coronation de- a modern philosopher of China, 351 LXXXIV. Anecdotes of several poets who CVI. Funeral elegies written upon the great ridiculed. A speci- CVII. The English too fond of believing The Characteristics of Greatness, 445 every report without examination. Conclusion of a City Night-Piece, 446 A story of an incendiary to this V. Upon Political Frugality, . . . 447 purpose, . . . . . 376 A Reverie, . . . . . 450 CVIII. The utility and entertainment A word or two upon High Life Below which might result from a jour. ney into the East, . . . 377 Upon unfortunate Merit, . . . 453 CIX. The Chinese philosopher attempts VI. On Education, . . . . 454 to find out famous men, . . 378 On the instability of worldly grandeur, 458 CX. Some projects for introducing Asi- Account of the Academies of Italy, 459 atic employments into the courts VII. Of Eloquence, . . . , 460 of England, . . . . 380 Custom and Laws compared; . . 463 CXI. On the different sects in England, On the Pride and Luxury of the Mid- particularly Methodism, . . 381 dling class of People, . . 464 CXII. An election described, . . 382 Sabinus and Olinda, . . . ib. The Sentiments of a Frenchman on the ance; in which both sides fight by Temper of the English, . . 466 epigram, . . . . . 383 VIII. On Deceit and Falsehood . . 467 CXIV. Against the marriage act. A fable, 385 An Account of the Augustan Age of CXV. On the danger of having too high an opinion of human nature, . 386| Of the Opera in England, . . 471 CXVI. Whether love be a natural or ficti- CXVII. A city night-piece, . . . 389 Preface to the Essays, . . . 473 CXVIII. On the meanness of the Dutch at 1. Description of various Clube, 474 the court of Japan, . . . ib. II. Specimen of a Magazine in Minia- CXIX. On the distresses of the poor exem. plified in the life of a private sen- LII. A sem, an eastern Tale; or, Vindica- tion of the Wisdom of Providence in the Moral Government of the CXXI. The irresolution of the English ac- IV. On the English Clergy and popular CXXII. The manner of travellers in their V. A Reverig at the Boar's-Head Tav- usual relations ridiculed, . . 394 CXXIII. The conclusion, . . . 395 VI. Adventures of a Strolling Player, 487 VII. Rules enjoined to be observed at a 'The Life of Dr. Parnell, . . . . 398 The Life of Ilenry Lord Viscount Bolingbroke 407 VIII. Biographical Memoir supposed to be written by the Ordinary of New- No. I. Introduction, . . . . . 424 gate, . . . . . . 491 On a beautiful youth struck blind by IX. National Concord, . . 492 lightning, . . . . . 426 X. Female Warriors, . . . 493 Remarks on our Theatres, . . ib. XI. National Prejudices, . . . 494 The Story of Alcander and Septimius, XII. Taste, . . . .. A letter from a Traveller, . . 429 XIII. Cultivation of Taste, . . . 499 Account of Mr. Maupertuis, . ib. XIV. Origin of Poetry, . . . . 502 II. On Dress, . . . . . 430 XV. Poetry distinguished from other Some particulars relative to Charles 12, 432 Happiness dependent on Constitution, 431 XVI. Metaphors, . . . 510 On our Theatres, . . . . . 435 XVII. Hyperboles, . . . . . 516 III. On the Use of Language, . 436) XVIII. Versification, . . . 517 The History of Hyspasia, . . 438 XIX. Schools of Music, Objections there- On Justice and Generosity, . , 439 Some particulars relative to Father / XX. Carolan the Irish Bard, . . 521 Freijo, . . . . . 440 XXI. On the Tenants of Leasowes, . 522 IV. Miscellaneous, . . . 441 XXII. Sentimental Comedy, . . 523 A Flemnish Tradition, . . . 442 XXIII. Scotch Marriages, . . . . 525 The Sagacity of some Insects, 444 XXIV. Dignity of Human Nature, . 526 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF Oliver Goldsmith. There are few writers for whom the reader feels | villages claim the honour of having given him such personal kindness as for Oliver Goldsmith. birth: Pallas in the county of Longford; and ElThe fascinating ease and simplicity of his style; phin, in the county of Roscommon. The former the benevolence that beams through every page; is named as the place in the epitaph by Dr. Johnthe whimsical yet amiable views of human life and son, inscribed on his monument in Westminster human nature; the mellow unforced humour, Abbey; but later investigations have decided in fablended so happily with good feeling and good vour of Elphin. sense, throughout his writings; win their way ir- He was the second son of the Rev. Charles resistibly to the affections and carry the author with Goldsmith, a clergyman of the established church, them. While writers of greater pretensions and but without any patrimony. His mother was more sounding names are suffered to lie upon our daughter of the Rev. Oliver Jones, master of the shelves, the works of Goldsmith are cherished and diocesan school at Elphin. It was not till some laid in our bosoms. We do not quote them with time after the birth of Oliver that his father obostentation, but they mingle with our minds; they tained the living of Kilkenny-West, in the county sweeten our tempers and harmonize our thoughts; of Westmeath. Previous to this period he and his they put us in good humour with ourselves and wife appear to have been almost entirely dependent with the world, and in so doing they make us hap-on her relations for support. pier and better men. His father was equally distinguished for his liteWe have been curious therefore in gathering to-rary attainments and for the benevolence of his gether all the heterogeneous particulars concerning hcart. His family consisted of five sons and two poor Goldsmith that still exist; and seldom have we daughters. From this little world of home Goldmet with an author's life more illustrative of his smith has drawn many of his domestic scenes, works, or works more faithfully illustrative of the both whimsical and touching, which appeal so forauthor's life.* His rambling biography displays cibly to the heart, as well as to the fancy; his fahim the same kind, artless, goodi humoured, excur- ther's fireside furnished many of the family scenes sive, sensible, whinisical, intelligent being that he of the Vicar of Wakefield; and it is said that the appears in his writings. Scarcely an adventure or learned simplicity and amiable peculiarities of that a character is given in his page that may not be worthy divine have been happily illustrated in the traced to his own parti-coloured story. Many of character of Dr. Primrose. his most ludicrous scenes and ridiculous incidents The Rev. Henry Goldsmith, elder brother of have been drawn from his own blunders and mis- the poet, and born seven years before him, was a chances, and he seems really to have been buffeted man of estimable worth and excellent talents. into almost every maxim imparted by him for the Great expectations were formed of hin, from the instruction of his readers. promise of his youth, both when at school and at Oliver Goldsmith was a native of Ireland, and college ; but he offended and disappointed his was born on the 29th of November, 1728. Two friends, by entering into matrimony at the early age of nineteen, and resigning all ambitious views "The present biography is principally taken from the Scotch for love and a curacy. If, however, we may deedition of Goldsnaith's works, published in 1821. lieve the pictures drawn by the poet of his brother |