In this place, however, he had not been long before he was arrested at the suit of Mr. Barclay, a tailor in Edinburgh, and the person to whom he had imprudently become surety for his friend. From this difficulty he was at length released by the kindness of Dr. Sleigh and Mr. Laughlin Maclaine, whose friendship he had probably acquired at the college of Edinburgh. He then embarked for Rotterdam, proceeded to Leyden, where he resided about a year, studying chemistry and anatomy, and afterwards visited great part of Flanders and Brabant on foot, subsisting frequently by his voluntary performances on the German flute: his learning, we are told, made him a welcome guest to the monks, and his pipe to the peasants.

After passing some time at Strasbourg and Louvain (where he obtained the degree of Bachelor in Physic), he accompanied an English gentleman to Berne and Geneva. On his arrival at the latter place, it is said, he was recommended as a proper person to be travelling tutor to a young man who had been unexpectedly left a considerable sum

of money by his uncle, Mr. S, a pawnbroker, near Holborn. This youth, who had been articled to an attorney, on receipt of his fortune, determined to see the world; but, on engaging with Goldsmith as his preceptor, made a proviso that he should be permitted to govern himself; and our traveller soon found that his pupil understood extremely well the art of directing in money concerns; for avarice was his predominant passion.

During Goldsmith's continuance in Switzerland, he assiduously cultivated a poetical talent, of which he had given some promising proofs at the college of Edinburgh; and it was from hence that he sent the first sketch (about two hundred lines) of his poem called "The Traveller," to his brother Henry, a clergyman in Ireland, who, with a beloved wife, was living in retirement and obscurity on an income of forty pounds a year.

With a youth of a disposition so opposite to his own, as it appears his pupil was, it will not be supposed that Goldsmith could long continue. A disagreement happened on

their arrival in the South of France; where the young man paid him such part of his salary as remained due, and embarked at Marseilles for England.

Our wanderer was left once more upon the wide world, and encountered numberless difficulties in traversing the greater part of France; whence, his curiosity being gratified, he bent his course toward England, and arrived at Dover in the winter of 1757-8. When he reached London, his stock of cash did not amount to two livres. He applied to several apothecaries in the hope of engaging himself as a journeyman; but his awkward appearance and broad Irish accent almost every where met with repulse and insult. At length a chemist near Fish-street-hill, struck with his forlorn condition, and the simplicity of his manners, employed him in his laboratory, where he remained till he learned that his old friend Dr. Sleigh was in town. The worthy Doctor received Goldsmith into his family, and undertook to support him till some establishment could be procured. Goldsmith, however, unwilling

to be a burden to his friend, a short time after eagerly embraced an offer which was made him, to assist the late Dr. John Milner, a dissenting minister of eminence, in instructing the young gentlemen of the academy at Peckham*.

* From the information of a daughter of Dr. Milner, the following particulars were communicated by Mr. Evans to the Monthly Magazine for Dec. 1802.

"Dr. Milner died about the year 1760, and Dr. Goldsmith was employed by him as an usher near three years. He was not indeed with him at the time of his death; but so much was he respected by the widow and the family,, that he was invited to return and take care of the seminary, which was continued some little time longer; with which request he complied. Dr. Goldsmith came to Peckham from Richardson, the celebrated novel-writer, at that period a printer near Blackfriars. Here he was occupied in correcting the press; and of Richardson and his family he always spoke in terms of respect and gratitude. He had also at that time some acquaintance with Dr. Griffiths, the venerable proprietor and editor of the Monthly Review, to which respectable periodical publication he even then contributed articles of criticism. From this gentleman he received considerable patronage, and therefore to his kindness he often professed himself much indebted. Previous to his engagement at the academy, he had travelled through many parts of Europe, and was tolerably well acquainted with the Latin and French languages. These he taught,

It was during the time of his being usher at Dr. Milner's, that Goldsmith commenced author; and the earliest performance of his, now known, was, "The Memoirs of a Pro

and the latter he spoke with facility. As to his person, he was of middle stature, fair complexion, wore a large wig, slovenly in his dress, but possessing a benevolent countenance and a cheerful demeanour. If he thought any one slighted him, or used him ill, it occasioned a great dejection; but otherwise he was a most charming companion. He played frequently, but indifferently, on the German flute. In his conversation he discovered a very general acquaintance with books, and had a thorough knowledge of the customs and manners of mankind. In his diet he was very temperate, in his behaviour unassuming; and the young gentlemen were never so happy as when they could get him on a winter's evening to tell them anecdotes, with which his mind was well stored. But, alas! he never was an economist. Out of his scanty salary of twenty pounds a year, he frequently gave to persons in distress,—making a point of never sending a poor author away without half a crown! He had not a few of these latter applications. Hence it was that he generally applied for his salary before it came due; and one day, upon an application of the kind to Mrs. Milner, she smiling said "You had better, Mr. Goldsmith, let me keep your money for you, as I do for some of the young gentlemen;" to which he replied, with great good humour, " In truth, Madam, there is equal need,” and pleasantly walked away.