Dr. Percy, exhibits the most unsophisticated simplicity of mind, and breathes the same ardent attachment to his country, with the same unalterable affection for "his poor shattered family" as he was wont to do when more dependent on them, and when his present eminence could hardly have been anticipated.'

ΤΟ MR.

46

MAURICE GOLDSMITH, AT JAMES SAUNDERS', ESQ. AT KILMORE, NEAR CAR

RICK ON SHANNON.

January, 1770.

DEAR BROTHER, I should have answered your letter sooner, but in truth I am not fond of thinking of the necessity of those I love, when it is so very little in my power to help them. I am sorry to find you are still every way unprovided for; and what adds to my uneasiness is, that I have received a letter from my sister Johnson, by which I learn that she is pretty much in the same circumstances. As to myself, I believe I could get both you and my poor brother-in-law something like that which you desire; but I am determined never to ask for little things, nor exhaust any little interest I may have, until I can serve

46 Our Poet's youngest brother, a cabinet-maker at Dublin. The Duke of Rutland made him an Inspector of the Licenses of the city. He was appointed Macebearer on the erection of the Irish Royal Academy. He died without issue.

you, him, and myself more effectually. As yet no opportunity has offered, but I believe you are pretty well convinced that I will not be remiss when it arrives. The king has lately been pleased to make me Professor of Ancient History in a Royal Academy of Painting, which he has just established; but there is no salary annexed, and I took it rather as a compliment to the institution, than any benefit to myself. Honours to one in my situation are something like ruffles to a man that wants a shirt. You tell me that there are fourteen or fifteen pounds left me in the hands of my cousin Lauder, and you ask me what I would have done with them. My dear brother, I would by no means give any directions to my dear worthy relations at Kilmore how to dispose of money which is, properly speaking, more theirs than mine. All that I can say is, that I entirely, and this letter will serve to witness, give up any right and title to it; and I am sure they will dispose of it to the best advantage. To them I entirely leave it, whether they or you may think the whole necessary to fit you out, or whether our poor sister Johnson may not want the half, I leave entirely to their and your discretion. The kindness of that good couple to our poor shattered family demands our sincerest gratitude; and though they have almost forgot me, yet, if good things at last arrive, I hope one day to return, and increase their good humour by add

ing to my own. I have sent my cousin Jenny a miniature picture of myself, as I believe it is the most acceptable present I can offer. I have ordered it to be left for her at George Falkener's, folded in a letter. The face, you well know, is ugly enough; but it is finely painted. I will shortly also send my friends over the Shannon some mezzotinto prints of myself, and some more of my friends here, such as Burke, Johnson, Reynolds, and Colman. I believe I have written a hundred letters to different friends in your country, and never received an answer from any of them. I do not know how to account for this, or why they are unwilling to keep up for me those regards which I must ever retain for them. If, then, you have a mind to oblige me, you will write often, whether I answer you or not. Let me particularly have the news of our family and old acquaintances. For instance, you may begin by telling me about the family where you reside, how they spend their time, and whether they ever make mention of me. Tell me about my mother, my brother Hodson and his son, my brother Harry's son and daughter, my sister Johnson, the family of Ballyoughton; what is become of them, where they live, and how they do. You talked of being my only brother; I don't understand you: where is Charles? A sheet of paper occasionally, filled with news of this kind, would make me very happy, and would keep you nearer

my mind. As it is, my dear brother, believe me to be yours most affectionately,

OLIVER GOLDSMITH.

The lives of Parnell 47 and Bolingbroke were the next productions which Goldsmith's fertile pen produced for the booksellers. The former has received the highest praise from Johnson: it is embellished with some original letters from Pope and Gay; and, without mentioning the authors by name, contains a severe attack on the rich and ornamented style of Gray and Collins. Goldsmith had not much to say concerning his author, and he laments the want of materials; but the life is written with elegance and knowledge. A biography of Bolingbroke, worthy of that extraordinary man, is yet to be composed; a man whose comprehensive intellect and captivating eloquence were employed in assaulting the evidences of religious faith; whose life was wasted in fierce animosities at home, or criminal intrigues abroad; who, gifted by nature, and adorned by education and study, possessed powers that might have raised himself and his country to the highest

47 Such was now the celebrity of Goldsmith's writings, that he was even looked up to as a patron and promoter of schemes of public utility. His biographer has published a very curious letter from the notorious Thomas Paine, in which he solicits Goldsmith's interest in procuring an addition to the pay of excisemen. - Chalmer's Eng. Poets, vol. xvi. p. 484.

pinnacle of greatness; and who, if he had seconded the sword of Marlborough in the senate, might have dictated a peace for England, not in the halls of Utrecht, but in the saloons of Versailles ; a man whom Pope, in the affectionate warmth of his heart and reverence of his understanding, almost deified; and one specimen of whose senatorial eloquence, it is said, Canning would have preferred to any recovered treasure of antiquity.

A writer who could command so captivating a style, and who touched all subjects with such felicity and grace as Goldsmith did, was peculiarly fitted to compose those introductions to works, which are intended to propitiate the favour of the reader, or to communicate the author's design. Griffin, in an evil hour, employed him to make a selection of English poetry for young ladies' boarding-schools, and to prefix an introduction. Goldsmith marked the poems proper for insertion; but by what name am I to designate a blunder far more fatal than his going to be ordained in scarlet breeches? Was it carelessness, oddity, whim, or a kind of unaccountable fatuity, which made him offer to the young and tender sex, whose taste and morals he was refining by his selections, one of 48 Prior's grossest

48 Whether it was Hans Carvel, The Dove, or Paulo Pargante, I cannot say. Goldsmith got £200 for this work. Another instance of Goldsmith's carelessness is mentioned. To assist a needy author, he ordered him to draw up a Descrip