66 1738. his will. "to play Goodman Dull."* It "much pains to form our morals was the part he was set down for "as to improve our understandfrom the first, very much against "ing. We were told, that uni"versal benevolence was what But were there not still "first cemented society; we were Et. 10. the means, at the fireside "taught to consider all the wants of his good-hearted father, of "of mankind as our own; to returning these childish rebuffs to “gard the human face divine with something of a wholesome dis-"affection and esteem; he wound cipline? Alas! little; there was "us up to be mere machines of little of worldly wisdom in the "pity, and rendered us incapable home circle of the kind but "of withstanding the slightest simple preacher, to make a profit "impulse made either by real or of this worldly experience. "My "fictitious distress: in a word, "father's education," says the "we were perfectly instructed in man in black, and no one ever "the art of giving away thoudoubted who sat for the portrait, "sands, before we were taught was above his fortune, and his "the more necessary qualifica"generosity greater than his "tions of getting a farthing.”** "education... He told the story Acquisitions highly primitive, "of the ivy-tree, and that was and supporting what seems to "laughed at; he repeated the jest have been the common fame of "of the two scholars and one the Goldsmith race. "The Gold"pair of breeches, and the com- "smiths were always a strange 'pany laughed at that; but the "family," "confessed three dif'story of Taffy in the sedan- ferent branches of them, in as "chair was sure to set the table many different quarters of Ire"in a roar: thus his pleasure in- land, when inquiries were made "creased in proportion to the by a recent biographer of the pleasure he gave; he loved all poet. "They rarely acted like "the world, and he fancied all "other people: their hearts were "the world loved him. As his "always in the right place, but "fortune was but small, he lived "their heads seemed to be "up to the very extent of it: he "doing anything but what they "had no intentions of leaving his "ought." ** It is very com"children money, for that was monly to be remarked, however, "dross; he was resolved they as to opinions or confessions of “should have learning, for learn- this kind, that if the heart's right 'ing, he used to observe, was place were better discriminated, "better than silver or gold. For the head itself might come to "this purpose he undertook to be more favourably regarded. "instruct us himself; and took as Worthy Doctor Strean expressed Mrs. Piozzi's Anecdotes, (1786), 180, Citizen of the World, XXVII, ** Prior, 1, 101, 66 66 66 181. 1738. himself more correctly when Mr. under right control or free from Mangin was making his inquiries extravagance and excess,* must more than forty years ago. often of necessity be his who has "Several of the family and a privilege by such means "name," he said, "live near El- largely to diffuse it among “phin, who, as well as the poet, others; and in the endea- t. 10. "were and are remarkable for vour to show that the heart of "their worth, but of no clever-Oliver Goldsmith was in the best "ness in the common affairs of sense rightly placed, it may ap"the world." pear that his head also profited 66 If cleverness in the common by so good an example. affairs of the world is what the At the age of eleven he 1739. head should be always versed in, was removed from Mr. to be meditating what it ought, Griffin's, and put to a school Æt. 11. poor Oliver was a grave de- of repute at Athlone, about five faulter. We are all of us related miles from his father's house, and to chaos, more or less; and with kept by a reverend Mr. Camphim, to the last, much lay unre- | bell. *** At about the same time deemed from its void. Sturdy "A lad whose passions are not boys who work a gallant way "strong enough in youth to mislead him through school, are the picked "from that path of science which his men of their colleges, grow up "chalked out, by four or five years' pertutors, and not his inclination, have to thriving eminence in their "severance probably obtains every adseveral callings, and found re- vantage and honour his college can "bestow. I forget whether the simile has spectable families, are seldom "been used before, but I would compare troubled with this relationship "the man whose youth has been thus till chaos reclaims them, and "passed in the tranquillity of dispasthey die and are forgotten. All ferment, and consequently continue al"sionate prudence, to liquors that never men have their advantages, and "ways muddy. Passions may raise a that is theirs. But it shows too commotion in the youthful breast, but great a pride in what they have, they disturb only to refine it. Howto put the whole world under "rewarded in colleges with an easy subpenalties to possess it too, and "sistence." Enquiry into the Present State to set up so many doleful lamen-of Polite Learning, chap. x. So, too, in his Life of Bolingbroke, he excuses the tations over the poor, confused, youthful excesses and irregularities of erratic, Goldsmith nature. Their the statesman by the remark that this tone will not be taken here, the period of his career might have been writer making no pretension to its moral dignity. Consideration will be had for the harsh lessons this boy so early and bitterly encountered; it will not be forgotten that feeling, not always * Mangin's Essay, 149. 66 "ever this be, mean talents are often compared to that of fermentation in liquors, which grow muddy before they brighten; "but it must also be confessed "that those liquors which never ferment 66 are seldom clear." Miscell. Works (Ed. 1837), m. 383. The same observation (as usual with anything that is a favourite with him) again and again recurs in his various writings. **Percy Memoir, 6. his brother Henry went as a master, it appeared, had been pensioner to Dublin University, Charles Goldsmith's friend. They and it was resolved that in due dwelt upon his ugliness and awk 1741. course Oliver should fol- ward manners; they professed to low him: a determination, recount even the studies he liked Et 13. his sister told Doctor Percy, or disliked (Ovid as well as Howhich had replaced that of put-race he welcomed eagerly, hating ting him to a common trade on Cicero, delighting in Livy, and those evidences of a certain live- finding in Tacitus a source of liness of talent which had broken deeper interest);* they described out at uncle John's being dis- his temper as ultra-sensitive, but cussed among his relatives and added that though quick to take friends. He remained at Athlone offence he was feverishly ready two years; and, when Mr. Camp- to forgive. They also said, that bell's ill-health obliged him to though at first diffident and backresign his charge, was removed ward in the extreme, he in time to the school of Edgeworthstown mustered sufficient boldness to kept by the reverend Patrick take even a leader's place in the Hughes. Here he stayed more boyish sports, and particularly than three years, and was long at fives or ball-playing. ** Whenremembered by the school ac- ever an exploit was proposed or quaintance he formed; among a trick was going forward, "Noll whom were Mr. Beatty, Mr. Nu- "Goldsmith" was certain to be in gent, Mr. Roach, and Mr. Daly, it; an actor or a victim. 1743. to whom we are indebted Of his holidays, Ballymahon for some traits of that was the central attraction; and Et. 15. early time. They recol- here too recollection was vivid lected Mr. Hughes's special kind- and busy, as soon as his name ness to him, and "thinking well" grew famous. An old man who of him, as matters not then to directed the sports of the place, be accounted for. ** The good and kept the ball-court in those 66 66 66 "Oliver was his second son, and son's narrative that Mr. Hughes con"born very unexpectedly after an in- versed with him on a footing very dif"terval of seven years from the birth of ferent from that of master and scholar. "the former child, and the liberal educa-"This circumstance Dr. Goldsmith al"tion which their father was then be- "ways mentioned with respect and grastowing on his eldest son bearing hard "titude." Percy Memoir, 6. upon his small income, he could only * It is less easy to believe what is propose to bring up Oliver to some added, that a reproof from his elder "mercantile employment." Mrs. Hod- brother first turned his attention to style son's narrative, in the Percy Memoir, 3. in writing; for that, having sent Henry In the next page she adds, "he began at some short and confused letters from so early a period to show signs of genius school, he was told in reply that "if he "that he quickly engaged the notice of "had but little to say, he should en"all the friends of the family, many of "deavour to say it well." "whom were in the church." 66 **Doctor Strean, in Mangin's Essay, **We learn from a note to Mrs. Hod-149, 150. days, long subsisted on his stories | owner of the guinea, who, with of "Master Noll." The narrative a lofty confident air, inquired of masterpiece of this ancient Jack a person passing the way to the Fitzsimmons related to a raid or town's best house of en 1744. foray made upon the orchard of tertainment. The man ad- Æt. 16. Tirlicken, by the youth and his dressed was the wag of companions. Fitzsimmons also Ardagh, a humorous fencingvouched to the reverend John master, Mr. Cornelius Kelly, and Graham for the entire truth of the schoolboy swagger was irthe adventure so currently and resistible provocation to a jest. confidently told by his Irish Submissively he turned back with acquaintance which offers an horse and rider till they came agreeable relief to the excess of within a pace or two of the great diffidence heretofore noted in Squire Featherston's, to which he him, and on which, if true, the respectfully pointed as the "best leading incident of She Stoops to "house," of Ardagh. Oliver rang Conquer was founded. at the gate, gave his beast in 1744 At the close of his last charge with authoritative rigour, holidays, then a lad of and was shown, as a supposed Et. 16. nearly seventeen, he left expected guest, into the comhome for Edgeworthstown mount-fortable parlour of the squire. ed on a borrowed hack which a Those were days when Irish innfriend was to restore to Lissoy, and keepers and Irish squires more with a guinea, store of unaccus- nearly approximated than now; tomed wealth, in his pocket. The and Mr. Featherston, unlike the delicious taste of independence excellent but explosive Mr. Hardbeguiled him to a loitering, castle, is said to have seen the lingering, pleasant enjoyment of mistake and humoured it. Oliver the journey; and instead of find- had a supper which gave him so ing himself under Mr. Hughes's much satisfaction, that he ordered roof at nightfall, night fell upon a bottle of wine to follow; and him some two or three miles out the attentive landlord was not of the direct road, in the middle only forced to drink with him, of the streets of Ardagh. But but, with like familiar connothing could disconcert the descension, the wife and pretty daughter were invited to the "In this adventure," Mr. Graham supper-room. Going to bed, he writes, "which Jack detailed minutely, stopped to give special instruc"both he and Oliver were engaged; de- tions for a hot cake to break"tection, however, either at the moment fast; and it was not till he had disor soon afterwards, ensued; and had it "not been for the respectability of Gold- patched this latter meal, and smith's connections, which secured im- was regarding his guinea with a "munity also to his companions, the consequences might have been unplea-pathetic last look, that the truth was told him by the good-natured "sant."" his brother Henry went as a master, it appeared, had been pensioner to Dublin University, Charles Goldsmith's friend. They and it was resolved that in due dwelt upon his ugliness and awk 1741. course Oliver should fol- ward manners; they professed to low him: a determination, recount even the studies he liked At 13. his sister told Doctor Percy, or disliked (Ovid as well as Howhich had replaced that of put-race he welcomed eagerly, hating ting him to a common trade on Cicero, delighting in Livy, and those evidences of a certain live- finding in Tacitus a source of liness of talent which had broken deeper interest);* they described out at uncle John's being dis- his temper as ultra-sensitive, but cussed among his relatives and added that though quick to take friends. He remained at Athlone offence he was feverishly ready two years; and, when Mr. Camp- to forgive. They also said, that bell's ill-health obliged him to though at first diffident and backresign his charge, was removed ward in the extreme, he in time to the school of Edgeworthstown mustered sufficient boldness to kept by the reverend Patrick take even a leader's place in the Hughes. Here he stayed more boyish sports, and particularly than three years, and was long at fives or ball-playing. ** Whenremembered by the school ac- ever an exploit was proposed or quaintance he formed; among a trick was going forward, "Noll whom were Mr. Beatty, Mr. Nu- "Goldsmith" was certain to be in gent, Mr. Roach, and Mr. Daly, it; an actor or a victim. to whom we are indebted Of his holidays, Ballymahon 1743. for some traits of that was the central attraction; and t. 15. early time. They recol- here too recollection was vivid lected Mr. Hughes's special kind- and busy, as soon as his name ness to him, and "thinking well" grew famous. An old man who of him, as matters not then to directed the sports of the place, be accounted for.** The good and kept the ball-court in those 66 "Oliver was his second son, and son's narrative that Mr. Hughes con"born very unexpectedly after an in- versed with him on a footing very dif"terval of seven years from the birth of ferent from that of master and scholar. "the former child, and the liberal educa-"This circumstance Dr. Goldsmith al"tion which their father was then be- ways mentioned with respect and gra"stowing on his eldest son bearing hard "titude." Percy Memoir, 6. "upon his small income, he could only It is less easy to believe what is propose to bring up Oliver to some added, that a reproof from his elder mercantile employment." Mrs. Hod- brother first turned his attention to style son's narrative, in the Percy Memoir, 3. in writing; for that, having sent Henry In the next page she adds, "he began at some short and confused letters from so early a period to show signs of genius school, he was told in reply that "if he "that he quickly engaged the notice of "had but little to say, he should en"all the friends of the family, many of "deavour to say it well." "whom were in the church." **Doctor Strean, in Mangin's Essay, ** We learn from a note to Mrs. Hod-149, 150. |