vd LIFE OF GOLDSMITH. 



of applause. Goldsmith himself was so transported with the acting of Shuter, that he ex- 

 pressed his gratitude to him before the whole company, assuring him, " he had exceeded his 

 own idea of the character, and that the fine comic richness of his colouring made it almost 

 appear as new to him as to any other person in the house." Dr. Johnson, as a token of his 

 friendship for the Author, wrote the prologue. 



The production of this comedy added considerably to his purse, as, from the profits of his 

 three nights, and the sale of the copy, lie acquired the sum of five hundred pounds, which, 

 with an additional sum he had reserved out of the product of a Roman History, in 2 vols. 8vo. 

 and an History of England, 4 vols. 8vo. he was enabled to descend fromtheattic story.heoccu- 

 pied in the Inner Temple, and take possession of a spacious suit of chambers in Brook-Court, 

 Middle Temple, which he purchased at no less a sum than four hundred pounds. He was at 

 the further charge of furnishing his chambers in an elegant manner, fitting up a handsome 

 library, and procuring every article, convenient and ornamental, that was proper for the ac- 

 commodation of a man who stood high in the republic of letters, and whose talents were re- 

 warded in a degree proportionate to their merit. 



But this improvement in his circumstances, and manner of living, by no means compensated for 

 the mortification he underwent from the very-severe strictures of some rigid critics on his comedy. 

 Sentimental writing was the prevailing taste of the town, with which a comedy, called False 

 Delicacy, written by Kelly, abounded ; arid being got up at the Theatre in Drury Lane, under 

 the superintendance of Mr. Garrick, it met with such general approbation, that it was per- 

 formed for several successive nights with unbounded applause, and bore away the palm from 

 "Goldsmith's comedy, which came out much at the same time at the other theatre. False 

 Delicacy became so popular a piece, that ten thousand copies were sold in the course of only 

 one season; and the booksellers concerned in the property, as a token of their acknowledg- 

 ment of the merit of the comedy, apparent from its extraordinary sale, presented Kelly with 

 a piece of plate of considerable value, and gave an elegant entertainment to him and his 

 friends. These circumstances irritated the feelings of Goldsmith to so violent a degree, as to 

 dissolve the bands of friendship between Kelly and him; for though, in every other instance, 

 he bore a near resemblance to his own character of the Good Natured Man, yet, in literary 

 fame, he " could bear no rival near his throne." Had not his countryman and lellow bard aspired 

 at rivalship, had he been modestly content to move in an humbler sphere, he might not only 

 have retained his friendship, but commanded his purse; but, as emphatically expressed by 

 the same author from .whom we cited the last quotation; "To contend for the bow of Ulysses; 

 this was a fault ; that way envy lay." 



There is a humorous anecdote related of Goldsmith concerning a periodical publication in 

 which he was jointly concerned with Dr. Kenrick, BickorstafK and others. The publication 

 dropped; upon which a friend remarked that it was a very short-lived production, and 



