LIFE OF GOLDSMITH. xi 



that operated in so great a degree, that he exhibited signs of despair, and even a disgust 

 with life itself. 



Finding his disorder rapidly increase, he sent for Mr. Halves, his apothecary, as well as in- 

 timate friend, to whom he related the symptoms of his malady. He told him he had taken 

 two ounces of ipecacuanha wine as an emetic; and expressed a great desire of making trial 

 of Dr. James's fever powders, which lie desired him to send him. The apothecary represent- 

 ed to his patient the impropriety of taking this medicine at that time ; but no argument could 

 prevail with him to relinquish his intention; so that Mr. Hawes, apprehensive of the fatal 

 consequences of his putting this rash resolve into execution, in order to divert him from it, 

 requested permission to send for Doctor Fordyce, who attended immediately, on receiving 

 the message. 



Doctor Fordyce, of whose medical abilities Goldsmith always expressed the highest sense, 

 corroborated the opinion of the apothecary, and used every argument to dissuade 

 him from taking the powders ; but, deaf to all the remonstrances of his physician and 

 friend, he fatally persisted in his resolution; and when the apothecary visited him the follow- 

 ing day, and inquired of him how he did, he fetched a deep sigh, and said, in a dejected tone, 

 " He wished he had taken his friendly advice last night." Doctor Fordyce, alarmed at the 

 dangerous symptoms which the disorder indicated, thought it necessary to call in the advice 

 of another physician ; and accordingly proposed sending for Doctor Turton, of whom he knew 

 Goldsmith had a great opinion. The proposal was acceded to; a servant was immediately 

 despatched with a message ; and, on his arrival, the two doctors assisted at a consultation, 

 which they continued regularly every day till the disorder put a period to the existence of 

 their patient, on the fourth day of April, 1774, in the 45th year of his age. 



His friends, who were very numerous and respectable, had determined to bury him in 

 Westminster-abbey : his pall was to have been supported by Lord Shelburne, Lord Louth, 

 Sir Joshua Reynolds, the Honourable Mr. Beauclerc, Mr. Edmund Burke, and Mr. Garrick ; 

 but, from some unaccountable circumstances, this design was dropped; and his remains were 

 privately deposited in the Temple burial-ground, on Saturday, the 9th of April ; when Mr. 

 Hugh Kelly, Messrs. John and Robert Day, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Etherington, and Mr. Hawes, 

 gentlemen who had been his friends in life, attended his corpse as mourners, and paid the last 

 tribute to his memory. 



A subscription, however, was afterwards raised by his friends, to defray the expense of a 

 marble monument, which was placed in Westminster-abbey, between Gay's monument -and 

 the Duke of Argyle's, in the Poet's corner, with the following Latin inscription, written by his 

 friend Dr. Samuel Johnson : 



