LIFE OF GOLDSMITH. xiii 



The prosaic eulogium which follows, does the highest honour to his character, both literary 

 and personal. 



" In an age when genius and learning are too generally sacrificed to the purposes of ambi- 

 tion and avarice, it is the consolation of virtue, as well as its friends, that they can commemo- 

 rate the name of Goldsmith as a shining example to the contrary. 



" Early compelled (like many of the greatest men) into the service of the muses, he never 

 once permitted his necessities to have the least improper influence on his conduct; but, know- 

 ing and respecting the honourable line of his profession, he made no farther use of fiction, than 

 to set off the dignity of truth; and in this he succeeded so happily, that his writings stamp 

 him no less the man of genius, than the universal friend of mankind. 



" Such is the outline of his poetical character, which, perhaps, will be remembered, whilst 

 the first rate poets of this country have any monuments left them. But, alas ! his noble and 

 immortal part, the good man, is only consigned to the short-lived memory of those who are 

 left to lament his death. 



" Having naturally a powerful bias on his mind to the cause of virtue, he was cheerful and 

 indefatigable in every pursuit of it; warm in his friendship, gentle in his manners, and in 

 every act of charity and benevolence, " the very milk of human nature." Nay, even his foi- 

 bles, and little weaknesses of temper, may be said rather to simplify than degrade his under- 

 standing; for, though there may be many instances adduced, to prove he was no man of the 

 ivorld, most of those instances would attest the unadulterated purity of his heart. One who 

 esteemed the kindness and friendship of such a man, as forming a principal part of the happi- 

 ness of his life, pays this last sincere and grateful tribute to his memory," 



The esteem in which our Author was held by Dr. Johnson, is evident from the following 

 passage, extracted from a letter of the Doctor to Mr. Boswell, soon after his demise. " Of 

 poor dear Dr. Goldsmith there is little to be told, more than the papers have made public. 

 He died of a fever, made, I am afraid, more violent by uneasiness of mind. His debts be- 

 gan to be heavy, and all his resources were exhausted. Sir Joshua Reynolds is of opinion, 

 that he owed no less than two thousand pounds. Was ever poet so trusted before ?" 



To so high a degree of literary fame did Goldsmith arrive, that the product of his writings 

 in general is said to have amounted, in the course of fourteen years, to more than 8000, but 

 this sm WHS dissipated by an improvident liberality without discrimination of objects, and 

 other foibles incidental to mankind, which our Author could not see in himself; or, if he could 

 see, wanted resolution to correct. But with these foibles he possessed many virtues, and 

 those particularly of humanity and benevolence, which disposed him to do all the good within 

 his power ; so that he lived respected, and died lamented. 



"Thepersr. of Goldsmith," (says Mr. Boswell, in his Life of Dr. Johnson,) "was short; 

 his countenance coarse and vulgar ; his deportment that of a scholar, awkwardly affecting the 



