312 



KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



The following letter from poor Goldsmith, gives 

 the most touching picture of an inconsiderate but 

 sensitive man, harassed by care, stung by humi- 

 liations, and driven almost to despondency : — 



" Sir — I know of no misery but a jail, to 

 which my own imprudences and your letter 

 seem to point. I have seen it inevitable these 

 three or four weeks, and, by Jove! request it as 

 a favor — as a favor that may prevent something 

 more fatal. I have been some years a struggling 

 being — with all that contempt and indigence 

 brings with it — with all those passions which 

 make contempt insupportable. What, then, 

 has a jail that is formidable? I shall at least 

 have the society of wretches; and such is to me 

 true society. I tell you, again and again, that I 

 am neither able nor willing to pay you a 

 farthing ; but I will be punctual to any appoint- 

 ment you or the tailor shall make. Thus far, at 

 least, I do not act the sharper, since unable to 

 pay my debts one way, I would generously give 

 some security another. No, Sir; had I been a 

 ' sharper' — had I been possessed of less good- 

 nature and native generosity, I might surely 

 now have been in better circumstances. 



" I am guilty, I own, of meannesses which 

 poverty unavoidably brings with it. My reflec- 

 tions are filled with repentance for my impru- 

 dence; but not with any remorse for being a 

 villain. That may be a character you unjustly 

 charge me with. Your books, I can assure you, 

 are neither pawned nor sold ; they are in the cus- 

 tody of a friend, from whom my necessities 

 obliged me to borrow some money. Whatever 

 becomes of my person, you shall have them in a 

 month. It is very possible, that both the re- 

 ports you have heard, and your own suggestions, 

 may have brought you false information with 

 respect to my character. It is very possible that 

 the man you now regard with detestation, may 

 inwardly burn with grateful resentment. It is 

 very possible that, upon a second perusal of the 

 letter I send you, you may see the workings of a 

 mind strongly agitated with gratitude and jea- 

 lousy. If such circumstances should appear, at 

 least spare invective till my book with Mr. 

 Dodsley shall be published. Then, perhaps, you 

 may see the bright side of my mind, when my 

 professions shall not appear the dictates of neces- 

 sity, but of choice. 



" You seem to think Dr. Milner knew me 

 not. Perhaps so ; yet he was a man I shall ever 

 honor; but I have friendships only with the dead ! 

 I ask pardon for taking up so much time; nor 

 shall I add to it any other professions than that 

 I am, Sir, your humble servant, 



" Oliver Goldsmith. 



" P.S. I shall expect impatiently the result 

 of your resolutions." 



The dispute between the Poet and the Pub- 

 lisher was afterwards imperfectly adjusted, and it 

 would appear that the clothes were paid for by a 

 short compilation advertised by Griffiths in the 

 course of the following month. 



We have given the preceding anecdote in de- 

 tail, as furnishing one of the many instances in 

 which Goldsmith's prompt and benevolent im- 

 pulses outran all prudent forecast, and involved 

 him in difficulties and disgraces which a more 



selfish man would have avoided. The pawning 

 of the clothes, charged upon him as a crime by 

 the grinding bookseller, and apparently admitted 

 by him as one of the "meannesses which poverty 

 unavoidably brings with it," resulted as we have 

 shown, from a tenderness of heart and genero- 

 sity of hand, in which another man would have 

 gloried. But these were such natural elements 

 with Goldsmith, that he was unconscious of their 

 merit. It is a pity that wealth does not oftener 

 bring such "meannesses" in its train! 



Manchester, Oct, 26, William Smith. 



NOTICE. 



All the numbers of this Journal ai'e in print ; and 

 may be had from No. I. inclusive, price 3d. each. Also, 

 Parts 1 to 10, price Is. Id. each; post-free, Is. 4d. 



As due notice was given to our Subscribers, early in 

 •Tune last, to complete their Sets without delay, it is 

 hoped they have done so, as the Stock is now made up 

 into Sets, and very few "odd" numbers are on hand. 

 The price of the first two Quarterly, and the first Half- 

 yearly Volumes, will remain as before— until December 

 26th. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



Phrenology for the Million will be continued in our 

 next. 



Communications Received.— II. N. Give your rabbits 

 oats, barley, and clover-chaff; mixed. Also some 

 "parings" of apples and turnip.— Emily B.—Bombvx 

 Atlas.— C. W. K. Thanks.— P. D., Bedford. We have 

 replied by post.— H. II.— D.— J. C. E. 



To Correspondents. — As we always print one number 

 of the Journal in advance, such of our Correspondents 

 as may not receive replies to their questions in the cur- 

 rent number, must bear in mind that they are not for- 

 gotten. We pay marked attention to all favors. 



KIDFS OWN JOUKNAL. 



Saturday, November 13, 1852. 



WE HAVE NOT, IT SEEMS, GONE " quite 



deep enough " in our article on Character- 

 reading,* with respect to our belief in Phy- 

 siognomy. We are cited to speak more 

 intelligibly on that particular head. 



We had imagined, that no person could 

 suspect us of not being well-versed in reading 

 the character by the countenance. How 

 much easier this than the other ! And yet, 

 both are the result of habit, 



No disciple of Gall or Spurzheim — no 

 humble follower in their train, could think 

 disrespectfully of the science of physiognomy. 

 Why a man's face, properly read, is the very 

 index of his mind. See him twice, and con- 

 verse with him, and his natural disposition 

 might be written out at once. A single inter- 

 view — sometimes a single glance, is all-suf- 

 ficient to decide if he be " good " or other- 

 wise. There are some few people, whose 

 countenances will obtain them ready access 

 anywhere and everywhere. They only 

 " look " their wish, and it is granted. They 

 ask a favor, and it is anticipated. On the 



Sec No. 44, page 280. 



