OLIVP-R GOLDSMITH. 
417 
hini f 0 i>|iis iiiasterj who would see me immediately. At this 
instaot, the duke came into the apartment; and I was so confused on 
the occasion, that I wanted words barely sufficient to express the 
sense I entertained of the duke’s politeness, and went away extremely 
chagrined at the blunder I had committed.” 
Another anecdote exhibits the strict integrity of his character. Pre- 
vious to the publication of his Deserted Village, the bookseller had 
given him a note for one hundred guineas for the copy, which the 
Doctor mentioned a few hours after to one of his friends, who observed, 
that it was a very great sum for so short a performance : “ In truth,” 
replied Goldsmith, “ I think so too; I have not been easy since I 
received it; therefore I will go back and return him his note:” which 
he absolutely did, and left it entirely to the bookseller to pay him 
according to the profits produced by the sale of the piece ; which, 
however, turned out very considerable. 
During the last rehearsal of his comedy, entitled She Stoops to 
Conquer, which Mr. Coleman had no opinion would succeed, on the 
Dr.’s objecting to one of Tony Lumpkin’s speeches, being apprehen- 
sive it might injure the play; the manager, with great keenness, re- 
plied, Psha, my dear Dr. ; do not be fearful of squibs, when you 
have been sitting almost these two hours on a barrel of gunpowder.” 
This piece, however, was received with uncommon applause by the 
audience ; and the severity of Coleman’s observation put an end to 
the Doctor’s regard for him. Notwithstanding the great success of 
his pieces, by some of which be cleared 8001. in one year, his circum- 
stances were not in a prosperous situation ; partly owing to the 
liberality of bis disposition, and partly to an unfortunate habit of 
gaming, the arts of which he knew very little of, and thus became the 
prey*of those who took advantage of his simplicity. 
Before his death he published the prospectus of an Universal Diction- 
ary of Arts and Sciences ; and as his literary friends, Sir Joshua Rey- 
nolds, Dr. Johnson, Mr. Beaoclerc, Mr. Garrick, andothers, had under- 
taken to furnish him with articles on different subjects, he entertained 
the most sanguine expectations from it. The undertaking however* 
did. not meet. with thatencouragement from the booksellers, which he 
imagined it would receive ; and lie lamented this circumstance almost 
to the last hour of his life. He had been for some years afflicted 
af different times with a violent strangury, which contributed to im- 
bittcr the latter part of his life ; and which, united with the vexations 
wjiicb he suffered upon other occasions, brought on a kind of habitual 
de^ondeney. In this unhappy condition he was attacked by a nervous 
fever, which tCOT in his death on the 4th of April 1774, His 
character is justly expressed in Mr. Pope’s line ; 
: *Mn. wit a man, simplicity a child.” 
The learned leisure jie loved to enjoy was often interrupted by distress 
which arose from the irritability of his temper, which sometimesthrew 
him into violent fits of passion ; but this impetuosity was corrected upon 
reflection, and his servants have been known, upon these occasions, 
purposely to throw themselves in his way, that they might profit by 
it immediately after, for he who had the good fortune, to he reproved, 
was certain of being rewarded for it. The universal esteem in which his 
3 G 
