smith's reputation from the «Traveller » in the sale, though Goldsmith had it not in selling the copy." After the sale of this novel, Goldsmith and Mr Newberry became still more closely connected. We find him, in 1763, in lodgings at Canonbury House, Islington, (where he laboured assiduously for that gentleman, in the revisal and correction of various publications; particularly, « The Art of Poetry,» in 2 vols. 12m0; a « Life of Beau Nash,» the famous king of Bath; a republication of his own letters, originally written in the character of a Chinese Philosopher, and contributed to the Public Ledger, a newspaper of which Kelly was at that time the editor. These were now collected and given to the public in 2 vols. 12mo, under the title of « The Citizen of the World.» Of all his productions, prompted by necessity, and written on the spur of the moment, this collection of letters is entitled to the praise of supereminent merit. Few works exhibit a nicer perception, or more delicate delineation of life and manners. Wit, humour, and sentiment, pervade every page; the vices and follies of the day are touched with the most playful and diverting satire; and English characteristics, in endless variety, are hit off with the pencil of a master. They have ever maintained their currency and reputation, and are ranked among the classical productions of the British muse. แ Nearly about the same time, or early in 1764, a selection of all his fugitive pieces, originally contributed to various magazines, were collected and published for his own benefit, in one volume, under the title of « Essays.» These, in their general scope and tendency bear some analogy to the letters of the Chinese Philosopher. The manner is still happier than the matter, though that too is excellent; and our author appears to have been prompted to their republication, in consequence of the liberal use that was surreptitiously made of them by the magazines and other fugitive repositories of the day. In a humorous preface which accompanied the volume, he took notice of that circumstance, and vindicates his claim to the merit as well as the profit of his own productions. « Most of these Essays," said he, « have been regularly reprinted two or three VOL. I. D times a-year, and conveyed to the public through the channel of some engaging compilation. If there be a pride in multiplied editions, I have seen some of my labours sixteen times reprinted, and claimed by different parents as their own. I have seen them flourished at the beginning with praise, and signed at the end with the names of Philantos, Philalethes, Philaleutheros, and Philanthropos. These gentlemen have kindly stood sponsors to my productions; and to flatter me more, have always passed them as their own. It is time, however, at last to vindicate my claims; and as these entertainers of the public, as they call themselves, have partly lived upon me for some years, let me now try if I cannot live a little upon myself. I would desire, in this case, to imitate that fat man, whom I have somewhere heard of in a shipwreck, who, when the sailors, pressed by famine, were taking slices from his posteriors to satisfy their hunger, insisted, with great justice, on having the first cut for himself." The rapidity with which the first impression of this little volume was disposed of, greatly surpassed the expectations of its author. Since that time, few books have gone through a greater variety of editions. It has been somewhere remarked, that Goldsmith was a plant of slow growth; and perhaps there may be some truth in the observation, in so far as regards public applause. He had now been seven years a writer, and, notwithstanding the variety of his labours, had produced little, except his « Inquiry » and « Citizen of the World," to distinguish him from the herd of authors by profession. With the public he was generally known as a man of letters, but as such not very remarkably distinguished; and it was frequently observed, that though his publications were much read, they were not greatly talked of. With the characteristic irritability of genius, conscious of its powers and jealous of its reward, Goldsmith used to fret under the pangs of neglected merit, and to repine at the slow progress of public opinion. No votary of the muses was ever more emulous of fame; and, with his accustomed simplicity, he was careless of concealing his impatience to obtain it. Various anecdotes of his fretful anxiety for applause have been recorded in different publications, but the most authentic is one of rather a ludicrous description, noticed by Mr Boswell. Conversing with Dr Johnson one day on the difficulty of acquiring literary celebrity, « Ah,» said he, in a tone of distress, « the public will never do me justice; whenever I write any thing, they make a point to know nothing about it.» On another occasion, when Boswell was present, « I fear," said Goldsmith, «I have come too late into the world; Pope and other poets have taken up the places in the temple of Fame, and as few at any period can possess poetical reputation, a man of genius can now hardly acquire it.» And in the same querulous tone of despondency he addresses his brother, in the dedication to his « Traveller:» « Of all kinds of ambition, as things are now circumstanced, perhaps that which pursues poetical fame is the wildest. What from the increased refinement of the times, from the diversity of judgment produced. by opposing systems of criticism, and from the more prevalent divisions of opinion influenced by party, the strongest and happiest efforts can expect to please but in a very narrow circle,» A short time, however, proved to our author how fallacious were his fears. In less than a year the publication of his « Traveller » placed him at the head of the poets of his time. The outline of this beautiful poem had been sketched during our author's residence in Switzerland, and part of it, as noticed in the dedication, had been addressed from that country to his brother Henry in Ireland. Diffident of its merit, and fearful of its success, he kept it by him in its original crude state for several years, and it was not till he had been strongly encouraged by the high opinion expressed of it by Dr Johnson, that he was at last induced to prepare it for the press. For two years previous to its publication, while toiling at other works for bread, his choicest hours are said to have been devoted to the revisal and correction of this poem, and, if report may be believed, no poem was ever touched and retouched by its author with more painful and fastidious care. When he thought at length that it had received the highest possible finishing, it was committed to the press, and came out early in 1765. It was hailed with delight by all ranks, celebrity and patronage followed the applause with which it was received, and Goldsmith, so far as regarded fame, was at last at the height of his ambition. The great moral object of the « Traveller » is to reconcile man with his lot. The poet maintains that happiness is equally distributed among mankind, and that a different good, either furnished by nature or provided by art, renders the blessings of all nations even. In pursuing his subject he takes an imaginary station on the Alps, and passes his view over the countries that lie spread out beneath him, noticing those only, however, through which the author had personally travelled. Ile draws a picture of each in succession, describing from his own observation their scenery and manners. He enumerates their advantages, and contrasts their various pursuits,—«< wealth, commerce, honour, liberty, content,»-showing that each favourite object, when attained, runs into excess, and defeats itself by bringing with it its own peculiar evil. He proceeds to show, that contentment is more frequently to be found in a meagre mountain soil and stormy region, than in a genial climate and luxuriant country; for labour produces competence, and custom inures to hardship, while ignorance renders the rugged peasant calm and cheerful under a life of toil and deprivation. But the poet makes a distinction between mere content and happiness. If the wants of barren states are few, and their wishes limited, their enjoyments are in like manner circumscribed; for every want becomes a source of pleasure when gratified. Their virtues partake also a similar dearth, and their morals, like their pleasures, are scanty, coarse, and low. For, as refinement stops, from sire to son Some sterner virtues o'er the mountain's breast May sit like falcons cowering on the nest; But all the gentler morals, such as play Through life's more cultured walks, and charm the way, The poet comes at length to the conclusion, that happiness centres in the mind, that it depends upon ourselves, and is equally to be enjoyed in every country and under every government; for, even in regions of tyranny and terror, where unjust laws oppress, and cruel tortures are inflicted, these evils rarely find their way into the hallowed seclusion of a domestic circle. In this poem, we may particularly remark a quality which distinguishes the writings of Goldsmith; it perpetually presents the author to our minds. He is one of the few writers who are inseparably identified with their works. We think of him in every page; we grow intimate with him as a man, and learn to love him as we read. A general benevolence glows throughout this poem. It breathes the liberal spirit of a true citizen of the world. And yet how beautifully does it inculcate and illustrate that local attachment, that preference to native land, which, in spite of every disadvantage of soil or climate, pleads so eloquently to every bosom; which calls out with maternal voice from the sandy desert or the stormy rock, appealing irresistibly to the heart in the midst of foreign luxuries and delights, and calling the wanderer home. When the << Traveller » was published, Dr. Johnson wrote a review of it for one of the journals, and pronounced it the finest poem that had appeared since the time of Pope. This was no cold praise, for the versification of Pope was at that time the model for imitation; his rules were the standard of criticism, and the «Essay on Man » was placed at the head of didactic poetry. The fame of Goldsmith was now firmly established; and he had the satisfaction to find, that it did not merely rest on the authority of the million, for the learned and the great now deemed themselves honoured by his acquaintance. His poem was frequently the subject of conversation among the literary circles of the time, and particularly in that circle which used to assemble at the house of Sir Joshua Reynolds. On one occasion it was remarked among the company at Sir Joshua's, that << the 'Traveller' had brought Goldsmith into high reputation.”—« Yes,” said Mr Langton, « and no wonder; there is not one bad line in that poem, not one of Dryden's careless verses.» |