Better than all, he had a stock of tales, not only of his own campaigning adventures, but also from old Irish ballads, chap-books, and fairy lore, and a knack of versifying, which he was fond of exercising in the form of extempore Irish translations from Virgil. From this "Paddy Byrne," in short, if from any one, Goldsmith caught his first notions of literary invention and rhyming. But the poor little fellow was always unfortunate. Hardly had he become aware of the wealth that was in Paddy Byrne, and hardly had Paddy Byrne had time to discern the spark of genius that lay somewhere in his awkward little pupil, when the two were separated. The boy was not more than nine years of age when an attack of confluent small-pox stopped his attendance at Lissoy school; and, when he recovered, it was with his naturally plain face disfigured into such a grotesque of ugliness that it was difficult to look at him without laughing. Whether to get him out of sight for a time, or because better instruction than Paddy Byrne's was now thought necessary for him, he was sent away from Lissoy to Elphin, a distance of about thirty miles. The purpose was that he should attend the school at Elphin which had formerly been taught by his grandfather, the Rev. Oliver Jones, but was now under the care of a Rev. Mr. Griffin. For about two years, accordingly, he did attend this school, boarding all the while with his uncle, Mr. John Goldsnith of Ballyoughter, who lived near Elphin. But in 1739, when he was eleven years old, he was brought back to a school of some reputation nearer home-one which had been set up in Athlone, about five miles from Lissoy, by a Rev. Mr. Campbell. Two years here, and four years more at the school of a Rev. Patrick Hughes at Edgeworthstown, county Longford, some seventeen miles from Lissoy, completed his school education and brought him to his seventeenth year. The accounts of young Goldsmith during this time when he was tossed about from school to school in his native part of Ireland, generally coming home to Lissoy and its neighbourhood for the holidays, correspond singularly with what he was all through life. At every school we hear of him as a shy, thick, awkward boy, the constant butt of his companions because of his comically ugly face, and thought by most of them to be "little better than a fool." And yet everywhere there seems to have been a liking for him as an innocent simple-hearted fellow, who, though sensitive to the jokes made at his expense, and liable to fits of the sulks on account of them, would be all right again on the least beckoning of kindliness, and capital company in the playground at fives or ball with those who had been his tormentors. Of his success in school-work we hear little. We are to suppose him gradually getting on in Latin and other things in preparation for the University; and something is said as to his fondness for Ovid and Horace, his peculiar delight in Livy, his liking for Tacitus after a while, and his little care for Cicero. There are hints also to the effect that he excelled in the style of his translations, and that he had more credit for talent with the masters than among the boys. On the whole, Johnson's often-quoted saying about Goldsmith, "He was a plant that flowered late: there was nothing remarkable about him when young," seems true only in a very obvious and rough sense. The "flower" of Goldsmith was the I The Description of the Family of Wake- field, in which a kindred Likeness pre- vails, as well of Minds as of Persons p. 1 11. Family Misfortunes. The Loss of For- tune only serves to increase the Pride of stances of our Lives are generally found at last to be of our own procuring p. 4 IV. A Proof that even the humblest Fortune may grant Happiness, which depends, not on Circumstances, but Constitu- v. A new and great Acquaintance intro- duced. What we place most Hopes upon, generally proves most fatal. VII. A Town Wit described. The dullest Fellows may learn to be comical for a VIII. An Amour, which promises little good IX. Two Ladies of great Distinction intro- duced. Superior Finery ever seems to x. The Family endeavour to cope with their Betters. The Miseries of the Poor, when they attempt to appear above their Cir- XI. The Family still resolve to hold up their XII. Fortune seems resolved to humble the Family of Wakefield. Mortifications are often more painful than real Calami- XIII. Mr. Burchell is found to be an Enemy, for he has the confidence to give disagree- XIV. Fresh Mortifications, or a Demonstration that seeming Calamities may be real xv. All Mr. Burchell's Villany at once detected. XVI. The Family use Art, which is opposed XVII. Scarcely any Virtue found to resist the Power of long and pleasing Tempta- XVIII. The Pursuit of a Father to reclaim a XIX. The Description of a Person discontented XXI. The short Continuance of Friendship amongst the Vicious, which is coeval only XXII. Offences are easily pardoned, where there XXIII. None but the Guilty can be long and xxv. No Situation, however wretched it seems, but has some sort of comfort attending . XXVI. A Reformation in the Gaol: to make Laws complete, they should reward as XXVII. The same subject continued XXVIII. Happiness and Misery rather the result of Prudence than of Virtue in this life; temporal evils or felicities being regarded by Heaven as things merely in themselves trifling, and unworthy its care in the dis- XXIX. The equal dealings of Providence demon- strated with regard to the Happy and the Miserable here below. That, from the nature of Pleasure and Pain, the wretched must be repaid the balance of their suffer- xxx. Happier Prospects begin to appear. us be inflexible, and Fortune will at last XXXI. Former Benevolence now repaid with un- p. 82 III. From Lien Chi Altangi to the care of Fipsihi, resident in Moscow, to be for- warded by the Russian caravan to Fum Hoam, First President of the Ceremo- nial Academy at Pekin, in China p. 90 VI. Fum Hoam, First President of the Cere- monial Academy at Pekin. to Lien Chi . Letter VII. From Lien Chi Altangi to Fum Hoam, p. 129 P. 131 P. 135 P. 136 P. 138 · P. 143 XXXVIII. From Lien Chi Altangi to Fum Hoam, XXXIX. From Lien Chi Altangi to P. 146 chant in Amsterdam P. 148 XL. From Lien Chi Altangi to Fum Hoam, . p. 150 LI. To the same LII. To the same P. 96 P. 97 p. 98 p. 99 P. 100 p. 101 P. 103 p. 105 p. 107 P. 108 p. 109 . p. 111 . p. 113 p. 115 P. 116 p. 119 p. 120 . P 121 - P. 122 . p. 125 P. 126 . Letter LVI. From Fum Hoam to Altangi, the Dis- LVII. From Lien Chi Altangi to Fum Hoam, P. 178 P. 180 LX. From the same P. 182 ..P. 187 . p. 189 LXIV. To the same P. 191 LXV. To the same . p. 192 LXVI. From Lien Chi Altangi to Hingpo, by · P. 153 P. 160 XLVIII. From Lien Chi Altangi to LXVII. To the same LXVIII. the way of Moscow LXIX. To the same LXX. LXXI. P. 163 demy at Pekin in China From Lien Chi Altangi to Fum Hoam, p. 196 P. 198 From Lien Chi Altangi to Hingpo, by the way of Moscow. P. 200 From Lien Chi Altangi to Fum Hoam, . p. 202 LXXII. To the same • . p. 207 p. 209 IXXV. To the same LXXVI. From Hingpo to Lien Chi Altangi, by the way of Moscow. LXXVII. From Lien Chi Altangi to Fum Hoam, First President of the Ceremonial Aca . p. 211 LXXVIII. To the same LXXIX. To the same LXXXIV. . demy at Pekin in China . p. 167 · P. 168 . p. 170 . p. 172 . p. 174 . p. 175 . p. 193 · P. 195 p. 219 • . p. 221 the way of Moscow . p. 222 . p. 224 LXXXV. To the same P. 226 LXXXVI. To the same p. 227 tangi. LXXXVII. From Fum Hoam to Lien Chi AlLXXXVIII. From Lien Chi Altangi to Fum Hoam, First President of the Ceremonial Academy at Pekin in China . p. 212 . p. 213 . p. 215 . P. 216 . p. 217 LXXXIX. . p. 228 . p. 230 p. 232 . p. 234 . p. 235 P. 236 To the same xc. To the same XCI. To the same XCII. To the same XCIII. To the same XCIV. From Hingpo, in Moscow, to Lien Chi . p. 237 Altangi, in London Xcv. From Lien Chi Altangi to Hingpo, at . p. 238 Moscow XCVI. From Lien Chi Altangi to Fum Hoam, First President of the Ceremonial Academy at Pekin in China . . p. 239 Letter XCVIL To the same XCVIII. To the same XCIX. To the same . P. 243 . c. From Lien Chi Altangi to Hingpo, by CII. To the same • CIII. From Lien Chi Altangi to chant in Amsterdam cv. To the same Essay cxx. To the same CXXI. To the same CXXII. To the same CXXIII. To the same ESSAYS. Preface 1. Description of various Clubs 11. Specimen of p. 259 CVI. To the same . P. 261 . p. 264 CXIX. From Lien Chi Altangi to Fum Hoam, First President of the Ceremonial Academy at Pekin in China THE BEE: " P. 248 CIV. From Lien Chi Altangi to Fum Hoam, A SELECT COLLECTION OF ESSAYS ON THE MOST INTERESTING AND ENTERTAINING SUBJECTS. demy at Pekin in China . . p. 249 p. 250 . p. 252 . . p. 241 p. 242 P. 247 Mer p. 283 p. 284 a Magazine in Miniature III. Asem, an Eastern Tale; or a Vindication · P. 288 of the Wisdom of Providence in the Moral Government of the World IV. On the English Clergy and popular p. 289 Preachers P. 253 P. 254 p. 256 p. 258 P. 272 p. 274 . p. 275 . p. 276 p. v. A Reverie at the Boar's Head Tavern, Eastcheap VI. Adventures of a strolling Player. p. 302 p. 295 VIL Rules enjoined to be observed at a Russian Assembly. VIII. Biographical Memoir, supposed to be P. 306 written by the Ordinary of Newgate p. 307 IX. National Concord . p. 308 x. Female Warriors . p. 309 XI. National Prejudices XII. Taste p. 311 XIII. Cultivation of Taste P. 317 xv. Poetry distinguished from other Writ ing XVI. Metaphor XVII. Hyperbole p. 326 . p. 330 · P. 338 VI. Saturday, November 10, 1759.- VII. Saturday, November 17, 1759 . v. Saturday, November 3, 1759. A Word or two on the late Farce called p. 368 p. 370 . P. 374 · P. 376 p. 380 p. 378 p. 381 Father P. 374 vii P. 382 P. 387 . p. 390 . p. 391 · P. 392 On the Instability of Worldly Gran- Of Eloquence Custom and Laws compared P. 400 Of the Pride and Luxury of the Middling Sabinus and Olinda . P. 405 VIII. Saturday, November 24, 1759.- P. 408 . p. 411 Of the Opera in England · P. 415 |