C01.98 3:I!I'S TOXP, VESTMINSTER AEBEY.

OF

OLIVER GOLDSMITH, M.B.

WITH

A LIFE AND NOTES.

SIVE RISUS ESSENT MOVENDI, SIVE LACRYMÆ AFFECTUM POTENS,

AT LENIS DOMINATOR.

IN FOUR VOLUMES.

VOL. IV.

LONDON:

THOMAS TEGG & SON, CHEAPSIDE ; R. GRIFFIN & CO.
GLASGOW; TEGG, WISE & CO. DUBLIN.

1835.

ENGLISH
OXFORD

LIBRARY

CONTENTS.

AN INQUIRY INTO THE PRESENT STATE OF POLITE

LEARNING.

CHAPTER

PAGE

INTRODUCTION,

3

1. The Causes which contribute to the Decline of Learning,

4

2. A View of the Obscure Ages,

11

3. On the present state of Polite Learning in Italy,

14

4. Of Polite Learning in Germany,

16

5. Of Polite Learning in Holland, and some other countries of

Europe,

19

6. Of Polite Learning in France,

23

7. Of Learning in Great Britain,

29

8. Of rewarding Genius in England,

30

9. Of the marks of Literary Decay in France and England, 38

10. Of the Stage,

43

11. On Universities,

46

12. The Conclusion,

51