finishes with the consent of the Grumbler, ' in the hope,' as he says, 'that they are possessed of mutual requisites to be the plague of each other.'"-ED.'] 1 John Quick, of whom this piece may be said to constitute a memorial, died in 1831, aged 83. He retired from the stage in 1798, having acquired a fortune of £10,000. He lived during his later years at Hornsey (afterwards Will's) Row, Islington, and for many years was wont to preside at convivial meetings held at the Old King's Head, opposite Islington Church. Beside Tony Lumpkin, he was famous in Isaac Mendoza, Bob Acres, and such characters. Genest says he had not much variety, but his oddity of appearance and voice made people laugh. Boaden speaks of him as "the favourite comedian of his late majesty" (George III.). With Quick's Whim,' a pamphlet, of about the year 1795, purporting to give the "Jokes and Stories" uttered by the comedian, he, probably, had little or nothing to do, otherwise this collection might have contained something about Goldsmith.-Ed. 6 THE BEE: BEING ESSAYS ON THE MOST INTERESTING SUBJECTS. Floriferis ut Apes in saltibus omnia libant, ['The Bee' was a weekly periodical; but it ran for only eight weeks, from Oct. 6 to Nov. 24, 1759. The following advertisement announcing its appearance is from the London Chronicle: Saturday next, October the 6th, will be published (to be continued weekly, price three-pence), neatly printed in crown octavo, and on good paper, containing two sheets, or thirty-two pages, stitched in blue covers, Number I. of a new periodical paper, entitled "THE BEE. Consisting of a variety of Essays on the Amusements, Follies, and Vices in fashion: particularly the most recent Topics of Conversation: Remarks on Theatrical Exhibitions: Memoirs of Modern Literature, &c., &c. Printed for J. Wilkie, at the Bible in St. Paul's Church Yard. * “* * The Publisher begs leave to inform the public, that every twelve numbers will make a handsome pocket volume, at the end of which shall be given an emblematical frontispiece, title, and table of contents. Letters to the author of the Bee, directed to J. Wilkie, as above (post-paid), will be duly regarded." Goldsmith, it is supposed, supplied the entire contents. Wilkie, the publisher, was also the publisher of the Lady's Magazine, to which Goldsmith was likewise a contributor, if not, for a time, editor. In December, 1759, the eight numbers of The Bee' were issued in a 12mo volume. We here print the entire work, excepting only the poetical pieces, which appear in our edition of the Poems. Our text is that of the original so far as regards most of the pieces. Goldsmith republished eight of the pieces in his Essays' in 1765 and 1766, and these we have omitted from our edition of the Essays' in order that they may appear here under their original heading. In doing this, however, we have thought that Goldsmith's latest form of these twice given pieces would be most acceptable. The text of the eight pieces in question, consequently, is for the most part that of the Essays' issue. The principal differences as between the first and the 'Essays' issue are indicated in the notes.-ED.] CONTENTS. Some Particulars relating to Charles the Twelfth not com- monly known [with an account of the Swedes] THE BEE. No. I.-SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1759. INTRODUCTION.1 THERE is not, perhaps, a more whimsically dismal figure in nature, than a man of real modesty, who assumes an air of impudence-who, while his heart beats with anxiety, studies ease, and affects good-humour. In this situation, however, a periodical writer often finds himself, upon his first attempt to address the public in form. All his power of pleasing is damped by solicitude, and his cheerfulness dashed with apprehension. Impressed with the terrors of the tribunal before which he is going to appear, his natural humour turns to pertness, and for real wit he is obliged to substitute vivacity. His first publication draws a crowd; they part dissatisfied; and the author, never more to be indulged a favourable hearing, is left to condemn the indelicacy of his own address, or their want of discernment. For my part, as I was never distinguished for address, and have often even blundered in making my bow, such bodings as these had like to have totally repressed my àmbition. I was at a loss whether to give the public specious promises, or give none; whether to be merry or sad on this solemn occasion. If I should decline all merit, it was too probable the hasty reader might have taken me at my word. If, on the other hand, like labourers in the Magazine trade, I had, with modest impudence, humbly presumed to promise an epitome of all the good things that 1 Afterwards this appeared, slightly altered, as the first of the Essays,' 1765.-ED. |
