warrants perhaps a conjecture in the absence of more positive information. In the "Omniana" of Mr. Southey we find the following notice:-" A fraud has been practised in France upon Goldsmith's reputation. At the end of a volume which bears date 1774, is the following title in a list of new books, Histoire de François Wills, ou le Triomphe de la Bienfaisance, par l'auteur du Ministre de Wakefield. Traduction de l'Anglais."

It is just possible that this may be the novel of which we are told; and that the author considering it too indifferent to acknowledge, or more probably leaving it incomplete, the conclusion may have been added by another hand, and the facts by some means communicated after his death to the French translator. The original, if it was ever really published in England, will no doubt furnish traces of his pen; and the similarity of title is at least remarkable.

Among the claims upon his charity, those from poor and obscure authors were perhaps least to be resisted, as much from sympathy with all the sons of misfortune, as from painful remembrance of his former struggles for existence. Of these applications, often dexterously timed, when by the success of a new play or publication his purse was believed to be replenished, and when the more to ensure success a little praise or flattery of his talents was thrown in, the following is a sufficient specimen. It is from a poor man whose name appears as author of a few indifferent fables in verse; "The Mastiff in Prison," "The Death of the Fox," with others in allusion to the political events of the day, and printed in the newspapers.

"On Dr. Goldsmith's Comedy,

'SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER.'

"Quite sick in her bed Thalia was laid,

A sentiment puke had quite killed the sweet maid,

Her bright eyes had lost all their fire;

When a regular Doctor, one Goldsmith by name.
Found out her disorder as soon as he came,

And has made her (for ever 'twill crown all his fame)

As lovely as one can desire.

Oh! Doctor, assist a poor bard who lies ill,

Without e'en a nurse, e'er a potion or pill;

From your kindness he hopes for some ease.

You're a good-natured man all the world does allow,

O would your good-nature but shine forth just now

In a manner, I'm sure your good sense will tell how,

Your servant most humbly 'twould please.

"The bearer is the author's wife; and an answer from Dr. Goldsmith by her, will be ever gratefully acknowledged by his

"Orange Court, Swallow Street,

Carnaby Market.

"Saturday, March 27, 1773.”

"Humble servant,

JOHN OAKMAN.

Dr. Rowley a physician of eminence, in habits of intimacy with

him, related an instance of generosity bordering on imprudence to which he was witness.

Having waited upon the Poet with a small sum of money raised for the purpose of rescuing him from momentary embarrassment, one of his countrymen was admitted during their conversation, and related a tale of wo calculated to work on the feelings of Goldsmith. His sensibility, tremblingly alive to such appeals, knew no restraint from prudence, and snatching up no inconsiderable part of what had been brought for the relief of his own necessities, put it into the hands of the applicant and dismissed him.

Such solicitations appear never to have been made in vain however great the inconvenience to himself, so that his sensitiveness to distress became at times almost morbid. He has been known to quit his bed at night and even when labouring under indisposition, in order to relieve the miserable; and when money was scarce, or to be procured with difficulty by borrowing, he has nevertheless shared it with such as presented any claim to charity. The effect of such calls upon one of his nervous temperament, may be judged by another anecdote, which to those not aware of his peculiarities would have looked like affectation.

While playing whist at the house of Sir William Chambers in Berners Street, the party at the table consisting, besides Sir William, of Lady Chambers, Baretti, and Goldsmith, the latter hastily threw down his cards at a critical point of the game, flew out of the room, and as appeared by the opening of the door, into the street, returning speedily and resuming his seat. Sir William conceiving that something unusual had occurred ventured after the lapse of a few minutes, to inquire the cause of his sudden retreat, trusting it had not been occasioned by the heat of the room, "Not at all," was the reply, "but in truth I could not bear to hear that unfortunate woman in the street half singing, half sobbing, for such tones could only arise from the extremity of distress; her voice grated painfully on my ear and jarred my frame, so that I could not rest until I had sent her away." On farther explanation it appeared that others had likewise noticed a female voice of peculiar character aiming to sing, but without remarking that mingled tone of misery conveyed to the mind of the Poet, and which he had quitted the room to relieve.

He was content likewise to be made the channel of conveyance for the bounty of others, as we find by the following letter of General Oglethorpe, a distinguished and amiable man, at whose table he met such good society and spent many agreeable hours, and who now at an advanced period of life displayed the same love for the good of mankind in a private way, that he had previously exerted on a more extended scale. After being educated at Oxford, he had served under Prince Eugene against the Turks and was afterwards employed to found the colony of Georgia; in this duty he had gained a species of immortality from the praise of Pope

"Or, driven by strong benevolence of soul,
Shall fly like Oglethorpe from Pole to Pole."

In the rebellion of 1745 he held a command under the Duke of Cumberland, but for some alleged neglect, though acquitted by a court martial, continued afterwards unemployed. He sat in parliament for many years, preserved a taste for literature, and the society of literary and distinguished men, had been a patron of Johnson's poem of "London" when the writer was unknown to him, was hospitable, generous and friendly. He survived Goldsmith about ten years, dying at the age of eighty-seven. An active interest by the Poet in the institution of a charitable society, seems to have produced this communication.

"From General Oglethorpe.

"How just, Sir, were your observations, that the poorest objects were by extreme poverty deprived of the benefit of hospitals erected for the relief of the poorest.

"Extreme poverty which should be the strongest recommendation to charity, is here the insurmountable objection, which leaves the distressed to perish.

"The qualifying such objects to receive the benefit of hospitals answers the intentions of the intended society. The design is the immediate relief from perishing; thereby giving time and protection to get proper destinations. And this being admitted into a hospital is a proper destination.

"You were so good as to offer to distribute such sums as should be sent to you.

"At the same time that I am to return you thanks for your charitable offer, I am to send you five pounds to distribute for that purpose in the time and manner you think proper. Which I accordingly herewith send.

"You have seen, I suppose, in the St. James's Evening Post, from September 22d to 25th, the Zoilus that attacked you treated with proper contempt.

"If a farm and a mere country scene will be a little refreshment from the smoke of London, we shall be glad of the happiness of seeing you at Cranham Hall. It is sixteen miles from the Three Nuns at Whitechapel, where Prior our stage coach (man) inns. He sets out at two in the afternoon.

"Cranham Hall,
(By Gray's bag) Essex."
[No Date.]

"I am, Sir,

"Your obedient humble servant,
"J. OGLETHORPE.

His opinion of manuscript works being often requested by literary friends, an approval and letter of recommendation from him was esteemed an advantageous introduction to a bookseller. The following is one of these. The work mentioned was "The History of the Revolutions of Denmark, with an account of the Present State of that Kingdom and People. By John Andrews, LL. D."

It consisted of two volumes, a creditable and now scarce, though perhaps never a popular performance, got up to satisfy public curiosity when general attention was drawn to that country by the unhappy circumstances in which Queen Matilda had been involved. It is deficient in the interest and the elegance which Goldsmith imparted to his narratives; neither is it broken into chapters, which contributes so materially to relieve the fatigue of casual or careless readers, and fix attention more thoroughly on epochs, persons, and circumstances. The letter was addressed to Mr. Nourse, the bookseller, and as appears with effect, as he became the publisher in the spring of the following year. It is without date but endorsed April 26th

1773.

" SIR,

"The bearer is Doctor Andrews who has just finished a work relative to Denmark, which I have seen and read with great pleasure. He is of opinion that a short letter of this kind, expressing my approbation, will be a proper introduction to you. I therefore once more recommend it in the warmest manner, and unless I am mistaken it will be a great credit to him as well as benefit to the purchaser of the copy.

"I am, Sir,

"Your most obedient servant,

"OLIVER GOLDSMITH."

Gratitude for the exertions of the actor* who personated Tony Lumpkin in his last comedy induced him to consent to alter an old play into a farce for his benefit, having on a former occasion made a pecuniary present to the representative of Croakert in the Goodnatured Man. The piece so chosen was "The Grumbler;" a translation by Sir Charles Sedley of "Le Grondeur," a comedy in three acts by Brueys. Little variation from the original appears in the English version, the characters being all preserved, but Goldsmith gives them English names as follow, and compresses the three acts

into one.

The Dramatis Personæ are,

SOURBY, the Grumbler

OCTAVIO, his son

:

WENTWORTH, brother-in-law to Sourby

(Mr. Owenson.)

DANCING MASTER, called Signor Capriole in the } (Mr. King.)

The plot is sufficiently simple. Sourby, an ill-tempered, discontented man as his name implies, is the torment of his family, neighbours, and servants, with none of whom can he live on tolerable terms. In the opening of the piece his son is on the point of being married to Clarissa, the consent of Sourby being chiefly obtained by the lady who believes he has a design upon her himself, relinquishing her naturally mild character for that of a termagant towards the domestics. The character thus assumed agrees however so well with his own, that in defiance of previous arrangements and promises he determines to marry her himself, a design favoured by her fortune being in his power.

No other remedy occurs to the lovers to avoid his tyranny than further deception; she therefore assumes a new character, that of an extravagant, giddy woman of fashion, who in addition to various modes of expense and pleasure, is determined to have as she tells him, "habits, feasts, fiddles, hautboys, masquerades, concerts, and especially a ball for fifteen days after their nuptials." Above all, her intended husband must learn to dance; she will admit of no excuse on the plea of years and becoming gravity. In a change of scene the dancing master arrives; Sourby as soon as he knows his errand, orders him off and threatens chastisement, but the former having his cue, declares he has positive orders from Clarissa to make him dance, and drawing his sword compels him to do so by force. In the midst of this scene Wentworth arrives, and Sourby in a fit of rage with his intended bride for placing him in a situation so unfitted to his years and disposition, renounces her for ever, to the great satisfaction of the lovers who are consequently rendered happy.

The marks of haste in adaptation are obvious; the plot wants sufficient interest, the dialogue point, and excepting Sourby we find little attempt at character; even he is rather overcharged and unnatural, but there is an effective scene or two for the comic powers of the actor.

It was represented on the 8th of May 1773,* and though announced the previous day and afterwards, as being adapted to the English stage by the successful author of "She Stoops to Conquer," was not repeated. As it has never been printed nor is likely to be, a scene from the MS. copy now in the possession of Thomas Amyot, Esq., will be given in another place for the satisfaction of the reader.

Among the literary projects that had taken strong hold upon his mind, was one of a popular "Dictionary of Arts and Sciences." This he hoped to write into notice, if not by the extent of his information at least by the graces of his style. Yet the means of acquiring the best information from popular writers were not to he neglected. With this view he had engaged several distinguished friends to write articles on the subjects with which they were believed