The miscellaneous works of Oliver Goldsmith, M.B. With a brief memoir of the author, etc

Front matter

THE MISCELLANEOUS WORKS. 1. 1 OLIVER GOLDSMITH, M.B. THE MISCELLANEOUS WORKS vr OLIVER GOLDSMITH, M.B. J ESUttb a 33rtt£ iflsemoir n£ tjje ILLUSTRATED WITH NUMEROUS WOOD ENGRAVINGS. CONTENTS. CITIZEN OF THE WORLD; VICAR OF WAKEFIELD; POEMS; PLAYS; ESSAYS, &c. MCLTCM IN PAHVO. LONDON: ANDREW MOFFAT, SKINNER STREET, SNOW HILL; D. A. BORRENSTEIN, ST. ENOCH SQUARE, GLASGOW. M.DCCC.XLI. CONTENTS CITIZEN OF THE WORLD. PACE LETTER PAGE Memoir of Goldsmith, . . v 25. The natural rise and decline of kingdoms, exemplified in the history of the kingdom of Lao, ..... 25 Author's Preface, "... 1 LETTERS. 26. The character of the Man in Black, with some instances of his inconsistent conduct, 27

Letter 1

. Introduction — A character of the Chinese Philosopher, .... 2 27. The history of the Man in Black, . 28 28. On the great number of old maids aud bachelors in London — Some of the causes, 30 2. The arrival of the Chinese in London — His motives for the journey — Some description of the streets and houses, . - ib. 29. A description of a club of authors, . 31 30. The proceedings of the club of authors, ib. 3. The description of London continued — The luxury of the English — Its benefits — The fine gentleman — The fine lady, . 3 4. English pride — Liberty — An instance of both — Newspapers — Politeness, . 4 5. English passion for politics — A specimen of 31. The perfection of the Chinese in the art of gardening— The description of a Chinese garden, .... 33 32. Of the degeneracy of some of the English nobility — A mushroom feast among the Tartars, .... 34 a newspaper — Characteristic of the man- ' ners of different countries, . . 5 6.

Happiness lost by seeking after refinement — The Chinese philosopher's disgraces, . 7 7. The tie of wisdom only to make us happy — The benefits of travelling upon the morals of a philosopher, ... ib. 8. The Chinese deceived by a prostitute in the streets of London, ... 8 33. The manner of writing among the Chinese — The Eastern tales of magazines, &c. ridiculed, . . -. . .35 34. Of the present ridiculous passion of the nobility for painting, ... 37 35. The philosopher's son describes a lady, his fellow-captive, . . . .38 36. A continuation of his correspondence — The beautiful captive consents to marry her lord, 39 9- The licentiousness of the English with regard to women — A character of a woman's man, 9 37. The correspondence still continued — He begins to be disgusted in the pursuit of his wisdom— An allegory to prove its futility, ib. 10.

The journey of the Chinese from Pekin to Moscow — The customs of the Daures, ib . 38. Tbe Chinese philosopher praises the justice of a late sentence, and instances the injustice of the King of France, in the case of the Prince of Charolais, . . . 41 II. The benefits of luxury, in making a people more wise and happy, . . 10 12. Tlie funeral solemnities of the English — Their passion for flattering epitaphs, . 1 1 13. An account of Westminster Abbey, . 12 14. The reception of the Chinese from a lady of distinction, . . . .14 39. The description of true politeness — Two letters of different countries, by ladies falsely thought polite at home, . . 42 40. The English still have poets, though not versifiers, . ... . .43 15. Against cruelty to animals — A story from the Zen de vest of Zoroaster, . . 15 41.

The behaviour of the congregation in St Paul's church at prayers, . . 44 16. Of falsehood, propagated by books, seemingly sincere, . . . ib. 17. Of the war now carried on between France 42. The history of China more replete with great actions than that of Europe, . . 45 and England, with its frivolous motives, 16 43. An apostrophe on the supposed death of Voltaire, . . . . .46 18. The story ofthe Chinese matron, . 18 19. The English method of treating women caught in adultery — The Russian method . 19 44. Wisdom and precept may lessen our miseries, but can never increase our positive satis- 20. Some account of the republic of letters in England, .... 20 factions, .... 47 45. The ardour of the people of London in running after sights and monsters, . . 49 21. The Chinese goes to see a play, . . 21 22.

The Chinese philosopher's son made a slave 46. A dream, . . . . 50 in Persia, .... 23 47. Misery best relieved by dissipation, . 51 23. The English subscription, in favour of the French prisoners, commended, . ib. 48. The absurdity of persons in high station pursuing employments beneath them, exemplified in a fairy tale, ... 52 24. The venders of quack medicines and nostrums ridiculed, .... 24 49. The fairy tale continued, . , , CONTENTS. I.KTTEH •"- p^GE 50. Aii attempt to define what is meant by English liberty, . , . .55 51. A bookseller's visit to thejChinese, . 56 52. Tlie impossibility of distinguishing men in England by their dress — Two instances of this, . . , , .57 53. The absurd taste for obscene and pert novels, such as Tristram Shandy,sridiculed, . 58 54. The character of an important trifler, . 59 55.

His character continued, with that of his wife, his house, and furniture, . 60 56. Some thoughts on the present situation of affairs in the different countries of Europe, 61 57. The difficulty of risingjin literary reputation, Without intrigue or riches, . . 62 58. A visitation dinner described, . . 63 59. The Chinese philosopher's son escapes with the beautiful captive from slavery, . 64 60. The history of the beautiful captive . 65 61. Proper lessons to a youth entering the world ; with fables suited to the occasion, . 67 62. An authentic history of Catharina Alexowna, wife us Peter the Great, . . 68 63. The rise or decline of literature, not dependent on man, but resulting from the vicissitudes of nature, ... 69 64. The great exchange [happiness for show — Their fully, in this respect, of uselosociety, 70 65.

The history of a philosophic cobbler, . 71 66. The difference between love and gratitude, 72 67- The filly of attempting£to learn wisdom by being recluse, .... 73 60. Qii'ic1;* ridiculed — Some particularly mentioned, . . . . .74 (if), Tue tear of mad dogs ridiculed, . 75 70. Fortune proved not to be blind — Tlie story of the -avaricious miller, . . 77 71. Tlie sliahby beau, the JMan in Black, the Chinese philosopher, &c. at Vauxhall, ib. 72. The njaiiiage aetjeensured, . . 79 73. Life endeared by age, 80 74. The description of a little great man, . 81 75. The necessity of amusing|each other with new hooks insisted upon, ... 82 76- Thf preference ofugrace toibeauty; an allegory, . . . . .83 77. Tue behaviour of a shopkeeper and his journeyman, .... 84 73. The French ridiculed after their own manner, 85 79.

Tlie preparations of both theatres for a winter campaign, . . . .86 CO. The evil tendency of increasing penal laws, or enlorcing even those already in being with rigour, . . . .87 81. Tlie ladies' trains ridiculed, . . 88 82. The sciences useful in a populous state, prejudicial in a barbarous one, . . 89 83. Some cautions on life, taken from a modern philosopher of China, ... 90 84. Tie anecdotes of several poets, who lived and • die 1 in circumstances of wretchedness, 91 8">. The trifling squabbles of stageplayers ridiculed. 92 6. The races of Newmarket ridiculed — The description of a cart-raee, > . 94 87. The fully of the western parts of Europe in employing the Russians to fight their hattles, 95 PACE LETTER PXGK 88 The ladies advised to get husbands— A story to this purpose, . . ■ 95 89.

The folly of remote or useless disquisitions among the learned, . • .97 90. The English subject to the spleen, . 98 91. The influence of climate and soil upon the tempers and dispositions of the English , 99 92. The manner in which some philosophers ( make artificial misery, . ■ *00 93. The fondness of some to admire the writings of lords, &c J01 94. The philosopher's son is again separated from his beautiful companion, - • ih. 95. The father consoles him upon this occasion, 102 96. The condolence, and congratulation upon the death of the late king ridiculed — English mourning described, . . .ib. 97- Almost every subject of literature has been already exhausted, . • • 103 98. A description of the Courts of Justice in Westminster-ball, ■ . . .104 99. A visit from the little beau — The indulgence with which the fair sex are treated in several parts of Asia, . . . 105 J00.

A life of independence praised, . 106 101 . That people must be contented to be guided by those whom they have appointed to govern — A story to this effect, . 107 102. The passion for gaming among ladies ridiculed, . . . . 108 103. The Chinese philosopher begins to think of quitting England, . . .ib. 104. The arts some make use of to appear learned, 109 105. The intended coronation described, . 1 10 106. Funeral elegies written upon the great ridiculed — A specimen of one, . Ill 107- The English too fond of believing every report, without examination — A story of an incendiary to this purpose, . 112 108. The utility and entertainment which might result from ajourney into the East, 113 109. The Chinese philosopher attempts to find out famous men, . . . 114 110. Some projects for introducing Asiatic employments into the courts of England, 115 111.

On the different sects in England, particularly Methodism, , . .116 112. An election described, . . 117 113 A literary contest of great importance, in which both sides fight by epigram, 118 114. Against the Marriage Act — A Fable, 119 115. On the danger of having too high an opinion of human nature, . . . I?0 110. Whether love be a natural or a fictitious passion, .... J21 H7. A City Night-piece, . . .123 118. On t! e meanness of the Dutch at the Court of Japan, . . . . .ib. 119. On the distresses of the poor, exemplified in the life of a private sentinel, . 124 120. On tlie absurdity of some late English titles, 126 12J- Tlie irresolution of the English accounted for, ..... 107 122. The manner of travellers, in their usu il relations, ridiculed, . . .ib. 123. The conclusion, . . . J2g CONTENTS.

V THE VICAR 0 F WAKE FIELD CHAP. page r"AP- PAGK 18. The pursuit of a father to reclaim a lost child to virtue, . . . . .153 I. The description of the family of Wakeficld, in which a kindred likeness prevails, as well of minds as of persons, . . 130 2. Family misfortunes— The loss of fortune only serves to increase the pride of the worthy, 131 3. A migration— The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found at last to be Of our own procuring, . . 130 4. A proof that even the humblest fortune may grant happiness, which depends, not on circumstances, but constitution, . 134 5. A new and great acquaintance introduced — What we place most hopes upon generally proves most fatal, . . .135 19. The description of a person discontented with the present government, and apprehensive of the loss of our liberties, . . 155 20.

The history of a philosophic vagabond pur- ■ suing novelty, but losing content, . 157 31. The short continuance of friendship amongst the vicious, which is coeval only with mutual satisfaction, ... 161 22. Offences are easily pardoned where there is love at bottom, ... 164 23. None but the guilty can be long and completely miserable, . . 16"» 6. The happiness of a country fireside, . 136 7. A town wit described — The dullest fellows 24. Fresh calamities, . . . 166 25. No situation, however wretched it seems, but may learn to be comical for a night or two, 137 8. An amour which promises little good fortune, yet may be productive of much, . 138 9. Two ladies of great distinction introduced — has some sort of comfort attending it, 163 26. A reformation in .the jail — To make laws complete they should reward as well as punish, .... 169 Superior finery ever seems to confer supe rior breeding, .... 140 27.

The same subject continued, . . 170 28. 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 distribution, .... 172 10. The family endeavour to cope with their betters — The miseries of the poor, when they attempt to appear above their circumstances, . . . . 141 11. The family still resolve to hold up their heads, 142 12. Fortune seems resolved to humble thefamily of Wakefield — Mortifications are often 29. The equal dealings of Providence demonstrated with regard to the happy and the miserable here below — That from the na- ' ture of pleasure and pain, the wretched must be repaid the balance of their suffermore painful than real calamities, . 144 13.

Mr Burchell is found to be an enemy ; for he has the confidence to give disagreeable advice, . . . . 145 ings in the life hereafter, , . 175 14 Fresh mortifications, or a demonstration that seeming calamities may be real blessings, 146 15. All Mr Burchell's villainy at once detected — 30. Happier prospects begin to appear — Let us be inflexible, and fortune will at last change in our favour, . . . 176 The folly of being over wise, . 148 31. Former benevolence now repaid with unexpected interest, . . . 179 16. The family use art, which is opposed by still greater, . . . . 149 32. The conclusion, . . . .183 17. Scarcely any virtue found to resist the power of long and pleasing temptation, . 151 PO E MS. The Traveller, .... 135 Stanzas on Woman, . . . 199 The Deserted Village, . . 188 Song intended for She Stoops to Conquer, 200 The Haunch of Venison, . . . 192 Song, . . . . . .ib.

Retaliation, . . . . .193 Another, ..... ib. The Hermit, .... 195 Another, . . . . .ib. The Double Transformation, . .196 Stanzas on the taking of Quebec, . . ib. The Logicians refuted, ... 197 Epitaph on Dr Parnell, . . .ib. Epitaph on Edward Purdon, . . ib. Prologue from Macrobius, . . .ib. Prologue to Zobeide, . . . 201 Epilogue spoken by Lee Lewis, . m . ib. Epilogue to Comedy of The Sisters, '. ib. Epilogue spoken by Mrs Bulkley and Miss Catley , 202 Epilogue written for Mrs Bulkley, , 203 A new Simile, in the manner of Swift, . 198 Description of an Author's Bed-chamber, 198 The Clown's Reply, . . . .199 Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog, . ib. Elegy on Mrs Mary Blaizc, . . .ib. On a Beautiful Youth, struck blind by lightning, ib. The Gift, *_ib. VI CONTENTS. PLAYS. The Good-natured Man, . . 203 | She Stoops to Conquer, 224 ESS AYS.

ESSAY pAOE 1. Description of various Clubs, . 246 2. Specimen of a Magazine in Miniature, . 249 3. Asem, an Eastern Tale ; or a Vindication of the Wisdom of Providence in the Moral Government of the World, . . 250 4. On the English Clergy and Popular Preachers, 252 5. A Reverie at the Boar's-Head Tavern, Eastcheap, .... 254 6. Adventures of a Strolling Player, . 259 7. Rules enjoined to be observed at a Russian Assembly, .... 262 8. Biographical Memoir, supposed to be written by the Ordinary of Newgate, . ib. 9. Friendship, .... 263 10. National Concord, , . . .264 ESBAT PAOE 1 1 . Female Warriors, . ■ • 265 12. National Prejudices, . • .266 13. Taste, 267 14. Cultivation of Taste, . - - 270 15. Origin of Poetry, . • • 273 16. Poetry distinguished from other Writing, 276 17. Metaphor, .... 279 18.

Hyperbole, . . . . .285 19. Versification 286 2(1. Schools of Music, Objections thereto, and Answers, .... 287 21. Carolan the Irish Bard, . . .289 22. On the Tenants of the Leasowes, . 290 23. Sentimental Comedy, . . .291 24. Scottish Marriages, . . . 292 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. The Story of Alcander and Septimius, . 294 Some Particulars relative to Charles XIL 295 On Education, . . . .299 On the instability of Worldly Grandeur, 302 Happiness in a great measure dependent on Constitution, .... 296 The Sentiments of a Frenchman on tbe Temper of the English 303 On Justice and Generosity, . . 298 Some Particulars relating to Father Freijo, 299 An Account of the Augustan Age of England, 304 Custom and Laws compared, . . MEMOIR OF GOLDSMITH. He who investigates the life of a scholar must generally be content, as our author observes,* with a "dry detail of actions" which seldom distinguish him from the rest of his race.

Very different, however, was the career of Goldsmith, which presents a series of strange vicissitudes, and is replete with matter of the most entertaining and curious kind. Oliver Goldsmith was born, November 29, 1728, at a place called Pallas, belonging to the parish of Fornoy and county of Longford, in Ireland. His father, the Rev. Charles Goldsmith, a clergyman of the Established Church, enjoyed a living in Westmeath, and has been faithfully represented as the village preacher, whose benevolence is signalized in one of his son's most popular poems. He had seven children — two daughters and five sons — of whom Oliver was the second ; and as high hopes had been formed of the eldest brother, he received a classical education, which bore so hard upon the father's narrow means, that he could only propose to qualify Oliver for some mercantile employment.

With this view he was instructed in the rudiments of common learning by a village pedagogue, who had served, as quarter-master, in the armies of Queen Anne, been stationed in Spain, and travelled over a considerable part of Europe. This man possessed a romantic turn of mind, and used to enter tain his young scholar with descriptions of the scenes he had viewed, and the adventures he had experienced. Hence those early and profound impressions which were made upon so ardent a pupil, who manifested a wandering and unsettled tendency, which never left him till the termination of his valuable life. At the age of seven or eight, Oliver began to shew signs of spirit and genius which induced his family to place him at the school of Athlone, about * Life of Dr Parnell. MEMOIR OF GOLDSMITH. five miles from home, which he quitted, in two years, for a seminary at Edgeworth-town, and was placed, in June, 1744, at Dublin college.

Thought less and unguarded, here he formed some improper acquaintance of both sexes, and foolishly admitted them to partake of a supper and a dance in his rooms. This circumstance reached the ears of his tutor, a man of harsh temper and violent passions, who abruptly entered iu the midst of all their gaiety, which he soon extinguished, and not only proceeded to the highest excess of personal abuse, but concluded with manual chastisement before all the company. The disgrace attending this cruel treatment drove the poor lad to despair ; and he gloomily resolved not only to forsake all his friends, but to try his fortune, totally unknown, in some other country, where a sense of the shame he had endured might cease to be a cause of affliction or reproach. He accordingly disposed of his books and clothes, and abandoned the college, but still imprudently lingered about Dublin, till a single shilling was all lie had to set out with upon his travels.

Bending his course towards Cork, w7here he intended to take shipping for any place that might offer, he supported himself on the trifle in his pockets for three days, then parted by degrees with the apparel off his back, sometimes fasted for twenty-four hours together, and found a handful of gray peas, given him by a girl at some wake, the most comfortable meal he ever made. By this time he began to feel sensible of his foil)7, and desirous, like the prodigal son, of returning to an indulgent father. Being not far distant from the paternal dwelling, he contrived to communicate with his brother, who came to him, clothed and carried him back to college, and effected a partial reconciliation with his tutor, though, as may be easily imagined, they were never afterwards on cordial terms. Soon after this event his worthy father died, and the relatives who endeavoured to supply his loss, wished him to prepare for holy orders.

He con sented, with much repugnance, to adopt the clerical profession, but was rejected by Synge, bishop of the diocese, either on account of his irregularities at college, or because his professional studies were found incomplete. He then passed as private tutor into the family of a neighbouring gentleman, where he continued twelve months; but being averse to the necessary con finement, and having saved thirty pounds, he purchased a stout horse, and abruptly quitted that part of the country. After an absence of six weeks he returned unexpectedly to his mother's house, penniless, and mounted on a miserable pony. Naturally offended as his mother felt, at conduct so mischievous and absurd, still a reconciliation was effected by medium of his brothers and sisters, who seem to have enter- MEMOIR OP GOLDSMITH.

IX tained for him the most unalterable attachment. When required to account for the loss of his money and linen, and the horse on which he had departed, he told them that he had been at Cork, where he sold his steed, and had paid some master of a vessel for his passage to America. The winds, however, proving contrary for three weeks, he had amused himself by seeing every thing curious in and about the city ; that while engaged on an excursion into the country, the winds proved fair, and his friend, the captain, had set sail without him. Continuing in Cork till he had only two guineas left, he then bought Fiddle-back, as his pony was denominated, aud rode home, a journey of an hundred and twenty miles, with the only crown which remained in his possession. Half this little stock he had even bestowed upon a poor woman in his way, who solicited relief for herself and eight children.

From a chance friend he obtained the loan of three half-guineas, and finished the narrative of his wild exploits, by quaintly observing, that as he had struggled so hard to return home, the whole family should express their joy to see him. To keep so truant a disposition within the bounds of sobriety and order, it was resolved to engage him in the study of some profession, and the law being fixed upon, he set out for London, to establish himself at the Temple. He reached Dublin, furnished with fifty pounds for the expenses of his voyage and journey, but lost the whole of that sum to a sharper, who had tempted him to play, and was obliged to throw himself again upon the tend erness of his poor mother for commiseration and assistance. Once more received into favour, it was settled that he should study physic at Edinburgh where he accordingly fixed himself about the close of 1752, or the commence ment of the following year.

Though not inattentive, for sonie time, to the lectures of Monroe, and other professors in the medical line, yet his health became considerably injured, and his pockets were frequently drained, by the scenes of dissipation in which he too often mixed. Having, however, gone through the usual courses, he prepared for removal to Leyden, where his friends consented that he should finish his professional studies. For this purpose he rather singularly embarked on board a Scottish ship bound to Bordeaux, with " six agreeable passengers," as the master called them, in his company. When but two days at sea, a storm drove this vessel into Newcastle-upon-Tyne, when Goldsmith and his new associates all went ashore, to refresh them selves after the fatigue and peril they had experienced. While full of mirth, the next evening, a detachment of grenadiers broke into the room where they were assembled, and put the whole party under "arrest.

The strangers, it seems, were Scotsmen in the French service, for which they had been endeavouring to raise recruits in their native country. Goldsmith endea- X MEMOIR OF GOLDSMITH. voured "anxiously to prove his innocence, but was committed to prison with the rest, and found great^difficulty in getting off, after .a fortnight's detention. But here Providence interposed for his welfare. The ship proceeded to Bordeaux before the term of his imprisonment expired, was wrecked at the mouth of the Garonne, and not a soul survived the disaster from which he was so mercifully protected. At Newcastle he found a ship ready for Rotterdam, on board of which he embarked, reached his destination in nine days, and travelled by land in safety to Leyden. During his stay, which lasted a year, he studied chemistry and anatomy under eminent professors ; but the seductions of the gaming table were irresistible, and made heavy inroads upon those hours which his improvement exacted.

Determined to quit Holland and visit the adjacent countries/ he is said to have set out on his travels with only one clean shirt and no money in his pocket, a dilemma to which he reduced himself by pur chasing some curious and expensive flowers, for a valued relation, without reflecting on [the inadequate state of his finances, which the present com pletely exhausted. Trusting to fortune for resources, and resolved to make the tour of Europe on foot, he rambled through Flanders, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy, supporting himself by means so similar to those of the wanderer in his Vicar of Wahefield, that most of the following particulars are supposed to be what he experienced: — "I had some knowledge of music, and now turned what was once my amusement into a present means of subsistence.

Whenever I approached a peasant's house towards night-fall, I played one of my most merry tunes, and that procured me not only a lodging but sub sistence for the next day. I once or twice attempted to play to people of fashion, but they still thought my performance odious, and never rewarded me even with a trifle." His classical learning procured him also entertainment at many monas teries, especially those of the Irish friars. Another resource was likewise afforded to[our forlorn pilgrim. In various foreign universities, convents, &c. upon certain days, theses are maintained against any casual disputant, for which, if the champion opposes with tolerable expertness, he may claim a gratuity in money, a dinner, and lodging for the night. Of such advantages Goldsmith availed himself, and " Thus," says he, " I fought my way from convent to convent, examined mankind more nearly, and, if I may so express it, saw both sides of the picture."

At Padua ho resided six months, and if ever he took any foreign degree, which is doubtful, it was'probably in this ancient school of medicine. The death of a good and generous uncle, to whom he was solely indebted for MEMOIR OF GOLDSMITH XI support, compelled him to return home, and he landed at Dover, just "as the war broke out, in 1756. He had still the tide of adversity to stem, and arrived in London reduced to extreme distress. Even his attempts to be admitted usher at an academy failed at first, for want of testimonials, and when that humble appointment was procured, he bitterly felt the miseries to which it exposed him. Pressed by the want of immediate subsistence, Goldsmith applied, during this interval, to several apothecaries for employment as a journeyman, but his thread-bare coat, uncouth figure, and Hibernian dialect, produced repeated refusals.

At length a chemist, moved by compassion, or perhaps surprised at his medical knowledge, is said to have taken him as an assistant, in which situation he was discovered by Dr Sleigh, a fellow-collegian, who most affectionately supplied him with pecuniary relief. He was thus enabled to resume his original profession of physic, and established himself on the Bankside, Southwark, whence he afterwards removed to the vicinity of the Temple. Here, with fewer fees than patients, he found leisure to cultivate his literary abilities, and while endeavouring to support himself between his prescriptions and his pen, undertook the charge of a classical school, kept by the Rev. Dr Milner, of Seckham. Through the interest of this person he was appointed physician to one of the factories in India ; and to prepare for his equipment he drew up proposals to print, by subscription, his Present State of Polite Literature in Europe, but soon after gave up the design on which it was founded, though his general resolution of travelling to Asia continued unchanged.

This desire unfolded itself soon after the accession of George the Third, when Goldsmith petitioned the Earl of Bute for a salary, that he might proceed to Aleppo, and acquire, for the benefit of Great Britain, a knowledge of any arts peculiar to the East. This visionary project was condemned or neglected, and the author remained at home to distinguish himself by a rapid and popular display of unsuspected genius. In 1758, he contracted an acquaintance with the proprietor and publisher of the Monthly Review, who invited him to become a writer in that periodical, to which he contributed for seven or eight months. His Essay on Polite Literature was published next year by Dodsley, soon after which he wrote the Vicar of Wahefield, his Letters on English History, Ike. but did not rise to decided eminence till, in 1765, that fine poem, The Traveller, had established his fame.