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rection, for it is never rounded for the sake of effect, as from that natural taste which costs no labour, and is to the great majority of writers unattainable by art. "It may be observed," says Bishop Percy, (and the writer can confirm this testimony from what yet remains,) "that his elegant and enchanting style in prose flowed from him with so much facility, that in whole quires of his histories, Animated Nature,' &c., he had seldom occasion to correct or alter a single word." Smollett is rarely to be tracked through the mazes of periodical literature in the same manner as Goldsmith. He is wanting in the mannerism that belongs frequently to men of genius, and which gives to anonymous writings nearly as much certainty as if their names were affixed to the papers. However great and varied his powers as a writer, this specific character is wanting: he wrote too carelessly and multifariously to preserve strong individuality; we cannot trace his train of thought, his favourite phrases, the turn of his periods, or known sentiments. By these Johnson was often detected when perhaps he had little desire to be known. By these Goldsmith also, is occasionally to be traced by such as are intimately conversant with his writings, particularly when, from his own admission, or the information of others, we know the channels through which they first found their way to the public.

Two other contributors to the Magazine, either at its commencement, or immediately afterwards, are said to have been Mr. Grif fith Jones, and Mr Huddleston Wynne; the former an assistant to Newbery in the arrangement of his little books: the latter known at the time from a variety of works in prose and verse, though not of permanent interest. To these probably belong the inferior essays; to Goldsmith or Smollett those of a more finished description. Still, among a variety of short pieces some necessarily inferior to others, doubts as to their origin will prevail; and all that can be done is, to point out to the attention of the reader such as are probable where certain knowledge cannot now be obtained. But involved as Smollett seems at all times to have been in a multiplicity of literary projects, it may not be wide of the truth to infer that his name, his novel, and some general superintendence, were as much as he could give to a work of this description.

The papers which Goldsmith thought proper to own by reprinting them in one of his volumes, were one in the February number of the Magazine, one in March, one in April, one in June; where likewise appear the lines from the Bee, "On a Beautiful Child struck Blind by Lightning," which are here represented to be on one who had been deprived of sight by the small-pox; and one in October. These are such as he considered most finished, and not unworthy of the author of the "Traveller," which poem this volume in its period of publication immediately succeeded, and with which he probably thought it would be contrasted.

Others of undoubted authenticity, though deemed by him of less interest for the purpose then in view, were early known to be his; one if not two in January, one in February, one in April, one in an extra number of the Magazine to which no month is prefixed, but

seemingly published between April and May; one if not two in May; one in June, four in July, one in August, and one in September; all of which will find place in his works. The doubtful papers are about seven or eight in number; one of these in January, "On the Bravery of the English Common Soldiers," appears in the works of Dr. Johnson; and although perhaps properly placed there, its history may deserve inquiry from some incorrect statements which have appeared.

Boswell informs us that it was added to the "Idler" by Dr. Johnson when first collected into volumes; but in this he errs; for it was neither added by him, nor is it to be found in the early editions of that work; and for all that appears may have been included afterwards without sufficient inquiry. So great was the reputation of that eminent writer, that any original paper from him would have been announced with every degree of publicity and triumph, as were those simply reprinted from other sources. Thus, in the same number of the Magazine, the 89th paper of the "Idler," then in course of publication, is republished with the following introductory remark: The reader, we imagine, will not be displeased to learn, that we propose to enrich every number of the British Magazine with one paper from the Idler,' by permission of the author, whose great genius and extensive learning may be justly numbered among the most shining ornaments of the present age." Other reasons for questioning its origin in consequence of this ambiguity appear in the allusions, several of which may be found in other parts of the writings of Goldsmith: he further pursued the subject in the Magazine for June-the "Distresses of a Common Soldier," reprinted in the Citizen of the World, and again in the volume of essays in 1765; a paper which has been much praised by French critics as breathing the spirit of an humble optimist. It would appear that Boswell was unacquainted with the previous publication of the essay in this Magazine; and likewise that Smollett or whoever officiated as editor, knew not or considered it not to be written by Johnson, or they would have proclaimed the honour for the credit of their work.

Among the supposed contributions of Goldsmith, but less certain from being less finished, is a tale where we find something like the first rude germ of the Vicar of Wakefield. The catastrophe is indeed unnatural and abrupt, obviously hurried to a conclusion and written probably when the press required an immediate supply of matter. But looking to the scene which is laid in the north of England; the hero, a clergyman; his hospitality; his character and peculiarities, " sitting by the way side to welcome the passing stranger," and replying to their news by some parallel instance from antiquity, or anecdote of his youth; circumstances so much in the spirit and manner of the novel, and of the Deserted Village; his love for his daughter; her seduction; the character and description of the seducer for whom he finds the Irish name of Dawson; the grief of the agonized father, first shown in threats, and then the recollection that his sacred calling precluded him having recourse

to violence to resent the injury; added to minute circumstances, which strike the attentive reader; all render it probable that this formed the first draught of a tale which we have hitherto known only in its perfect state. It is called the "History of Miss Stanton." "For several months he ceased to render further assistance in consequence of becoming by his own account afterwards, editor of the Lady's Magazine. But this connexion being either of short continuance, or having time on his hands for the purpose, and deeming the British Magazine a more suitable medium for pursuing such a subject, he commenced in that work in July 1761 a series of papers on the Belles Lettres, embracing a considerable portion of classical criticism. These were continued, with the exception of the months of November 1761, and July, August, October, and December 1762 (when it will be seen he was otherwise employed,) until January, 1763. They then terminated abruptly it would seem, for the last communication bears the usual intimation, To be continued. Fourteen papers altogether were given, each forming about three pages of the Magazine, printed in double columns; and attention was either drawn to them, or the proprietors were willing to do so, by a passage in the preface to the volume for 1762, where it is stated as if much consideration were due to the subject of the writer, that besides four articles continued uninterruptedly through the work, they have "added a fifth on the subject of the Belles Lettres, which we flatter ourselves will meet with peculiar approbation." The last essay of a miscellaneous nature communicated by him was "Proposals for augmenting the Forces of Great Britain," strongly marked with his characteristic humour, which appeared in January 1762.

The contributions alluded to by the proprietors in the above passage as creditable to their miscellany and an additional claim on the patronage of the public, were in biography, natural history, and the histories of France and Canada. With the greater part, or probably the whole of these Goldsmith had no concern: the historical articles indeed commencing with the first number, by a coincidence no doubt accidental ceased about the same time (March 1763) as his communications and with equal abruptness; for they are noted, "To be continued." The narration is not without merit, but wants the terseness, vigour, and spirit of philosophical reflection common to his other histories; qualities which tended so largely to enhance their popularity. Neither are they likely to have been by Smollett, who still if we are to believe the advertisement, retained his connexion with the Magazine. One or both may indeed have been roughdrawn under his direction by an inferior workman; a conjecture which receives countenance from the fact of being discontinued shortly before the state of his health rendered it necessary to quit England for the Continent in June 1765.

Connected with the history of this Magazine ere it became generally known, a paper which appeared in the Public Ledger must not be forgotten. Publications, like men, require the most active friends in the earlier stages of their being; for it is then, when in a state of obscurity that introduction becomes kind and publicity useful; when

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known, this kind of assistance becomes no longer necessary. What in the latter case would appear unbecoming praise, is in the former but a recommendation to the good opinion of the world. To introduce the work in the best manner to public favour, Goldsmith, whose skill seems to have been perfectly appreciated by such as knew him, was applied to. He could do for Smollett's undertaking what the latter without a violation of modesty could not do for himself-praise his talents with all the warmth of an admirer. A very skilful notice was therefore introduced in the form of an amusing letter bearing date February 16th 1760, which for its humour, will be perused with pleasure. It is entitled, "A Description of a Wow Wow in the Country," and will be given in another place. Here it may be remarked as a peculiarity in all his communications, that he scarcely ever uses a distinguishing signature: for however they may be couched in the epistolary form, there is, with one or two exceptions only, no name affixed even when a name might be supposed to add to the humour of the subject.

CHAPTER X.

Public Ledger.-Chinese Letters.-Lady's Magazine.—Removes to Wine-Office Court.-Dr. Johnson.-Garrick.-Introduction to History of the War.-Project for Visiting Asia.

His engagement with Newbery in the newspaper, as already remarked, was nearly simultaneous with that in the Magazine, the difference of time being no more than a few days; but as the latter by coming out on the 1st of January had the priority, his connexion with it has been first noticed. To the former however he contributed more largely; and the papers so furnished have proved one of the sources of his fame.

The first number of the Public Ledger appeared on the 12th of January 1760; introduced by a long and laboured prospectus which formed the leading article for many days. In addition to original news, it was to concentrate facts from contemporary journals; to be a medium of communication on all matters of commerce or business; to give original papers on literature; "supply information to the industrious, and amusement to the idle;" in a word to combine in the usual flourishing strain of applicants for public favour, matters incompatible, and put forth promises rarely fulfilled, and which none has more happily ridiculed than Goldsmith, who had some experience in similar propitiatory addresses, in one of his Essays. On this occasion judging from internal evidence he seems not to have been employed. Newbery, however anxious for the success of the undertaking, probably thought it more the affair of a man of business than of genius; he therefore either wrote it himself or entrusted

it to his editor, who is said to have been Mr. Griffith Jones, already mentioned as connected afterwards with the British Magazine. It is well drawn up, but wants the more marked characteristics of the author of the "Citizen of the World."

The agreement was to furnish papers of an amusing character twice a week, for which according to contemporary statements, he was to receive a salary of 1001. per annum; and this being at the rate of something less than a guinea each, is probably true. It is a curious coincidence, that Dr. Johnson should have been employed by the same publisher to contribute papers of a similar description to the "Universal Chronicle," a weekly newspaper commenced by him in April, 1758, in which the "Idler,"* still at that moment in course of publication, first appeared; and no stronger testimony can be given of the opinion formed of the talents of Goldsmith at this period however little known to the world, than his being chosen the prop of one newspaper as the greatest writer of the age had been of another.

He appears either not to have had, or not to have matured, a systematic form for his contributions on their commencement. Two miscellaneous papers precede the first of the Chinese letters; one on the 17th of January five days after the first publication of the newspaper; the other on the 19th; both possessing all his characteristic manner, and much of his humour; and which like so many of his fugitive pieces have been hitherto unnoticed. In the one he animadverts on a supposed peculiarity of our countrymen, that of unmeasured abuse of the public enemy during war; a failing which his natural benevolence of disposition, and some of that regard for the better qualities of the French character exhibited in the "Traveller," led him now and in other passages of his writings, in the sixth number of the "Busy Body," for instance, to censure as unbecoming in generous opponents. Having thus lectured the men, the other paper contains a humorous attack upon the supposed foibles of the fair sex, in a letter from the "Goddess of Silence to the Ladies of London and Westminster greeting." Both papers will be found in the Works.

Miscellaneous papers however give no distinct character to the writer, because general readers seldom know them to proceed from the same pen. A distinguishing title or subject preserves identity,

For writing the "Idler," Johnson is said to have received a share of the profits of the paper. When first collected into volumes, two-thirds of the profits were given to him, as appears by the following account, copied from the original, rendered by Newbery, which will interest the literary reader:

"Dr.

Paid for advertising
Printing 2 vols. 1500
Paper

Profit on the Edition

52 3 0 Dr. Johnson 2-3ds

"The Idler.

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Mr. Newbery 1-3d

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