rate poets of the country have any monument left them. But alas! his noble and immortal part-the good man-is only consigned to the short-lived memory of those who are left to lament his death.

6

"Having naturally a powerful bias on his mind to the cause of virtue, he was cheerful and indefatigable in the pursuit of it; warm in his friendships, gentle in his manners, and in every act of charity and benevolence the very milk of human kindness.' Nay even his foibles and little weaknesses of temper may be said rather to show the simplicity of his nature than to degrade his understanding; for though there may be many instances to prove he was no man of the world, most of those instances would attest the unadulterated purity of his heart.

"One who esteemed the kindness and friendship of such a man as forming a principal part of the happiness of his life, pays this last, sincere, and grateful tribute to his memory."

RACTER. RANK AS A POET AND PROSE WRITER.― MEMBERS OF THE GOLDSMITH FAMILY.

SHORTLY after the death of Oliver, his eldest surviving brother Maurice, arrived from Ireland in compliance with the summons of Sir Joshua. He was as may be imagined from his history, a plain unlettered man, too homely it seems in appearance and manners to command much consideration from his late brother's accomplished friends.

A lady alluded to more than once for her knowledge of the Poet, informs the writer, that being in a small party in the house of Sir Joshua when the latter was summoned down stairs, he returned after a considerable absence and whispered her, that he had been below with Goldsmith's brother, but thinking a little beer or spirits there, better adapted to his taste than tea in the drawing room, he had entertained him in what he considered the most appropriate manner. She, with the usual kindness of the sex, thought his behaviour scarcely becoming in the President to so near a relative of his departed friend.

No will having been left by the deceased, letters of administration were granted on the 28th of June in the usual law form and phraseology—“ of

the goods, chattels, and credits of Oliver Goldsmith, late of the Middle Temple, bachelor, to Maurice Goldsmith, natural and lawful brother, and next of kin to the said deceased." In the bond bearing date the 6th of the same month, he is described as of "Charlestown, county of Roscommon, cabinet maker," and the sureties are "Joseph Cruttenden of Surgeons' Hall, in the Old Bailey, London, Esquire, and William Finch of the same place, Gentleman." No pecuniary advantage it is to be feared accrued to him from the journey in consequence of the amount of his brother's debts. In July arrangements were made for the sale of the furniture and library,* described as being "a large, valuable, and well chosen collection of curious and scarce books," and the catalogue, a copy of which has been procured, and will be found in the Appendix, bears out in some measure the latter part of the description. Maurice did not wait the result of the sale, but quitted London in June; and however homely and unpolished in manners, he appears from the following letter to Mr. Hawes, written about the time of his departure, not to have been deficient in sense or gratitude.

"To be sold by auction; by Mr. Good; at his Great Room, No. 121 Fleet Street, on Monday next, July 11th, 1774, at eleven o'clock, by order of the administrator of Dr. Goldsmith, deceased,

"His large, valuable, and well chosen library of curious and scarce books, household furniture and other effects; which may be viewed on Monday and till the time of sale. Catalogues may be had as above."

"Mr. Hawes,

66

London, June 10, 1774.

"In a few hours I purpose leaving town, and now return you most sincere thanks for your kind behaviour to me since my arrival here. I also am thoroughly convinced of your care, assiduity, and diligence with respect to my brother, Dr. Goldsmith. I am also convinced that as his affairs were put into your hands by Sir Joshua Reynolds, he could have chosen no one who would have acted with more caution and disinterestedness to him than you have done, for which you have my sincere wishes for the welfare of you and yours. I am Sir, with thanks and respects to your family,

"Your much obliged humble servant,
"MAURICE GOLDSMITH."

The spot chosen by Reynolds for the monument in Westminster Abbey, was an appropriate niche fortunately found vacant in Poets' Corner, between those of Gay and the Duke of Argyle, and though first intended to be given to Wilton, was executed by Nollekens, though not till after the lapse of several years. It presents a large medallion displaying a good resemblance of the face in profile, embellished with appropriate ornaments, beneath which is a tablet of white marble containing the well known inscription by Dr. Johnson. Fault has been found with the latinity of parts of this composition, though seemingly without sufficient cause;

*

*By a writer in the Classical Journal. No, xxvi.

but there appears to be a determination that no modern shall be permitted to write in that language without being subjected to sharp critical animadversion.