was a strong and almost irresistible incitement. finest images in Mr. Home's "Douglas," To adopt one of the I admit that the beadle within him was often so eager to apply the lash, that the judge had not time to consider the case with sufficient deliberation. That he was occasionally remarkable for violence of temper may be granted: but let us ascertain the degree, and not let it be supposed that he was in a perpetual rage, and never without a club in his hand to knock down every one who approached him. On the contrary, the truth is, that by much the greatest part of his time he was civil, obliging, nay, polite in the true sense of the word; so much so, that many gentlemen who were long acquainted with him never received, or even heard, a strong expression from him. The following letters concerning an Epitaph which he wrote for the monument of Dr. Goldsmith, in Westminster-Abbey, afford at once a proof of his unaffected modesty, his carelessness as to his own writings, and of the great respect which he entertained for the taste and judgment of the excellent and eminent person to whom they are addressed : DEAR SIR, "TO SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS. : May 16, 1776. "I have been kept away from you, I know not well how, and of those vexatious hinderances I know not when there will be an end. I therefore send you the poor dear Doctor's epitaph. Read it first yourself; and, if you then think it right, shew it to the Club. I am, you know, willing to be corrected. If you think any thing much amiss, keep it to yourself till we come together. I have sent two copies, but prefer the card. The dates must be settled by Dr. Percy. "I am, Sir, your most humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON." "MISS REYNOLDS has a mind to send the Epitaph to Dr. Beattie; I am very willing, but having no copy cannot immediately recollect it. She tells me you have lost it. Try to recollect, and put down as much as you retain; you perhaps may have kept what I have diopt. The lines for which I am at a loss are something of rerum civilium sive naturalium.1 It was a sorry trick to lose it; help me if you can. I am, Sir, "The gout grows better but slowly." "Your most humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON. 1 These words must have been in the other copy. They are not in that which was preferred.-Boswell. It was, I think, after I had left London in this year, that this epitaph gave occasion to a Remonstrance to the MONARCH OF LITERATURE, for an account of which I am indebted to Sir William Forbes of Pitsligo,1 That my readers may have the subject more fully and clearly before them, I shall first insert the epitaph.2 1 See antè, p. 32. OLIVARII GOLDSMITH, Poetæ, Physici, Historici, Qui nullum fere scribendi genus Nullum quod tetigit non ornavit : 2 Which may be thus translated: "The love of Companions, the fidelity of Friends, and the admiration of Readers have by this monument honoured the memory of OLIVER GOLDSMITH, A Poet, Physician, and Historian, who scarce left any kind of writing untouched, and touched nothing which he did not adorn. Whether smiles or tears were to be moved, he was a powerful yet gentle master of the passions; in genius sublime, vivid, and ver satile; in style lofty, clear, and elegant. "He was born in Ireland in the parish of Forney, county of Longford, at a place named Pallas, on the 29th of November, 1731, and educated at Dublin. He died in London, April 4th, 1774."-ED. Sive risus essent movendi, Affectuum potens at lenis dominator: Amicorum fides, Lectorum veneratio. Natus in Hiberniâ Fornia Longfordiensis, April IV, MDCCLXXIV.2 Sir William Forbes writes to me thus: "I enclose the Round Robin. This jeu d'esprit took its rise one day at dinner, at our friend Sir Joshua Reynolds's. All the company present, except myself, were friends and acquaintance of Dr. Goldsmith. The Epitaph, written for him by Dr. Johnson, became the subject of conversation, and various emendations were suggested, which it was agreed should be submitted to the Doctor's consideration. But the question was, who should have the courage to propose them to him? At last it was hinted that there could be no way so good as that of a Round Robin, as the sailors call it, which they make use of when they enter into a conspiracy, so as not to let it be known who puts his name first or last to the paper. This proposition was instantly assented to ; and Dr. Barnard, Dean of Derry, now Bishop of Killaloe, 3 drew up an address to Dr. Johnson on the occasion, replete with wit and humour, but which it was feared the Doctor might think treated the subject with too much levity. Mr. Burke then proposed the address as it stands in the paper in writing, to which I had the honour to officiate as clerk. DR. BARNARD. 1 This was a mistake, which was not discovered till after Goldsmith's monument was put in Westminster Abbey. He was born November 29, 1728; and therefore, when he died, he was in his 47th year.-MALONE. 2 Besides this Latin Epitaph, Johnson honoured the memory of his friend Goldsmith with one short one in Greek. See vol. ii., page 182.-BOSWELL. 3 This prelate, who was afterwards translated to the See of Limerick, died at Wimbledon, in Surrey, June 7, 1806, in his eightieth year. The original Round Robin remained in his possession; the paper, which Sir William Forbes transmitted to Mr. Boswell, being only a copy.-MALONE. |