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place called Pallas in the county of Longford。 There he with difficulty
supported his wife and children on what he could earn； partly as a curate
and partly as a farmer。
At Pallas Oliver Goldsmith was born in November 1728。 That spot
was then； for all practical purposes； almost as remote from the busy and
splendid capital in which his later years were passed； as any clearing in
Upper Canada or any sheep…walk in Australasia now is。 Even at this day
those enthusiasts who venture to make a pilgrimage to the birthplace of the
poet are forced to perform the latter part of their journey on foot。 The
hamlet lies far from any high road； on a dreary plain which； in wet weather；
is often a lake。 The lanes would break any jaunting car to pieces； and there
are ruts and sloughs through which the most strongly built wheels cannot
be dragged。
While Oliver was still a child； his father was presented to a living
worth about 200 pounds a year； in the county of Westmeath。 The family
accordingly quitted their cottage in the wilderness for a spacious house on
a frequented road； near the village of Lissoy。 Here the boy was taught his
letters by a maid…servant； and was sent in his seventh year to a village
school kept by an old quartermaster on half…pay； who professed to teach
nothing but reading； writing； and arithmetic； but who had an inexhaustible
fund of stories about ghosts； banshees； and fairies； about the great
Rapparee chiefs； Baldearg O'Donnell and galloping Hogan； and about the
exploits of Peterborough and Stanhope； the surprise of Monjuich； and the
glorious disaster of Brihuega。 This man must have been of the Protestant
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
religion； but he was of the aboriginal race； and not only spoke the Irish
language； but could pour forth unpremeditated Irish verses。 Oliver early
became； and through life continued to be； a passionate admirer of the Irish
music； and especially of the compositions of Carolan； some of the last
notes of whose harp he heard。 It ought to be added that Oliver； though by
birth one of the Englishry； and though connected by numerous ties with
the Established Church； never showed the least sign of that contemptuous
antipathy with which； in his days； the ruling minority in Ireland too
generally regarded the subject majority。 So far indeed was he from sharing
in the opinions and feelings of the caste to which he belonged； that he
conceived an aversion to the Glorious and Immortal Memory； and； even
when George the Third was on the throne； maintained that nothing but the
restoration of the banished dynasty could save the country。
From the humble academy kept by the old soldier Goldsmith was
removed in his ninth year。 He went to several grammar schools； and
acquired some knowledge of the ancient languages。 His life at this time
seems to have been far from happy。 He had； as appears from the admirable
portrait of him at Knowle； features harsh even to ugliness。 The small…pox
had set its mark on him with more than usual severity。 His stature was
small； and his limbs ill put together。 Among boys little tenderness is shown
to personal defects； and the ridicule excited by poor Oliver's appearance
was heightened by a peculiar simplicity and a disposition to blunder which
he retained to the last。 He became the common butt of boys and masters；
was pointed at as a fright in the play…ground； and flogged as a dunce in the
school…room。 When he had risen to eminence； those who had once derided
him ransacked their memory for the events of his early years； and recited
repartees and couplets which had dropped from him； and which； though
little noticed at the time； were supposed； a quarter of a century later； to
indicate the powers which produced the 〃Vicar of Wakefield〃 and the
〃Deserted Village。〃
In his seventeenth year Oliver went up to Trinity College； Dublin； as a
sizar。 The sizars paid nothing for food and tuition； and very little for
lodging； but they had to perform some menial services from which they
have long been relieved。 They swept the court： they carried up the dinner
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
to the fellows' table； and changed the plates and poured out the ale of the
rulers of the society。 Goldsmith was quartered； not alone； in a garret； on
the window of which his name； scrawled by himself； is still read with
interest。 （The glass on which the name is written has； as we are informed
by a writer in 〃Notes and Queries〃 （2d。 S。 ix。 p。 91）； been inclosed in a
frame and deposited in the Manuscript Room of the College Library；
where it is still to be seen。） From such garrets many men of less parts than
his have made their way to the woolsack or to the episcopal bench。 But
Goldsmith； while he suffered all the humiliations； threw away all the
advantages； of his situation。 He neglected the studies of the place； stood
low at the examinations； was turned down to the bottom of his class for
playing the buffoon in the lecture…room； was severely reprimanded for
pumping on a constable； and was caned by a brutal tutor for giving a ball
in the attic story of the college to some gay youths and damsels from the
city。
While Oliver was leading at Dublin a life divided between squalid
distress and squalid dissipation； his father died； leaving a mere pittance。
The youth obtained his bachelor's degree； and left the university。 During
some time the humble dwelling to which his widowed mother had retired
was his home。 He was now in his twenty…first year； it was necessary that
he should do something； and his education seemed to have fitted him to do
nothing but to dress himself in gaudy colours； of which he was as fond as
a magpie； to take a hand at cards； to sing Irish airs； to play the flute； to
angle in summer； and to tell ghost stories by the fire in winter。 He tried
five or six professions in turn without success。 He applied for ordination；
but； as he applied in scarlet clothes； he was speedily turned out of the
episcopal palace。 He then became tutor in an opulent family； but soon
quitted his situation in conseque