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London Society；〃 in a series of letters purporting to be addressed by a
Chinese traveller to his friends。 All these works were anonymous； but
some of them were well…known to be Goldsmith's； and he gradually rose
in the estimation of the booksellers for whom he drudged。 He was； indeed；
emphatically a popular writer。 For accurate research or grave disquisition
he was not well qualified by nature or by education。 He knew nothing
accurately： his reading had been desultory； nor had he meditated deeply on
what he had read。 He had seen much of the world； but he had noticed and
retained little more of what he had seen than some grotesque incidents and
characters which had happened to strike his fancy。 But； though his mind
was very scantily stored with materials； he used what materials he had in
such a way as to produce a wonderful effect。 There have been many
greater writers； but perhaps no writer was ever more uniformly agreeable。
His style was always pure and easy； and； on proper occasions； pointed and
energetic。 His narratives were always amusing； his descriptions always
picturesque； his humour rich and joyous； yet not without an occasional
tinge of amiable sadness。 About everything that he wrote； serious or
sportive； there was a certain natural grace and decorum； hardly to be
expected from a man a great part of whose life had been passed among
thieves and beggars； street…walkers and merry andrews； in those squalid
dens which are the reproach of great capitals。
As his name gradually became known； the circle of his acquaintance
widened。 He was introduced to Johnson； who was then considered as the
first of living English writers； to Reynolds； the first of English painters；
and to Burke； who had not yet entered parliament； but had distinguished
himself greatly by his writings and by the eloquence of his conversation。
With these eminent men Goldsmith became intimate。 In 1763 he was one
of the nine original members of that celebrated fraternity which has
sometimes been called the Literary Club； but which has always disclaimed
that epithet； and still glories in the simple name of The Club。
By this time Goldsmith had quitted his miserable dwelling at the top of
Breakneck Steps； and had taken chambers in the more civilised region of
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
the Inns of Court。 But he was still often reduced to pitiable shifts。 Towards
the close of 1764 his rent was so long in arrear that his landlady one
morning called in the help of a sheriff's officer。 The debtor； in great
perplexity； despatched a messenger to Johnson； and Johnson； always
friendly； though often surly； sent back the messenger with a guinea； and
promised to follow speedily。 He came； and found that Goldsmith had
changed the guinea； and was railing at the landlady over a bottle of
Madeira。 Johnson put the cork into the bottle； and entreated his friend to
consider calmly how money was to be procured。 Goldsmith said that he
had a novel ready for the press。 Johnson glanced at the manuscript； saw
that there were good things in it； took it to a bookseller； sold it for 60
pounds； and soon returned with the money。 The rent was paid； and the
sheriff's officer withdrew。 According to one story； Goldsmith gave his
landlady a sharp reprimand for her treatment of him； according to another；
he insisted on her joining him in a bowl of punch。 Both stories are
probably true。 The novel which was thus ushered into the world was the
〃Vicar of Wakefield。〃
But； before the 〃Vicar of Wakefield〃 appeared in print； came the great
crisis of Goldsmith's literary life。 In Christmas week； 1764； he published a
poem； entitled the 〃Traveller。〃 It was the first work to which he had put his
name； and it at once raised him to the rank of a legitimate English classic。
The opinion of the most skilful critics was； that nothing finer had appeared
in verse since the fourth book of the 〃Dunciad。〃 In one respect the
〃Traveller〃 differs from all Goldsmith's other writings。 In general his
designs were bad； and his execution good。 In the 〃Traveller；〃 the execution；
though deserving of much praise； is far inferior to the design。 No
philosophical poem； ancient or modern； has a plan so noble； and at the
same time so simple。 An English wanderer； seated on a crag among the
Alps； near the point where three great countries meet； looks down on the
boundless prospect； reviews his long pilgrimage； recalls the varieties of
scenery； of climate； of government； of religion； of national character；
which he has observed； and comes to the conclusion just or unjust； that our
happiness depends little on political institutions； and much on the temper
and regulation of our own minds。
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
While the fourth edition of the 〃Traveller〃 was on the counters of the
booksellers； the 〃Vicar of Wakefield〃 appeared； and rapidly obtained a
popularity which has lasted down to our own time； and which is likely to
last as long as our language。 The fable is indeed one of the worst that ever
was constructed。 It wants； not merely that probability which ought to be
found in a tale of common English life； but that consistency which ought
to be found even in the wildest fiction about witches； giants； and fairies。
But the earlier chapters have all the sweetness of pastoral poetry； together
with all the vivacity of comedy。 Moses and his spectacles； the vicar and
his monogamy； the sharper and his cosmogony； the squire proving from
Aristotle that relatives are related； Olivia preparing herself for the arduous
task of converting a rakish lover by studying the controversy between
Robinson Crusoe and Friday； the great ladies with their scandal about Sir
Tomkyn's amours and Dr Burdock's verses； and Mr Burchell with his
〃Fudge；〃 have caused as much harmless mirth as has ever been caused by
matter packed into so small a number of pages。 The latter part of the tale is
unworthy of the beginning。 As we approach the catastrophe； the