Of his political pamphlets, the one entitled "Taxation no Tyranny," is very amusing to us Americans, as it defends the policy of George III. in the war of the Revolution. His "Journey to the Western Islands" (the Hebrides), taken in company with Boswell, is an interesting description of a country then little known. His last work, "Lives of the Poets," was finished three years before his death. This book is not a safe guide for young people's information, for Dr. Johnson was a man too prejudiced to see always fairly, and, as has been said, his strength lay elsewhere than in criticism.

After a long period of ill-health, having outlived most of those who had been his house - mates, and many of his intimate friends, Johnson died. His mind remained unclouded to the last, and he left behind him group of sincere mourners, not the least of whom were the poor whom he had befriended.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

OLIVER GOLDSMITH.

IDE by side with the burly figure of Dr. Johnson, in the mind's eye, appears a short gentleman whose plain, good-natured face is much pitted with small-pox, and whom the great Doctor addresses by the familiar name of "Goldy." This is Oliver Goldsmith (1728-74), a man of abilities so varied that we scarcely know whether to class him among essayists, poets, dramatists, novelists or satirists, for he appeared in all these characters and played each with credit. His life was a strange medley of brilliant successes and wretched failures; his character a strange compound of gentle and noble traits with faults so pitiable that one always thinks of him as "Poor Goldsmith!"

His father was an Irish protestant clergyman, whom he describes as being "passing rich with forty pounds a year." The boy was sent to Trinity College, Dublin, as a "sizar". a student who was boarded and taught gratuitously, but who (at that time) was expected to perform many duties in return which are usually done by servants. He gained little credit in college either for scholarship or conduct, and barely secured a degree. In the meantime his father had died, leaving a mere pittance to support his widow; and Oliver was obliged to look out for himself. Now begins the sad tale of his throwing away his opportunities, his utter lack of selfcontrol, and his incurable wastefulness. He tried nearly all the professions in turn and succeeded at none; then determining to emigrate to America, his friends made up a purse for him, and had the mortification to see him return in six weeks, having squandered his money, sold the horse they had provided for him, and allowed the ship to sail without him. Next, his uncle having given him money with which to pursue his studies on the continent, he lost it all one night in a gambling - house before starting. A purse was again made up for him, with the contents of which he stayed awhile at Edinburgh, professing to study medicine but really idling away his time. From there, after a year or two, he went to Leyden and did the same thing again. Being unable, because of his lack of application, to obtain a doctor's degree, he decided to travel on the continent; but before setting out, he was tempted by the sight of some rare Dutch tulips, and spent the money on which he was to travel in buying them as a present for his uncle. So he started, according to his own account, with a guinea in his pocket, a single shirt in his wallet and a flute in his hand, to make the tour of Europe. He played for the peasants (who gladly gave him a bed or a supper), and was often entertained

Irish protestant clergyman, whom he being "passing roh with forty pounds a The boy was nt to Irinity College, Dublin,

- a student who was boarded and taught it wht that time) was expected to per

191) moy dues morn which are usually done by He gined litle cret college either for

Servants.

31, and

his father

this w

and his Pe.. V professions in tua a.

Troy secured a degree. In ed, leaving a mere pit1 leer was obliged to

ng to emigrate to A.. re for him, and had the ns, weeks, having s e horse y had provide sp to snu without him. ey with which to

him

e sad tale of his ter lack of selfHe tried nearly ced at none; then his friends made up tification to see him andered his money, sold for him, and allowed the t, his uncle having given Je his studies on the conin a gumbling-house before * me p for him, with the ved awelnburgh, professbut r

tinent, he lost it all one "

starting. A purse was contents of which

ing to study med

From there, after a year or

did the samne :

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to travel o

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the mo

as a

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on which

nt for his u'

his own account, with

shirt in his wallet

away his time. nt to Leyden and

because of his degree, he decided testing out, he was h tulips, and spent vel in buying them started, according to his pocket, a sir le

a mute 1 his hand, to make the

tor of Euro; e. H- played for the peasants (who gladiy

ve him a bel or a supper), and was often entertained