One of the qualifications which ensured popularity among fellowstudents, but often dangerous to the possessor from the temptations to which it leads, was the talent of singing a good song. His voice, naturally tolerable, acquired more power by cultivation, and by a little taste and skilful management became very agreeable. In London, to a late period of life, he amused his friends with Irish songs, exhibiting much of the peculiar humour of his country. A taste for music formed an additional recommendation, though perhaps with no considerable knowledge of it as a science. He played tolerably well on the German flute; it is recorded that even at this time whenever vexed by temporary annoyances he had recourse to this instrument, and blew it with a kind of mechanical vehemence till his equanimity of temper returned.

Early in 1747, his father, whose character he took pleasure in sketching in several of his productions, died; the induction of his successor, the Rev. Mr. Wynne, taking place in the March of that year. The wealth of the family, never as we have seen great, or as he himself hints, well husbanded, necessarily suffered a serious diminution: the means of the widow were little more than sufficient to provide the necessaries of life for the other branches of her family: remittances to Oliver therefore ceased, and his prospects became darker than ever. In this situation it would have been necessary to have withdrawn from college, but for the occasional contribution of friends, among whom his uncle Contarine formed the principal: these were from their nature limited, and perhaps irregular. His difficulties were consequently considerable, during the whole of his subsequent stay in the university, and no doubt often occasioned that state of "squalid poverty" of which Dr. Wilson speaks. In this situation a constitutional buoyancy, or, as he phrases it in another place, "a knack at hoping," kept him from despair; but, when combined with the reproaches of his tutor, rendered frequent despondency and depression unavoidable. Under such circumstances, he was more than once driven to the necessity of pawning his books, until the stated supply arrived, or some friendly hand interposed to release them; when on such emergencies Beatty+ would lend him others for the purposes of study. The disposal of the books coming to the knowledge of the tutor, he, in addition to bitter taunts and reprehension, said that he was like the silly fellow in Horace-Mutat quadrata rotundis.

There is, we are assured, no stimulus to ingenuity like distress. Goldsmith was now taught for the first time to draw upon his resources in a mode which, however beneath the dignity, was not inappropriate to the calling of the future poet. This was the composition of street ballads, to which Beatty knew him frequently to resort when in want of small sums for present exigencies. The price of these was five shillings each, and all that he wrote found a

See "Of the Opera in England," "Schools of Music," Works, vol. i., and various passages in his writings.

+ Communicated by his son, the Rev. Mr. Beatty.

+ Ibid.

ready sale at a shop known as the sign of the Rein-deer, in Mountrath Street. None of the names of these verses were recollected at the time Mr. Beatty related the fact to his friends, but popular occurrences commonly supplied the subjects.* Poor as they may be supposed to have been in character, from the remuneration received and the class for whom intended, he is said to have exhibited for his offspring all the partiality of a parent, by strolling the streets at night to hear them sung, and marking the degree of applause which each received from the auditors.

CHAPTER III.

Riot of the Students.-Sentence upon Goldsmith and others.—Absents himself from the University.—Anecdotes.—Takes the degree of B.A.—His Father.

In May, 1747, a riot of the students of Trinity College, in which he took part, had nearly involved him in more serious difficulties than any yet experienced, although his tutort (for such was the character of this gentleman) was said to have encouraged privately what he was afterwards called upon to punish in his corporate capacity. A few of the particulars are given by Dr. Wilson, in the postscript to the letter to Malone already quoted :

"Several scholars were expelled for raising a sedition and riot in the city of Dublin. 'Twas occasioned by a report that a scholar had been arrested in Fleet Street. To revenge this supposed insult, a numerous body of scholars rushed into town under the command of Gallows Walsh,-who in those days was controller-general of riots, -explored the dens of the bailiffs, conducted the prisoners in triumph to the college, and pumped them soundly in the old cistern. In those days of primitive simplicity, the pumping of constables was a very fashionable amusement. The commander then proposed breaking open Newgate, and making a general jail delivery. The enterprise was attempted, but failed for want of cannon. Roe, who was the constable of the castle, and was well supplied with artillery, repulsed the assailants; and some townsmen, whose curiosity induced them to become spectators of this futile attempt, were killed

in the action.

"Goldsmith, though not a principal, was present at the transaction, and was publicly admonished for aiding and abetting the riot,-in

Mr. Crofton Croker is now making an extensive collection of the ballads of Ireland; and it is just possible that by peculiar allusion or phraseology, something of Goldsmith may be detected.

+ Communicated by Mr. Webbe, author of "Travels on the Rhine, in Switzerland, and Italy."

the words of the sentence, quod seditioni favisset et tumultuantibus opem tulisset."

In a portion of the juvenile correspondence of Edmund Burke lately discovered, and of which the writer has to regret he had not the use on a previous occasion, another account of this transaction appears, written by a fellow-student, afterwards the Rev. William Dennis, LL. D., Rector of Dunmore in the diocess of Tuam.* This gentleman was, with a few youthful friends in college named Hamilton, Mohun, Buck, Brennan, and one or two more, a member of the debating society formed by Burke-private in its nature, and meant merely for their own amusement. Many of the exercises, amusements, friendships, and even letters of these youthful associates, seem from a large packet of correspondence still in existence, to have been in common; and their proceedings were communicated in joint letters to Richard Shackleton, son of their former schoolmaster at Ballitore, of which the following is one. The subjects discussed were usually literary-chiefly poetry, criticism, and the drama; and furnish evidence of what the writer has elsewhere advanced,t that the mind of Burke was as active in degree in very early, as in later life. No apology will be necessary for giving the letter at length, although the latter part only relates to our subject; it is illustrative of the characteristics, perhaps the operations, of mind. We find here in juxta-position the different occupations at the same university, at the same moment, and when nearly of the same age, of Burke and Goldsmith; the sedateness of pursuit, the industry and labour for self-improvement of the future statesman, contrasted with the inconsiderate love of frolic and careless jollity of the future poet; yet both destined to become distinguished ornaments of their country. The first part of the letter, though written by Burke, is not signed by him, this being left for Dennis, who was to conclude it, which he does with a mock heroic account of the riot, as indeed all their communications were couched in a jocular vein. Shackleton's letters in return were likewise addressed to them in common.

"May 28, 1747. "SCENE I-BURKE, DENNIS.-The Club-room.-DENNIS goes away about some Business.—Manet BURKE solus.

"As the committee appointed for the trial of Dennis has just now broke up without doing any thing, for want of members sufficient, I have time enough on my hands to write what you desire-an account of the proceedings of our society since your departure; in which you have been a perfect prophet, for Mohun was formally expelled last lustrum by the censor, Mr. Dennis. After an examination of his conduct from the first foundation of the society, it was

To this was added that of Clare and Clonshambo, in the diocess of Kildare through the interest of Burke. The correspondence is in the hands of his grandson, Mr. W. Crawford, now a member of the English Bar, and to whom I am indebted for the perusal of this and many more letters.

† Life of Burke, 2d ed. vol. i. p. 15. and passim.

found exceeding bad, without one virtue to redeem it, for which he suffered the above sentence. He was tried some time before (Burke, pres.) for his bad behaviour; but behaved still worse at trial, which brought fresh punishments on him, and at length expulsion. This is not the only revolution in our club. Mr. Buck's conduct much altered for the worse; we seldom see him, for which he has not been spared. Dennis, Hamilton, and your humble ha! ha! attend constantly; Cardegrif,* as we expected, middling. You all this while are uneasy to know the cause of Dennis's accusation; it is no less than an attempt to overturn this society, by an insolent behaviour to the president and society. I am the accuser; and when you know that, you will tremble for him. I must congratulate you likewise on the censor's minor thanks, which you received with a declaration that had you entered earlier into the society you had been entitled to the grand thanks. The censor gave himself the grand thanks, and the same to me.

"We had, during your absence, the following debates very well handled-On the Stadtholder-Burke, an oration; lenity to the rebels, a debate-Dennis for, Burke against; Prince of Orange to harangue his troops-Dennis; the sailors in a ship turning piratesDennis for, Burke and Hamilton against; Cataline to the Allobroges -Dennis; General Huske for engaging at Falkirk-Burke; Hawley against Dennis; Brutus the First to the Romans-Burke. Hamilton is now president, and a very good one. You use me oddly in your letter; you accuse me of laziness, and what not (though I am likely to fill this sheet.) I did not expect this from your friendship, that you should think I would, in your absence, refuse you my company for a few lines, when I attended you in town for many a mile. You behave to me just after the manner that a vile prologue I've read desires the audience to use the actors-' But if you damn, be it discreetly done; flatter us here, and damn us when you're gone' (you see I have not lost my faculty of quoting Grub Street ;) just so, when here you blarney me; in the country you abuse me; but that shall not hinder me from writing on, for (to show you my Latin) tenet insanabile multos scribendi cacoethes. Come we now to Sharf-the beginning is dark, indeed, but not quite void of connexion, for whose good effects, &c.' connects with the first line; all the rest is, properly, between parenthesis. Phatont sells well still; tell me exactly what is said concerning his appearance in print in the country. Miss Cotter is quite charmed with your writings, and more of them would not be disagreeable to that party. I have myself almost finished a piece-an odd one; but you shall not see it until it comes out, if ever: write the rest, Pantagruel, for I can stay no longer;-past nine.-I am now returned, and no Pantagruel. Your oration on Poverty is, I think, very good, and has

Shackleton and

* A name given to one of the party, but to whom does not appear. † Juvenile productions, the nature of which does not appear. Burke communicated their writings to each other for mutual correction.

+ Supposed to be the daughter of a bookseller, with whom these young writers were connected in their publications.

in some parts very handsome touches; you shall have the club's opinion next time, which was deferred till we should have a full house. I received your novel, and will read it (and peruse it?) carefully.

(Continuation of the same Letter.)

"DEAR RICHARD, (SHACKLETON.)

"Dublin, May 28, 1747.

"You may be surprised to see the date in the middle of a letter, but I have heard of your resentment at letters not being dated, and I must tell you, though I don't read news, or consult proposals for Grubean works, yet I know the day of the month as well as Burke, who does both, yet does not give an account of it. Now I have got so far upon that important matter of time (for we chronologists are very careful of it,) I'll come to business; and, first, I have prosecuted Mohun (while a private member) with the utmost vigour, and when Censor expelled him; and now for my good services, I am threatened with expulsion by Burke, who is a terrible fellow, and is very active (at getting me punished) in the club, though I have hitherto shown myself a good member. I am now accused of a design of destroying the club (thus modern patriots urge every thing an introduction to popery and slavery which they don't like,) when, alas! no one has a greater desire to preserve it; nay, so strong is it, that though I find in myself a strong desire to keep the chair when I get it, yet my regard for four or five members quells it. The approbation I met with in the Character of Cato (Censor) has made me so much the more a stickler for liberty, that not bearing any encroachment on it in our assembly, I am deemed a criminal; and what's worse, my accuser a violent one, and my judge the person whom I have injured; you see the justice.

(Same Letter continued.)

"Friday morning, May 29, (1747.) "Burke is now writing the proceedings of the assembly, and just saying he'll pass over part of the debates because he is tired; you find he is semper eadem; as lazy as you imagined, though I must do him the justice to say he designed writing last night; what prevented it heretofore was our expectation of your first challenge, and likewise Ned (Burke) thought it preposterous to be threshing his brains for you when he is writing for the public; pray laugh heartily now lest you should split when you see the subject he has chosen and the manner he has treated it; but I will not anticipate your pleasure by acquainting you any more.

"I wonder Ned (Burke) did not acquaint you with several important affairs which have happened in town, but I'll supply his place. Jupiter perceiving the days devoted to him* had passed equally disregarded with those of the other gods, was resolved to

• Thursday-Die Jovis-the day of the riot.