with him; he has not suffered me to party of fanatics, who believe that in think that he is merely a fanatic for upholding him they acquit themselves liberty; and when I see with what of a debt due to their country. impudence he deceived his nation and He is about forty-two years old: braved the government, I concluded he has renounced with glory the pubthat the latter was inexpert and the lic splendour of the court to be the former easy to be seduced, since such pensionary of the people. That is a a man has become dangerous. character which the late Mr. Pitt, His birth is obscure, and his ugli- new Lord Chatham, and Mr. Campness notorious: his portraits, which bell, chancellor of England, have also are numerous, give but a feeble idea played with success, and which they of it. He squints, and his teeth are abandoned when their fortunes were crooked; his laugh has something in- made. Wilkes will be forced to keep fernal in it: but every passion is de- it up, because he is too hateful to the picted with singular envy on his hi- king, and at the same time too dedeous countenance. He is suscepti- based, to follow their example. He ble of every sentiment, even of volup- said one day to Marmontel, that he tuousness: not indeed the most deli- would be content with the governcate, but lively. He loves the sex ment of Jamaica; and he has since greatly, and feels himself capable of said in print that he wishes to remain loving them all except his wife. He all his life a simple citizen. His mind has employed with success every is fertile in petty resources, calculated means of quickly ruining himself. It to re-animate constantly the precais said, that when he had dissipated all rious zeal of the people: he supplies his fortune, he supported himself by by his writings the talent of speaking the funds of an hospital of which he in public, which nature has denied was governor, and the pay of a militia him: his style is clear, energetic, and regiment of which he was colonel. pure, though extremely figurative; Necessity compelled him to write; he endeavours to repair his past frivoand inclination made him a factious lity by important undertakings: he writer. This sort of celebrity flatters studies the laws; he has published an him; and an article in the newspa- Introduction to the History of Engper, speaking of Mr. Wilkes, is to land. The plan of his life is laid out him a real delight. He speaks a great to an extreme old age; but it is hardly deal of glory, and pretends that Plu- probable that his life will be happy, tarch elevates his soul and fills it with or his old age honourable. It is said vast projects. that the logic of self-interest is short: In fact, he has no other resources it is his, and his intrepidity braves than those of faction. He resembles, every event: he has behaved with in one sense, Cæsar: Cæsar was courage in several affairs of honour, forced to overthrow Rome to pay his and whoever dares attack him must debts. These sort of people have either kill him or be dishonoured by great means in popular governments. him. In France he would have been simply Such a man will reckon as nothing a celebrated libertine, and have ended- the repose of others: none of the voured to become a man of letters, consequences of faction surprise him: fear of the ministers would have pre- he talks coolly of a civil war, which vented any thing beyond. But he however he will never be able to prohas braved those of England: and duce. What is astonishing is, that he after being proscribed as an obscene speaks thus of himself: but what is and libellous author, he re-appeared shocking is, that his imprudence will all at once, got himself elected a discover some day that he is merely a member of parliament, had the pro- political hypocrite, who laughs at his ceedings repealed, and annihilated the cause and at his principles, who has only means left to ministers of at- the insolence to avow that he does tacking the liberty of individuals. not value either Englishmen or EngThe present fruit of these bold steps land; and he ridicules the people,. is an imprisonment of twenty-two whose idol he has made himself. months: but he escaped from his cre- I know not what his morals are ditors, and has formed in England a with regard to individuals. He ap pears to me capable of friendship. who waited at table, cleaned shoes, &c. whose name was William, a weak but good-tempered young man.Goldsmith would now and then make himself merry at his expence; and poor William generally enjoyed the joke without any diminution of his own self-satisfaction. William used to think that in his He has that part of politeness which consists in wishing to please, and in being useful. His conversation is lively and witty; but he mixes with it much that is disgusting. He laughs loudly; he lives with fanatical citizens who teaze him to death, and with demagogues, the refuse of the nation. He likes much to meet with a foreigner way he was not to be out done; and of good sense, to whom he can unfold Goldsmith thought one day that he his projects, and shew himself as an would make trial of him. Accordextraordinary man. Is he such in ingly, having procured a piece of unfact? I will not endeavour to com- coloured Cheshire cheese, he rolled it pare him with any personage in his- up in the form of a candle, about an tory. He has dared to put in the inch in length, and twisting a bit of public papers a parallel of his enter- white paper to the size of a wick, he prise with that of Brutus, the liberator thrust it into one of the ends, having of Rome; and another, of his history blackened the extremity that it might (yet unfinished) with that of Hume's. He has often insulted this great writer, who despises him, and compares him, not to Brutus, but to Mazaniello. have more the appearance of reality. He then put it in a candlestick over the fire-place in the kitchen, taking care that another bit of real candle I shall say but little of his religion, of equal size should be placed by the of which he makes no mystery. He side of it in another candlestick.pretends to be an unbeliever-I know The apparatus being thus prepared, not wherefore; but this I know, that in came William from his daily task, he is impious, and often pleasantly when Goldsmith, immediately taking so, if it be possible. A fanatical wo- down the bit of candle of his own man called upon him one day from manufacture, challenged William in God, in whom she believed:-" He the following terms-" William, if does me much honor," said Wilkes, you will eat yonder piece of candle "how does he do?" (pointing to what remained on the shelf) will eat this in my hand; GOLDSMITH and WILLIAM, two but it must be done together, and Í original Anecdotes. SIR, will begin!" The challenge was accepted in the presence of the other OLDSMITH, while with Dr. servants in the kitchen; and GoldMilner, at Peckham, was re- smith immediately began gnawing his markably cheerful both in the family candle, making sad wry faces, but not and with the young gentlemen of the flinching from his task! G William school. Two instances of it have beheld with astonishment the progress been communicated to me lately, by he was making in devouring it, howan intelligent lady, the only surviving ever nauseous, but having no heart or daughter of Dr. Milner, now residing at Islington; and they are not unworthy of preservation. There was a servant in the family, stomach to touch his own. At last when William saw that Goldsmith had devoured all but the last morsel, he, not willing to be out done, opened his mouth and flung his own piece down his throat in a moment! This The silliest follies of great men sudden triumph over his antagonist are interesting, and upon this principle made the kitchen ring with laughter. alone we insert the above anecdotes of Some little time after, poor William Dr. Goldsmith, Nothing but their could not help expressing his surprise veracity could entitle them to that to Goldsmith, that he had not done honour, and for that qualification as he did-swallowing so disagreeable Mr. Evans has unequivocally pledged a morsel all at once-" Truly," rehimself. As such, they are additional plied Goldsmith, with great gravity, proofs of the childish character of Dr. my bit of candle was no more than Goldsmith.-Editor. a bit of very nice Cheshire cheese; and therefore, William, I was unwilling fresh token of her attachment to him. to lose the relish of it!" When in the evening he came into Another time, Goldsmith, wishing the kitchen with features expressive to have a little innocent merriment of an accession to his happiness, with William, hit on the following Goldsmith accosted him in these scheme, which he accomplished: words" So, William, you have had William had fallen in love with a a letter from Yorkshire: what does young woman who lived in the neigh- she say? Come tell me all about it." bourhood as servant, and they "for "Yes," returned William, nodding some time kept each other's company. his head, "I have had a letter from The young woman soon after left her Yorkshire; but I sha'nt tell you, situation, and went back into York- Mr. Goldsmith, any thing about it: shire, her native county. But she No, no, that will ever do."-" Well promised to write to William, though then," said Goldsmith, after having for some reason or another that pro- put a few more questions, which were mise was never fulfilled. This cir- all negatived, suppose, William, I cumstance gave him no little uneasi- tell you what the contents of the ness, and having so often enquired of letter are:" When looking upon à the postman to no purpose, he had Newspaper which he had in his hand, nearly sunk into despair. Goldsmith, he adds" Come, I will read you availing himself of poor William's your letter just as I find it here:" condition, took upon himself to imi- when he read aloud the several words tate a bad hand, and to indite a letter, of which the letter was composed which for sentiment and expression with a steady countenance, and with might be taken for a real epistle out out the least faultering or hesitation. of Yorkshire. This being done with William was thunderstruck; became exactness, (for the lady who told me very angry, and exclaimed-" You the anecdote saw it before it was sent) use me very ill, Mr. Goldsmith; you Goldsmith gave if to one of the young have opened my letter." Upon this gentlemen, with the request that he Goldsmith immediately unmarvelled would deliver it next morning imme- the difficulty, by telling him that he diately after the postman had called at himself had the preceding evening the house. The young gentlemen written the letter; and thus made were in the habit of running towards poor William believe that it was his the door whenever the postman made wisest way never to expect any epistle his appearance; of course one of the from his dulcinea, who had entirely group returned from the door with forsaken him, and ought not therethis said letter, gave it directly to fore to be suffered for the time to William, who snatching it with eager- come to disturb his repose! ness, thrust it into his bosom, and These, Sir, are the two anecdotes withdrew to make himself acquainted of the humour and cheerfulness of with the contents. The substance of Goldsmith, which I lately received the epistle was, that she had for various from Miss Milner, when drinking tea reasons delayed writing, but had to with her, and which I wrote down inform him that a young man, by immediately on my return home. trade a glass-grinder, had paid his ad- However trivial they may be, there dresses to her; that she had not given are some young persons to whom him much encouragement, though they may prove acceptable. They are her relations were for the match; naturally inquisitive respecting every that she however often thought of particular in the history of a man to William, and he was not long out of whom they are much indebted: for her mind, for she did not forget the the perusal of his "Grecian and pleasant moments they had passed Roman Histories," of his "Animated together on former occasions. She Nature," of his "Chinese Letters," concluded by saying-" that some- and of his exquisite "Poems," must thing must be now done one way or have contributed in no small degree This gratified William, to their intellectual improvement. I am, Sir, Your's, JOHN EVANS. Pullin's-Row, Islington, April 4, 1898. another." though not without a mixture of the painful passion of jealousy, which, however, was not so great as to destroy the pleasure arising from this STRICTURES on Mr. BREWER'S VIN- CORRESPONDENT in your self J. A. Brewer, has attempted to confidence as the assertion of a pros a of the comparative merit of the two eras, here is one: after the lapse of centuries, the comedies of Beaumont, Fletcher, Jonson, Congreve, &c. con after the lapse of ten nights, those of Morton, Reynolds, Dibdin, &c. sink into oblivion. I remain, &c. April 17. CASE OF GOUT. X. Shakspeare has truly observed, that "there never was yet a philosopher who could bear the tooth-ache patiently," Pam o'ermasters us all; and the sioic philosopher himself was forced to confess in a fit of the gout, that it was not ima. ginary. Some new theories as to the mode of curing this painful disease havng been lately broached, we have been induced to publish the following success• ful application of remedies, and shall only observe that the gentleman may be known on application to our publisher. ATURDAY, March 26, 1808. SATU Early in the morning felt the attack: endeavoured to remove the enemy (as had been done before) by walking for some hours, but without success. titute would be who kerchief across her naked bosom, and then proclaims her virtue. The increasing refinement of the age produced the negative merit of decorous language; and though we Sunday.-Got firm possession of tolerate rank licentiousness in the the left foot; tried to dislodge it by plays of Congreve and others, yet the following mode: At eleven were a living dramatist to attempt to o'clock (there being much pain but introduce a single expression that no swelling) suspended the leg over a grossly militated against decency, tub, and commenced pouring cold his piece would be hooted off the pump water down it, so as to run off stage. There can be little doubt that at the extremities of the toes; exMessrs. Dibdin and Co. who write hausted a pailful of water in this way, Walked afternonsense to please the age, would and then desisted. write bawdry to please it, if the age wards about the house, which brought would tolerate it. Their merit, there- on inward pain and swelling. Re fore, is the merit of necessity, and not peated this four times in the course of of choice; and being such, the com- the day. In the evening, swelled to mendation, if any, must be due to the utmost, and so much pain as to the public. prevent rest that night, If, then, the merit of morality is Monday. This day the fit was at not strictly due to modern dramatic its height. In the evening (dreading authors, (and it is not, for they write the want of rest) ordered a poultice for gain, and gain is the result of to the foot in the course of two success, and success would not follow hours after, being in bed, felt ease, new-coined indecency); I hope Mr. Brewer will not venture to assert that they equal the old school in wit, humour, or genius; or that the single merit of being less indecorous is sufficient to counterbalance vulgarity of language, inanity of idea, and absurdity of plot; if a fact were needed, got some sleep; and in the morning was glad to acknowledge having received very considerable relief, though the gouty pains had fled from the left foot to the right foot. Tuesday.-Tolerably easy all this day; the attack on the right foot was somewhat violent. Took a dose of salts. In the evening applied a poul- moved, placed poultices in their stead. tice to the right foot; partook of mid- Took salts. dling rest. Friday-Renewed the poultices. Wednesday. pains were greatly removed, though much swelling remained. At three o'clock in the afternoon placed a blister on the inside of each leg, precisely above the ankle-bone. In the night Monday.-Perceiving a little gouty considerable pain from the drawing. symptoms in the great toes, applied a Thursday. This morning, on ex- poultice to each of them; after which amining the blister, the left leg pro- left off any further applications either duced no head, but was humid. The internally or externally, nothing of right leg had a head of the size of a the gout remaining except a little large marble, which, on being cut, swelling, (the effect of weakness) but yielded a clear, yellowish, very cold, not any pain. thin water. The blisters being re This day the gouty Free from gouty pains. Saturday.The same. Took salts. Sunday-Omitted the poultices to try the effect of their omission, but took salts. CRITICISM. "Nulli negabimus, nulli differemus justitiam." The NEW SANHEDRIN, and Causes religion were not the whole, but only and Consequences of the French a part of Antichrist. In ascertaining Emperor's Conduct towards the this important object, instead of enJews. With Considerations on deavouring to discover the first the Question, Whether there is any source, and the original promoters of thing in the Prophetic Records that this interest, he endeavours to distin seems to point particularly to Eng- guish its last patrons and protectors, at the head of a politico-religious HIS is a political work with a combination of kings, who were to land? ap successively pearance, which excites some expec- less opposition to a revolution or tancy of a partiality for vulgar predic- "earthquake, such as never was betions, we are insensibly led into a fore since men were upon the earth, train of moral and philosophical de- so mighty and so great." ductions. The author seems to have The calling of the Jews he treats adopted, as models, the learned Jo- only as a part of that universal liberty seph Mede, Bishop Butler in his and toleration, which was to be pecu Analogy," and Bishop Hurd in his liar to the new age, called in the promanner of applying scriptural meta- phetic scriptures, "the new heavens phors. Hence, with the latter, he and the new earth." Several theolo does not see any necessity for the se- gical opinions are here set in a new cond coming of Christ, even as the point of view. But though the argu Jewish Messiah, otherwise than in mentative part is strictly original, yet the acts of God's power and provi- the translation of the documents fre dence. He expects the moral and quently indicates haste, from a want political restoration of the Jews, and of accuracy in dates and names. universal peace among Christians, ge- The present work must not be connerally called "the Millenium," founded with "Transactions of the from the interference, under provi- Parisian Sanhedrin," noticed in page dence, of some powerful agent, such 131 of our last volume, and the title as Cyrus, &c. His system, therefore, of which contains a fallacy; for, intends rather to literalize than spiri- stead of giving the decisions of that tualize the prophecies. He seems to Sanhedrin, &c. such as they appear think, that if the predictions of a tem- in the work before us, it concludes, poral Messiah were not made for these with the breaking up of the assembly times, these times were made for of deputies, some time before the them. He makes it evident, that Sanhedrin bad been convened. The Rome and the corrupted Catholic author of this work has not hastily UNIVERSAL MAG. VOL. IX. 2 Q 1 |
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