In a circle of wits one evening he found fault with some one for talking of Johnson as entitled to the honor of unquestionable superiority. "Sir," said Goldsmith, "you are making a monarchy of what should be a republic."

In a letter to Reynolds, while on a visit at Paris,

he 66 says I wish I could send you some amusement in this letter; but I protest I am so stupefied by the air of this country (for I am sure it can never be natural) that I have not a word to say."

At a meeting of the London Literary Club, Langton mentioned with commendation some recent work of a favorite author. Goldsmith, with characteristic jealous vanity, blurts out, "Here's such a stir about a fellow that has written one book, and I have written many." "Ah! Doctor," says Johnson, "two and forty sixpences, you know, to one guinea." It was thus they constantly poked fun at poor Goldy; but he got in a blow on Johnson's "Rasselas," where all the uncultured and humblest characters were made to appear in the stately tread of Johnson's pompous phraseology, when he said, "The little fishes speak like whales, and the women are all Johnsons in petticoats."

Mr. R. G. White says, "When Goldsmith, jealous of the attention which a dancing monkey attracted in a coffee-house, said, 'I can do that as well,' and was about to attempt it, he was but playing Bottom."

Boswell, undoubtedly disposed to underrate Goldsmith, relates that "at the exhibition of the Fantoc

cini in London, when those who sat next him observed with what dexterity a puppet was made to toss a pike, he [Goldsmith] could not bear that it should have such praise, and exclaimed with some warmth, 'Pshaw! I can do it better myself.''

Dr. Johnson said Goldsmith once complained to him, in ludicrous terms of distress, "Whenever I write anything, the public make a point to know nothing about it.”

B. 1728.

DR. JOHN HUNTER.

D. 1792.

WIDELY known for his anatomical works and his Museum of Natural History, Dr. Hunter appears to have had a full sense of his merits when he said: "It will be a long time before this world sees another John Hunter."

B. 1730.

EDMUND BURKE.

D. 1797.

THE appearance of Mr. Burke's book of "Reflections on the Revolution in France" severed his relations from Mr. Fox and the Whig party, and caused the retirement of the greatest man of his age from Parliament. He defended himself with great vigor and with some sarcasm, but always with studied modesty. The following is a specimen from his "Appeal from the New to the Old Whigs:

"The gentlemen who, in the name of the party, have passed sentence on Mr. Burke's book in the light of literary criticism, are judges above all challenge. He did not indeed flatter himself that, as a writer, he could claim the approbation of men whose talents, in his judgment and in the public judgment, approach to prodigies, if ever such persons should be disposed to estimate the merit of a composition upon the standard of their own ability.

"In their critical censure, though Mr. Burke may find himself humbled by it as a writer, as a man and as an Englishman he finds matter not only of consolation, but of pride."

In 1780 Mr. Burke appeared before his constituents at Bristol as a candidate for re-election to Parliament, and in answer to charges against his previous conduct in defence mainly of the American Colonies, which had been sharply assailed, he made a modest and yet a very manly speech, recanting nothing, and among other things said :

"Gentlemen, I have had my day. I can never sufficiently express my gratitude to you for having set me in a place wherein I could lend the slightest help to great and laudable designs. If I have had any share in any measure giving quiet to private property and to private conscience; if by my vote I have aided in securing to families the best possession, peace; if I have joined in reconciling kings to their subjects, and subjects to their prince; if I have assisted to loosen the foreign holdings of the citizen,

and taught him to look for protection to the laws of his country, and for his comfort to the good-will of his countrymen, if I have thus taken my part with the best of men in the best of their actions, I can shut the book. I might wish to read a page or two more; but this is enough for my measure. I have not lived in vain."

A few days after this speech he appeared at the polls and declined the election, saying: "I have not canvassed the whole of this city in form; but I have taken such a view of it as satisfies my own mind that your choice will not ultimately fall upon me."

Towards the close of this brief speech, not hiding a proper estimate of himself, he observed: "From the bottom of my heart I thank you for what you have done for me. You have given me a long term, which is now expired. I have performed the conditions, and enjoyed all the profits to the full; and I now surrender your estate into your hands without being in a single tile or single stone impaired or wasted by me. I have served the public for fifteen years; I have served you in particular for six. What is past is well stored. It is safe and out of the power of fortune.

"I confided perhaps too much in my intentions. They were really fair and upright; and I am bold to say that I ask no ill thing for you, when on parting from this place I pray that whomever you choose to succeed me, he may resemble me exactly in all things except my abilities to serve and my fortune to please you."

Mr. Burke, perhaps the most eminent of British statesmen, was, however, again elected to Parliament, from the borough of Malton, serving with great distinction fourteen years longer, and retired forever from the House of Commons, June 20, 1794.

Single-speech Hamilton once had Burke for his private secretary, and afterwards twitted him of being taken from a garret. "In that way," proudly retorted Burke, "I let myself down to you."

B. 1731.

WILLIAM COWPER.

D. 1800.

COWPER's first volume of poetry appeared in 1782, and sold very slowly. Some of the journals and reviews of the day did not speak well of the author, and others kept silence. There was one, the Monthly Review," whose verdict the poet much desired to obtain, as it was the most widely circulated literary periodical of the day. Cowper, therefore, wrote to a friend, June 12, 1782:

66

"What will that critical Rhadamanthus say when my shivering form shall appear before him? Still he keeps me in hot water, and I must wait another month for his award. Alas! when I wish for a favorable sentence from that quarter (to confess my weakness that I should not confess to all), I feel myself not a little influenced by a tender regard to my reputation here, even among my neighbors at Olney. Here are watchmakers who themselves are