phical reflection common to his other histories; qualities which tended so largely to enhance their popularity. Neither are they likely to have been by Smollett, who still, if we are to believe the advertisements, retained his connexion with the Magazine. One or both may indeed have been rough-drawn under his direction by an inferior workman; a conjecture which receives countenance from the fact of being discontinued shortly before the state of his health rendered it necessary to quit England for the Continent, in June 1763.

Connected with the history of this Magazine ere it became generally known, a paper which appeared in the Public Ledger must not be forgotten. Publications, like men, require the most active friends in the earlier stages of their being; for it is then, when in a state of obscurity that introduction becomes kind and publicity useful; when known, this kind of assistance becomes no longer necessary. What in the latter case would appear unbecoming praise, is in the former but a recommendation to the good opinion of the world. To introduce the work in the best manner to public favour, Goldsmith, whose skill seems to have been perfectly appreciated by such as knew him, was applied to. He could do for Smollett's undertaking what the latter without a violation of modesty could not do for himself-praise his talents with all the warmth of an admirer. A very skilful notice was therefore introduced in the form of an amusing letter bearing date February 16th, 1760, which for its humour,

"A

will be perused with pleasure. It is entitled, Description of a Wow Wow in the Country," and will be given in another place. Here, it Here, it may be remarked as a peculiarity in all his communications, that he scarcely ever uses a distinguishing signature for however they may be couched in the epistolary form, there is, with one or two exceptions only, no name affixed even when a name might be supposed to add to the humour of the object.

CHAP. X.

PUBLIC LEDGER.-CHINESE LETTERS.-LADY'S MAGAZINE.— REMOVES TO WINE-OFFICE COURT.-DR. JOHNSON.-GARRICK.-INTRODUCTION TO HISTORY OF THE WAR.-PRO

JECT FOR VISITING ASIA.

His engagement with Newbery in the newspaper, as already remarked, was nearly simultaneous with that in the Magazine, the difference of time being more than a few days; but as the latter by coming out on the 1st of January had the priority, his connexion with it has been first noticed. To the former, however, he contributed more largely; and the papers so furnished have proved one of the sources of his fame.

The first number of the Public Ledger appeared on the 12th of January 1760; introduced by a long and laboured prospectus which formed the leading article for many days. In addition to original news, it was to concentrate facts from contemporary journals; to be a medium of communication on all matters of commerce or business; to give original papers on literature; "supply information to the industrious, and amusement to the idle;" in a word, to combine in the usual flourishing strain of applicants for public favour, matters incompatible, and put forth promises rarely fulfilled, and which none has more happily ridiculed than Gold

smith, who had some experience in similar propitiatory addresses, in one of his Essays. On this occasion judging from internal evidence he seems not to have been employed. Newbery, however, anxious for the success of the undertaking, probably thought it more the affair of a man of business than of genius; he therefore either wrote it himself or entrusted it to his editor, who is said to have been Mr. Griffith Jones, already mentioned as connected afterwards with the British Magazine. It is well drawn up, but wants the more marked characteristics of the author of the "Citizen of the World."

The agreement was to furnish papers of an amusing character twice a week, for which according to contemporary statements, he was to receive a salary of 100l. per annum; and this being at the rate of something less than a guinea each, is probably true. It is a curious coincidence, that Dr. Johnson should have been employed by the same publisher to contribute papers of a similar description to the "Universal Chronicle," a weekly newspaper commenced by him in April, 1758, in which the "Idler*," still at that moment in course of publication, first appeared; and no stronger testimony can be given of the opinion formed of the talents of Goldsmith at this period however little known to the world, than his being chosen the

* For writing the "Idler," Johnson is said to have received a share of the profits of the paper. When first collected into volumes, two thirds of the profits were given to him, as appears

prop of one newspaper as the greatest writer of the age had been of another.

He appears either not to have had, or not to have matured, a systematic form for his contributions on their commencement. Two miscellaneous papers precede the first of the Chinese letters; one on the 17th of January five days after the first publication of the newspaper; the other on the 19th; both possessing all his characteristic manner, and much of his humour; and which like so many of his fugitive pieces have been hitherto unnoticed. In the one he animadverts on a supposed peculiarity of our countrymen, that of unmeasured abuse of the public enemy during war; a failing which his natural benevolence of disposition, and some of that regard for the better qualities of the French character exhibited in the "Traveller," led him now and in other passages of his writings, in the sixth number of the "Busy Body," for instance, to censure as unbecoming in generous opponents. Having thus lectured the men, the other paper contains

by the following account, copied from the original, rendered by Newbery, which will interest the literary reader :