• Jane, whom I knew intimately: they

་

lived and died in Athlone, about ten

years since.

Of his relations, there remain

Henry, his nephew, who lives in in America, son of

• Rhode-Island

his brother Henry; Catherine, his niece, sister of Henry, who lives in Dublin and teaches music; and

Oliver Goldsmith Hodson, his grand

nephew, who inherits and lives on an

estate of about 7001. a year, eight miles from this town.

'Several of the family and name live near Elphin, who, as well as the poet,

common affairs of the world. From

these, indeed, he differed in brightness

of genius in the latter part of his life',

yet he was considered by his contem

poraries and school-fellows, with whom

I have often conversed on the subject,

as a stupid, heavy blockhead, little

better than a fool, whom every one

< made fun of. But his corporal pow

ers differed widely from this apparent

state of his mind, for he was remarka

bly active and athletic; of which he

gave proofs in all exercises among his

'playmates, and eminently in ball

6

playing, which he was very fond of, ' and practised whenever he could.

He was intended for the church, and went to the bishop of Elphin to < be examined for orders; but appear

ing in a pair of scarlet breeches (a

'piece of dress, you will allow, not ex

actly suited to a clerical garb), he was

rejected, turned his studies to physic,

and went to the university of Edin

burgh.

Believe me, my dear Sir,

'Glebe, Athlone.

Dec. 31, 1807.'

Sincerely yours,

ANNESLEY STREAN.'

The place of Goldsmith's birth is, we may now conclude, established beyond the reach of disputation; and it appears that Dr. Johnson was not accurately informed when he wrote his friend's epitaph, as it stands in Westminster-abbey; in which it is said that Goldsmith was born IN LOCO CUI NOMEN PALLAS: an error that has given rise to a strange conceit on the part of the absurd translator of the Latin, who observes that the place in question was one where Pallas had set her name!

To many, this investigation will ap

pear impertinent and immaterial: there

are some, however, who will think otherwise of it, and allow that it is desirable to know even the most trivial circumstance connected with the life of one whose writings are destined to delight and improve mankind hereafter, and whose private history will probably form an object of eager inquiry to generations yet unborn.

Upon the subject of novels I have, as I conceive, said all that belongs to the nature of this Essay, designedly thrown