GOLDSMITH

Ev'n now where Alpine solitudes ascend.
I sit me down a pensive hour to spend.

Page.14.

PUBLISHED BY M. & W. WARD

D. & G. Bruce, Printers.

SKETCH

OF

THE LIFE AND WRITINGS

OF
OLIVER GOLDSMITH, M. B.

THIS gentleman was born at Fernes, in the province of Leinster, in Ireland, in the year 1731. His father, the Rev. Charles Goldsmith, had four sons, of whom Oliver was the youngest. He studied the classics in Mr. Hughes's school, and on the 11th of June, 1744, was admitted a sizar in Trinity College, Dublin.

During his continuance at the University, he made no display of those shining abilities, which afterwards so distinguishedly marked his genius. In the month of February, 1749, which was two years after the regular course of those things, he obtained the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In the year 1751, he visited Edinburgh, having previously turned his thoughts to the profession of physic, and attended some courses of anatomy in Dublin. At Edinburgh, he studied the different branches of medicine under the respective professors in that University. His thoughtless though beneficent disposition soon involved him in difficulties; and, having made himself responsible for the debt of another person, a fellow student, he was obliged abruptly to leave Scotland, in order to avoid the horrors of a prison. In the beginning of the year 1754, he arrived at Sun. derland; but being pursued by a legal process, on account of the debt we have just mentioned, he was ar rested; but he was afterwards set at liberty by the friendship of Mr. Laughlin Maclane, and Dr. Sleigh, who were then in the college.

Having surmounted this embarrassment, he embarked on board a Dutch ship, and arrived at Rotterdam

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