00000178.htm

CHAP. IL] MAKING SHIFT TO EXIST.

But notwithstanding the quarrel, and Goldsmith's departure
from the house, Griffiths retained his hold. Later events -^2Et-²⁹-
will show this; and that probably some small advance was
his method of effecting it. It enabled him. to keep up the
appearance of civility when Goldsmith left his door ; and
to keep back the purpose of injury and insult till it could
fall with heavier effect. The opportunity was not lost
when it came, nor did the bookseller's malice end with the
writer's death. " Superintend the Monthly Review ! " cried
Griffiths, noticing, in the number for August 1774, a brief
memoir of Goldsmith professing to have been " written
" from personal knowledge," in which his connection with
the work was so described. "We are authorised to say
" that the author is very much mistaken in his assertion.
"The Doctor had his merit, as a man of letters; but alas !
" those who knew him must smile at the idea of such a super-
"intendent of a concern which most obviously required
" some degree of prudence, as well as a competent acquaint-
" ance with the world. It is, however, true that he had,
"for a while, a seat at our board; and that, so far as his
"knowledge of books extended, he was not an unuseful
" assistant." *

And so, without this belauded prudence, without this
treastire of a competent acquaintance with the world; into
that wide, friendless, desolate world, the poor writer, the
not unuseful assistant, was launched again. How or

compilation of the Memoir, '' I will confess to you that the circumstance of him,
'' and his wife (I mean their altering and interpolating Goldsmith's criticisms on
'' books for the Review) puzzles me. It is one of the most valuable anecdotes
" before me, and my conscience bids me report it, but my fears whisper to me that
" all the Reviews will abuse me for so doing. But who's afraid ?" The worthy
Dr. Campbell himself was afraid it would seem; for certainly no such anecdote
appeared. See Nichols's Ittustralwns, vii. 781.
* Monthly Review, li. 161.



	CHAP. IL] MAKING SHIFT TO EXIST. But notwithstanding the quarrel, and Goldsmith's departure from the house, Griffiths retained his hold. Later events -^2Et-²⁹- will show this; and that probably some small advance was his method of effecting it. It enabled him. to keep up the appearance of civility when Goldsmith left his door ; and to keep back the purpose of injury and insult till it could fall with heavier effect. The opportunity was not lost when it came, nor did the bookseller's malice end with the writer's death. " Superintend the Monthly Review ! " cried Griffiths, noticing, in the number for August 1774, a brief memoir of Goldsmith professing to have been " written " from personal knowledge," in which his connection with the work was so described. "We are authorised to say " that the author is very much mistaken in his assertion. "The Doctor had his merit, as a man of letters; but alas ! " those who knew him must smile at the idea of such a super- "intendent of a concern which most obviously required " some degree of prudence, as well as a competent acquaint- " ance with the world. It is, however, true that he had, "for a while, a seat at our board; and that, so far as his "knowledge of books extended, he was not an unuseful " assistant." * And so, without this belauded prudence, without this treastire of a competent acquaintance with the world; into that wide, friendless, desolate world, the poor writer, the not unuseful assistant, was launched again. How or compilation of the Memoir, '' I will confess to you that the circumstance of him, '' and his wife (I mean their altering and interpolating Goldsmith's criticisms on '' books for the Review) puzzles me. It is one of the most valuable anecdotes " before me, and my conscience bids me report it, but my fears whisper to me that " all the Reviews will abuse me for so doing. But who's afraid ?" The worthy Dr. Campbell himself was afraid it would seem; for certainly no such anecdote appeared. See Nichols's Ittustralwns, vii. 781. * Monthly Review, li. 161.