OLIYEE GOLDSMITH'S LIFE AND TIMES. [Bo<»m.
1765. « 'Ireland,* and that, hearing that I was a native of that
.ZEt.37. " ' country, he should Tbe glad to do me any kindness.' And
" what did you answer, asked I, to this gracious offer ?
" ' Why,' said he, ' I could say nothing but that I had a
" ' brother there, a clergyman, that stood in need of help :
" ' as for myself'" (this was added for the benefit of
Hawkins) " ' I have no dependence on the promises of great
" ' men : I look to the booksellers for support; they are my
" 'best friends, and I am not inclined to forsake them,
"'for others.' Thus," adds the teller of the anecdote,
" did this idiot in the affairs of the world trifle with his
" fortunes, and put back the hand that was held out to assist
" him! Other offers of a like kind he either rejected or
" failed to improve, contenting himself with the patronage
" of one nobleman, whose mansion afforded Mm the delights
" of a splendid table, and a retreat for a few days from the
" metropolis." f
The incident related may excuse the comment attached
to it. Indeed, the charge of idiotcy in the affairs of the
Hawkins-world, may even add to the pleasure with which we
contemplate that older-world picture beside it, of frank sim-
plicity and brotherly affection. This poor poet, who, incom-
prehensibly to. the Middlesex magistrate, would thus gently
have turned aside to the assistance of his poorer brother
the hand held out to assist himself, had only a few days
before been obliged to borrow fifteen shillings and sixpence
" in Fleet-street," of one of those " best friends " with
whose support he is now fain to be contented. But the
reader has already seen that since the essay on Polite
Learning was written, its author's personal experience had
* The earl was already lord-lieutenant, and held that office till G-renville's
ministry-went out. f Life of Johnson, 419.