OLIVER GOLDSMITH'S LIFE AND TIMES. [BOOK m.

1760. announcement) was all lie wanted to make his fortune.

JEt.32. There was a great duchess who had the most surprising
passion for white mice; two she had procured already, and
for years had been looking out for two more, which she was
ready to offer the most extravagant price for. Aware of her
grace's weakness, he had long ago implored of a friend
going out to India to procure him, if possible, two white
mice, and here they were actually arrived; they were in the
river at that moment, having come by an Indiarnan, now in
the clocks; and the small sum, to which allusion had been
made, was all that now stood between Jack Pilkington and
independence for life ! Yes; all he wanted was two guineas,
to buy a cage for the creatures sufficiently handsome to be
received by a duchess;—but what was to be done, for Gold-
smith had only half a guinea ? The anxious client then
pointed to a watch, with which his poor patron (indulging in
a luxury which Johnson did not possess till he was sixty) had
lately enriched himself; deferentially suggested one week's
loan as a solution of the difficulty; and carried it off.* And
though Groldsniith never again had tidings of either, or of

* Cooke tells the story as one which Goldsmith used himself to tell very humour-
ously; informing us, however, that even Goldsmith's credulity could not be at
first imposed upon by so preposterous a flam. But Jack was prepared for the
worst, and he instantly produced his friend's letter advising of the shipping of the
white mice, their size, qualities, &c. which so entirely convinced the Doctor of the
fact, that he wished him joy of it. " ' How much will a cage cost ?' said Gold-
" smith, upon this, ' About two guineas,' replied Pilkington. ' In truth, Jack,
' ' then you're out of luck, for I have got but half-a-guinea in the world.' ' Ay,
' 'but my dear Doctor,' continues Pilkington, ' you have got a watch, and though
' ' I would rather die than propose such an indelicacy upon any other occasion than
' 'the present, if you could let me have that, I could pawn it across the way for
{ ' two guineas, and be able to repay you, with heartfelt gratitude, in a few days.'
' This last bait took poor Goldsmith fully on the hook ; he confidently gave him
' his watch, which he was some months after obliged to take up himself, without
' hearing anything more of Ms friend or the success of his white mice. The Doctor
' used to tell this story with some humour, and never without an eulogium on the
' ingenuity of Pilkington, who could take him in after such experience of his
' shifts and contrivances." European Magazine, xxiv. 259-60. possession of a bauble, I render a real and valuable possession precarious.