THE REV. MR. CLARK’S LECTURE.
OLIVER GOLDSMITH. The third, and, according to original announcement, the last of the three lectures to be delivered by the Rev. Charles Clark, was given in St. Andrew’s Church on .Saturday evening, in presence of a numerous auditory. As on the two previous evenings, the appearance of Mr. Clark was the signal for a burst of applause. Proceeding at once with his subject, Mr. Clark gave a general review of the life of Goldsmith, then, reverting to his early struggles while yet a boy, proceeded to note the remarkable events in iris career, which culminated in the achievement of a brilliant reputation. Goldsmith was born on the 10th November, 1728, and at six years of age was put under the care of a, pedagogue named Paddy Burns, a man who in addition to teaching the three R’b was possessed of an inexhaustible stock of stories about ghosts, banshees, &c. They, all remembered the description of the school and its master, speaking of whom Goldsmith said that .... Still the wonder grew That one small head could carry all he knew. From this place Goldsmith was sent to a grammar school, where he contrived to pick up a very fair knowledge of the classics. He progressed very well so far, but the remark was everywhere made that he was an ugly, clumsy, thick-set boy, with limbs very badly put together, and to make matters worse he was deeply scarred by small-pox marks into the bargain. Partly on account of the poverty of his father, but in large measure Oliver’s own backwardness, seemed to render it very improbable that he would follow in the footsteps of his brother, who was a tutor. He was destined to become a cabinetmaker, but the influence of an uncle on his mother’s side secured for him a sizarship, and the name of Oliver Goldsmith was duly inscribed in the books of Trinity College, Dublin. An amusing description of a sizar’s attire led up to an account of Goldsmith’s conduct at college, which was unsatisfaotoiy. He was lazy in his study of mathematics —that gay and festive science, the very mention of which made one’s mouth water—and being badly treated by his tutor, became a “lounger.” He raised-a riot among his fellows, and seized some bailiffs, to whom they applied hydropathic treatment under the pump. Some of the pupils were expelled, but Goldsmith escaped with a reprimand. This sobered him a little. He applied himself to work, and secured an exhibition worth 80s., and tenable for one year. Like his father he determined to live to the extent of his means, and therefore ordered a dinner for hia friends, in order to “knock down” his 80s. as soon as possible. After this he resolved to go to America, subsequently abandoned the intention, and was sent back to college. He never had much money; now he had none in the world. But he continued his studies, and soon took his B.A. degree. Being useless at anything else, of course the Church was thought of as affording a fine opening for such a young man. Goldsmith heartily disliked the idea, because he felt himself unfit for such apposition, and because he was fond of travelling. Shortly after, he determined once more to go to America, and started for Cork to embark, but after a series of mishaps he wrote to his mother stating that after waiting for three weeks, during which time the wind did not serve, the captain one morning finding a favorable change in the -wind, sailed away without thinking of him at all. Goldsmith, ever fond of travel, at last found himself on the Continent, where he stayed two years, and then returned to England, where he became an apothecary’s assistant and an usher in a school in turn. For some years he was in very bad circumstances, and at last things having got so bad thattheycouldnotget worse they began to mend. He became connected with a bookseller named Griffiths, and eked out a precarious existence by selling his writings to that individual. Finally his talents were recognised by such men as Sir Joshua Reynolds and Samuel Johnson, and he was admitted in the gathering of wits known as the Literary Club, the first members of which were Sir Joshua Reynolds, Dr. Johnson, Burke, Dr. Nugent, - Bennett, Langton, Topham, Sir John Hawkins and Oliver Goldsmith, At this tune, whenhemightwellbe considered at the zenith of his prosperity, he was arrested by his landlady for debt. Johnson was sent for, and finding in a drawer a novel which Goldsmith had just finished, its merit was recognised, and it was sold for £6O. That novel was the Vicar of Wakefield, from which he usually gave an extract, but would not do so on that occasion, unless the audience wished it, as the hours were fast advancing. Loud applause being accepted as an indication of a wish to hear a chapter recited, Mr. Clark proceeded to give the first, which, being rendered with great elo-. cutionary art, mingled with a fund of humor, created great amusement and applause. The “ Traveller ” was Goldsmith’s next work, and it at once raised him to the first rank as a poet. His success in this direction induced Goldsmith to become a dramatist, and he ■wrote the “Good-natured Man,” which was not well received. Nevertheless, the sale of the copyright and a benefit performance realised £SOO, about five times as much as he hadreceived from the saleof the “Traveller” and
the “ Vicarof Wakefield.” For his subsequent works. Goldsmith received large sums of money, but he was always running a desperate race with “ the constable,” and always falling behind at every step. In money matter’s he ever showed great recklessness. He must squander. When he received the £SOO alluded to, he was puzzled to know whether to build a play-house or a privateer. The embarrassments in which he became involved were no doubt to some extent owing to the practice of gambling into which he had fallen. When he died he was about £2,000 in debt. No one knew what he did with his money, so said Dr. Johnson. However, he feltinclinedto judge Goldsmith leniently onthecharge of gambling; for since he (Mr. Clark) had been in New Zealand he had heard of charges being brought against himself for playing “halfcrown 100 ” on the way out from England. He supposed they would believe him when lie said that he had never played cards for half-a-crown, or half-a-penny, since he came into this sublunary sphere. So that he would not be hard on Goldsmith; but, if Goldsmith were given to gambling, it would not be difficult to account for his getting rid of his money. He got so bad, that he received sums in advance for works that were never completed. So he went on for some time, until at last his health began to fail, and he died on the 4th of April, 1774, as Johnson said, of a fever aggravated by fear of distress. Goldsmith had many faults ; but he also had large heartedness and a humane generosity that could not be excelled. He strongly hoped the youthful portion of his hearers would avoid the errors and imitate the good qualities of the man, so that they might be remembered, not for their frailties and shortcomings, but by the excellences for which their lives had been distinguished. Mr. Clark was again loudly applauded at the conclusion of the lecture. Mr. 11. S. Smythe then announced, that as the Eangatira did not sail for Napier until midnight on Monday, Mr. Clark would repeat his lecture on “ The Tower of London,” which is generally admitted to .be the best of thethree delivered during his stay in Wellington.
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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4339, 15 February 1875, Page 2
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1,293THE REV. MR. CLARK’S LECTURE. New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4339, 15 February 1875, Page 2
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