himself the marquis of Quenault; which was the name of the bookfeller that employed him: and why may not I affert my privilege and quality on the fame pretenfions? Yet, upon deliberation, whatever airs I give myself on this fide of the water, my dignity, I fancy, would be evaporated before I reached the other. I know you have in Ireland a very indifferent idea of a man who writes for bread; though Swift and Steele did fo in the earlieft part of their lives. You imagine, I suppose, that every author, by profeffion, lives in a garret, wears fhabby cloaths, and converfes with the meanest company. Yet I do not believe there is one fingle writer, who has abilities to tranflate a French novel, that does not keep better company, wear finer cloaths, and live more genteelly, than many who pride themfelves for nothing else in Ireland. I confess it again, my dear Dan, that nothing but the wildest ambition could prevail on me to leave the enjoyment of that refined converfation which I am fometimes admitted to partake in, for uncertain fortune, and paltry fhew. You cannot conceive how I am fometimes divided: to leave all that is dear to me gives me pain; but when I confider, I may poffibly acquire a genteel independence for life: when I think of that dignity which philofophy claims, to raise itself above contempt and ridicule; when I think thus, I eagerly long to embrace every opportunity of feparating myself from the vulgar, as much in my circumftances, as I am already in any fentiments.

I am going to publish a book, for an account of which I refer you to a letter, which I wrote to my brother Goldsmith. Circulate for me among your acquaintance a hundred propofals, which I have given orders may be fent to you: and if, in purfuance of fuch circulation, you should receive any fubfcriptions, let them, when collected, be tranfmitted to Mr. Bradley, who will give a receipt for the fame.

[Omitting here what relates to private family affairs, he then adds:]

I know not how my defire of seeing Ireland, which had fo long flept, has again revived with fo much ardour. So weak is my temper, and fo unfteady, that I am frequently tempted, particularly when low-fpirited, to return home and leave my fortune, though juft beginning to look kinder. But it fhall not be. In five or fix years I hope to indulge these transports. I find I want conftitution, and a strong steady disposition, which alone makes men great. I will however correct my faults, fince I am confcious of them.

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EDWARD MILLS, ESQ.

NEAR ROSCOMMON, IRELAND.

DEAR SIR,

YOU have quitted, I find, that plan of life which you once intended to pursue ; and given up ambition for domeftic tranquillity. Were I to confult your fatisfaction alone in this change, I have the utmost reason to congratulate your choice; but when I confider my own, I cannot avoid feeling fome regret, that one of my few friends has declined a pursuit, in which he had every reason to expect fuccefs. The truth is, like the reft of the world, I am felf-interested in my concern; and do not fo much confider the happiness you have acquired, as the honour I have probably loft in the change. I have often let my fancy loofe when you were the fubject, and have imagined you gracing the bench, or thundering at the bar; while I have taken no fmall pride to myself, and whifpered all that I could come near, that this was my coufin. Inftead of this, it feems you are contented to be merely an happy man; to be esteemed only by your acquaintanceto cultivate your paternal acres-to take unmolefted a nap under one of your own hawthorns, or in Mrs. Mills' bed-chamber, which even a poet muft con

fefs,

fefs, is rather the most comfortable place of the

two.

But however, your refolutions may be altered with respect to your fituation in life, I perfuade myself they are unalterable with regard to your friends in it. I cannot think the world has taken fuch entire poffeffion of that heart, (once fo fufceptible of friendship,) as not to have left a corner there for a friend or two; but I flatter myself that even I have my place among the number. This I have a claim to from the fimilitude of our difpofitions; or, fetting that afide, I can demand it as my right by the moft equitable law in nature, I mean that of retaliation for indeed you have more than your fhare in mine. I am a man of few profeffions, and yet this very inftant I cannot avoid the painful apprehenfion, that my prefent profeffions (which speak not half my feelings) fhould be confidered only as a pretext to cover a requeft, as I have a requeft to make. No, my dear Ned, I know you are too generous to think fo; and you know me too proud to stoop to mercenary infincerity. I have a requeft it is true to make; but, as I know to whom I am a petitioner, I make it without diffidence or confufion. It is in fhort this, I am going to publifh a book in London, entitled An Effay on the prefent State of Tafte and Literature in Europe. Every work publifhed here the printers in Ireland republish there, without giving the author the leaft confideration for his copy. I would in this refpect disappoint their avarice, and

have all the additional advantages that may refult from the fale of my performance there to myself. The book is now printing in London, and I have requested Dr. Radcliff, Mr. Lawder, Mr. Bryanton, my brother Mr. Henry Goldsmith, and brother in law Mr. Hodfon, to circulate my proposals among their acquaintance. The fame request I now make to you, and have accordingly given directions to Mr. Bradley bookfeller in Dame-ftreet Dublin, to fend you a hundred propofals. Whatever fubscriptions, pursuant to those proposals, you may receive, when collected, may be tranfmitted to Mr. Bradley, who will give a receipt for the money, and be accountable for the books. I fhall not, by a paltry apology, excufe myfelf for putting you to this trouble. Were I not convinced that you found more pleasure in doing good-natured things, than uneafinefs at being employed in them, I fhould not have fingled you out on this occafion. It is probable you would comply with fuch a requeft, if it tended to the encouragement of any man of learning whatsoever; what then may not he expect who has claims of family and friendfhip to enforce his? I am, dear Sir, your fincere

London, Temple Exchange-
Coffee-houfe, Temple-Bar,
August 7, 1759.

Friend and humble fervant,

OLIVER GOLDSMITH.

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