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Article ANECDOTES OF DR. GOLDSMITH. ← Page 3 of 8 →
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Anecdotes Of Dr. Goldsmith.
Goldsmith ' s from the latter ' s first taking root in London . He wag a fellow of whim and humour , and gained upon the Doctor ' s mind by providing for it occasional relaxation from the pursuits of study . He h ' ad , however , doiie something to disoblige the Doctor , and had absented himself for some months ; when , one morning , he Was faiuch surprised at Pilkington bursting into his room in the most extravagant extasies of joy . After enquiring into the cause of all
tills , Pilkington told him the following story : " My dear Doctor , you ' 11 excuse the liberty I have taken at thus coming so abruptly into your apartments , particularly after what has happened , wherein I confess I was much to blame ; but my joy is too great to be shared by a common acquaintance , and I could not resist running to the man who has been my best and earliest
friend and benefactor . " Goldsmith , softened by this exordium , legged him to proceed . " You must know then , " continues Pilkington , " that amongst the many whims of the D- ss of M she has got a particular attachment to white mice ; she has procured two already , and has been several years looking for two moreand offering large sums of
, money for them , but without any effect . Hearing of this penchant of her Grace , I requested of a friend who went out to India some years ago , if possible , to procure two for me ; he has been diligent in his commission , and they are now in the River , on board the Earl of Chatham Indiaman , just arrived .
This story was so very gross , that even Goldsmith ' s credulity could not be at first imposed upon . But Pilkington was prepared for the worst ; he instantly produced his friend ' s letter , advising of the shipping of the White mice , their size , qualities , fee . which so entirely convinced the Doctor of the fact , that he wished him joy of it , " and hoped that he would avail himself of this lucky circumstanceas the means of securing a future independence . "
, ' " Ah ! " but said Pilkington , fetching a deep sigh , " here my cruel stars again set in against me ; for though I have got the mice , I want a cage to put them in ( for you know there is no presenting such things to a Dutchess but in a proper manner ); and where to raise so much money , I know no more than how to pay off the national debt . " " How much will the cage cost ? " said Goldsmith ,
" Aboiit two guineas , " replied Pilkington . " In truth , Jack , then yon are out of luck , for I have but half-a-guinea in the world . '' " Aye , but ni )' 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 thatI could pawn it across the way for two guineasand
, , be able to repay you with heart-felt gratitude in a few days . " This last bait took poor Goldsmith fully on the hook ; he confidently gave him liis watch , which he was some months after obliged to take up himself , without hearing any more of his friend or the success of his white mice .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Anecdotes Of Dr. Goldsmith.
Goldsmith ' s from the latter ' s first taking root in London . He wag a fellow of whim and humour , and gained upon the Doctor ' s mind by providing for it occasional relaxation from the pursuits of study . He h ' ad , however , doiie something to disoblige the Doctor , and had absented himself for some months ; when , one morning , he Was faiuch surprised at Pilkington bursting into his room in the most extravagant extasies of joy . After enquiring into the cause of all
tills , Pilkington told him the following story : " My dear Doctor , you ' 11 excuse the liberty I have taken at thus coming so abruptly into your apartments , particularly after what has happened , wherein I confess I was much to blame ; but my joy is too great to be shared by a common acquaintance , and I could not resist running to the man who has been my best and earliest
friend and benefactor . " Goldsmith , softened by this exordium , legged him to proceed . " You must know then , " continues Pilkington , " that amongst the many whims of the D- ss of M she has got a particular attachment to white mice ; she has procured two already , and has been several years looking for two moreand offering large sums of
, money for them , but without any effect . Hearing of this penchant of her Grace , I requested of a friend who went out to India some years ago , if possible , to procure two for me ; he has been diligent in his commission , and they are now in the River , on board the Earl of Chatham Indiaman , just arrived .
This story was so very gross , that even Goldsmith ' s credulity could not be at first imposed upon . But Pilkington was prepared for the worst ; he instantly produced his friend ' s letter , advising of the shipping of the White mice , their size , qualities , fee . which so entirely convinced the Doctor of the fact , that he wished him joy of it , " and hoped that he would avail himself of this lucky circumstanceas the means of securing a future independence . "
, ' " Ah ! " but said Pilkington , fetching a deep sigh , " here my cruel stars again set in against me ; for though I have got the mice , I want a cage to put them in ( for you know there is no presenting such things to a Dutchess but in a proper manner ); and where to raise so much money , I know no more than how to pay off the national debt . " " How much will the cage cost ? " said Goldsmith ,
" Aboiit two guineas , " replied Pilkington . " In truth , Jack , then yon are out of luck , for I have but half-a-guinea in the world . '' " Aye , but ni )' 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 thatI could pawn it across the way for two guineasand
, , be able to repay you with heart-felt gratitude in a few days . " This last bait took poor Goldsmith fully on the hook ; he confidently gave him liis watch , which he was some months after obliged to take up himself , without hearing any more of his friend or the success of his white mice .