182 GOLDSMITH. Traveller; Oliver was the second son, and is supposed to have faithfully represented his father in the Village Preacher, in the Deserted Village. He was originally in tended for some mercantile occupation, as his father found his income already too trifling to balance the ex penses incurred by bestowing on his eldest son a literary and classical education: With this view he was instructed in reading, writing, and arithmetic, at a common day school, the master of which was an old soldier, who had served in several campaigns during Queen Anne's wars as quarter-master in the detachment of the army that was sent to Spain, and who entertained his pupil with won drous tales of h i s “perilous encounters i n the imminent deadly breach;” and i s suspected t o have implanted i n his pupil's breast somewhat o f that roving and unsettled spirit, which burst forth a t s o early a period o f his life, and which neither age nor circumstances could entirely subdue. I t i s related, that a t the early age o f eight years, h e made several poetical attempts, and b y the ine qualities (or rather inconsistencies) o f his temper and con duct, betrayed a disposition infinitely more favourable t o the irregular flights o f genius, than the systematic drudgery o f business. This, after a short time becoming somewhat obvious, his friends, who a t first pleaded warmly for his being sent t o the university, now determined t o contribute towards the expense; and, b y their assistance, h e was placed a t a reputable school where h e might b e qualified t o enter the college with a l l the advantages o f preparatory learning. On the 11th o f June, 1744, h e was admitted a sizer o f Trinity College, Dublin, under the tuition o f the Rev. Mr. Welder, one o f the fellows, who unluckily was a man o f violent temper and incontrollable passions, and consequently unfit t o b e the tutor o f a youth who was gifted i n n o small degree, with simplicity, thoughtlessness, and volatility. Oliver, notwithstanding, made some progress (although slow) i n academical studies, as, i n 1747, h e was elected one o f the exhibitioners on Erasmus Smyth's foundation; and, i n 1749, was admitted
