Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/188

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d84 GOLDSMITH. mily, where finding himself uncomfortable, he once more left the country, “and i t s sweet fields,” with about thirty pounds i n his pocket. However, after a n absence o f about six weeks o r two months, he returned t o his mo ther's house, perfectly pennyless, having expended the whole i n a series o f extraordinary adventures, for a n ac count o f which, the reader i s referred t o the life prefixed t o his works. His uncle, the Rev. Thomas Contarine, now undertook t o send him t o London for the purpose o f studying the law a t the Temple; but while a t Dublin, o n his way t o England, h e was tempted t o play with a sharper, who stripped him o f fifty pounds, with which the liberality o f his uncle had furnished him for his journey. He returned, and again received forgiveness; his friends again changed their opinions a s t o his future destination, and physic was a t length finally fixed on. He now departed for Edin burgh, where h e arrived i n the latter part o f 1752, and formally, indeed, attended the lectures o f Dr. Monro, and the other medical professors; but his studies were neither regular nor profound. There was always something which h e preferred t o stated application; h e became fond o f dissipated company, and distinguished himself among his fellow-students, a s a social companion and a man o f humour, and this, with his readiness t o administer t o the wants o f whoever asked him, kept him constantly poor. After having gone through the usual course o f lectures, i n the commencement o f 1754, h e departed from Edin burgh; a n event which was probably hastened b y his having become security for a debt due b y a fellow-student t o one Barclay, a tailor. He hastened t o Sunderland; but o n his arrival there, was arrested, and, but for the friendship o f Mr. Lauchlan Maclean, and Dr. Sleigh, h e must have continued i n gaol. He now embarked for Bourdeaux, on board a vessel called the St. Andrews, i n which, a s a n inducement, h e was told that there were six other passengers, gentlemen o f information and social manners. They had been but