194 GOLDSMITH, but which entitled him to a seat at some of the meetings of the society. At one of the dinners of the academi cians, the Earl of Lisburne is said to have lamented to Goldsmith that he should neglect the Muses, to compile histories, and write novels, instead of penning poetry, with which he was sure to charm his readers. “My lord,” replied Goldsmith, “in courting the Muses, I should starve; but by my other labours I eat, drink, wear good clothes, and enjoy the luxuries of life.” The commencement of 1773, produced another drama tic effort of our author, in a comedy, entitled, “She Stoops to Conquer".” During the last rehearsal, on the Doctor's objecting to the improbability that Mrs. Hard castle should believe she was at a distance from home, when actually in her own garden; Colman, with great keenness, replied, “Psha, my dear Doctor, do not be fearful of squibs, when we have been sitting almost these two hours on a barrel of gunpowder.” Contrary, however, to the manager's expectation, the piece was received with “unbounded applause;” and Goldsmith never forgave the severity of Colman's observation. The success of this comedy, the profits of which pro duced to our author 850l. brought on him the envy and malignity of some of his contemporaries. A scurrilous letter was inserted in the London Packet of March 24th, 1773, reflecting on his personal insignificance, and loading with ignominious terms his most beautiful productions. By the kindness of some friend, the letter in question was shewn to Goldsmith, who, highly indignant, imme diately hastened to the publisher's, Mr. Evans, in Pater noster-row, and finding him behind his counter, thus addressed him: “You have published a thing in your
- The plot of this comedy is said to have been suggested to Goldsmith,
by an adventure which occurred to himself in his youth, at Ardagh, in the county of Longford, when he mistook the house of Mr. Fetherston, (grandfather of the present Sir Thomas Fetherston,) for an inn; having been directed to it by a humorous fencing master, named Cornelius Kelly, onee the instructor of the celebrated Marquis of Granby.
