The Doctor feems to have confidered attentively the works of the feveral authors who have wrote on this fubject. If there fhould not be a great deal of discovery, or new matter, yet a judicious selection from abundant materials, is no fmall praife, and if the experiments and difcoveries of other writers are laid open in an agreeable dress, so pleasing as to allure the young reader into a purfuit of this fort of knowledge, we have no fmall obligations to this very engaging writer.

Our author profeffes to have had a taste rather claffical than fcientific, and it was in the ftudy of the claffics, that he first caught the defire of attaining a knowledge of nature. Pliny firft infpired him, and he refolved to tranflate that agreeable writer, and by the help of a commentary

to

to make his tranflation acceptable to the public.

It is not to be queftioned that Dr. Goldfmith, had he followed that plan, would have marked out those inaccuracies and extravagancies, into which an eafy credulity, or a want of attention, or the little progrefs of science in the world, in his age, had seduced his original author, and are the blemishes of that ingenious, inquifitive, and laborious writer.

The appearance of Mr. Buffon's work, however, induced the Doctor to change his plan, and inftead of tranflating an ancient writer, he refolved to imitate the laft and beft of the modern, who had written on natural hiftory.

The

The Doctor acknowledges to have the highest obligations to Buffon, as far as Buffon's work extend, and he could not, we imagine, have chofen to himself a better guide. The Doctor feems to profefs that from his first intention of a translation, to his execution of this work, his great object was to fend out an agreeable work, and, without flattery, this we think he has effected.

We will not prefume to decide whether the adept will find himself enlightened, or his information extended, but undoubtedly the common reader will find his curiofity gratified, and that time agreeably difpofed of, which he bestows on this work, and this feems to have been the object of the writer; and an author who has effected what he has propofed, is undoubtedly intitled to all the praise that

the

the nature of the work he has undertaken

can pretend to.

Every reader of tafte has long regretted that the poetical writings of this author have hitherto been only published in a defultory manner, the collecting them together in a compleat and elegant edition, it is hoped will be confidered as a proper tribute to the memory of this truly excellent poet.

* The writer of these memoirs is indebted for the principal anecdotes contained in them, to a gentleman who well knows their authenticity, and who long lived with Dr. Goldfmith upon the most friendly terms, and never felt any forrow more fincerely than that which was occafioned by his death.

VOL. I

d

ΟΝ

ADIEU, fweet bard! to each fine feeling true, Thy virtues many, and thy foibles few;

Thofe form'd to charm e'en vicious minds,and these

With harmless mirth the focial foul to please. Another's woe thy heart could always melt; None gave more free,-for none more deeply felt. Sweet bard, adieu! thy own harmonious lays Have fculptur'd out thy monument of praise :

Yes,