STANZAS ON THE TAKING OF QUEBECK AND THE DEATH OF GENERAL WOLFE This poem, written and published shortly after the news of Wolfe's victory reached England, was composed while Goldsmith was living among beggars and washerwomen, at his now historic lodgings in Green Arbour Court London; and was his first published original poem. The Goldsmiths claimed a relationship with the family of General Wolfe, whose mother was a Miss Henrietta Goldsmith, a native of Ireland. The widespread enthusiasm awakened by the young soldier's gallant conduct afforded considerable gratification to our young poet; for a few days after its publication, he sent the MS. of his poem to his brother Henry, a struggling clergyman in Ireland, by whom it was preserved as a family memento. At his brother's death, it went to his son, the poet's nephew, who came to America with his regiment in 178-, was wounded and disabled (presumably in an engagement in Rhode Island, since he afterwards married a young lady of that State, who had nursed him back to health). After the declaration of peace he removed with her to Nova Scotia, where they remained until his death; he leaving a large family. It may here be noticed that Goldsmith's is one of the very rarest of all autographs of the great names of the 18th century; and that original MSS. in his writing and signed by him are practically unknown; therefore this item is one of the most valuable that has appeared in the market for very many years. It brought the large sum of $1520 at auction-in New York-in 1916. A midst the clamours of exulting joys Which triumph forces from the patriot heart, O Wolfe! to thee a streaming flood of woe Alive, the foe thy dreadfull vigor fled, And saw thee fall with joy-pronouncing eyes. 7th Nov., 1759. OLIVER GOLDSMITH |