Dr Goldsmith and some of his friends occasionally dined at the St James's Coffee-House.-One day it was proposed to write epitaphs on him. His country, dialect, and person, furnished subjects of witticism. He was called on for RETALIATION, and at their next meeting produced the following poem. RETALIATION; POEM. * Or old, when Scarron his companions invited, Our Dean shall be venison, just fresh from the plains: Our Burke shall be tongue, with the garnish of brains: Our S Will shall be wild-fowl, of excellent flavour, And Dick with his pepper shall heighten the sa Our vour: Cumberland's sweet-bread its place shall obtain, And ** Douglas is pudding, substantial and plain : * The master of the St James's Coffee-house, where the doctor, and the friends he has characterized in this poem, occasionally dined. + Doctor Bernard, dean of Derry, in Ireland. The Right Hon. Edmund Burke. S Mr William Burke, late secretary to General Conway, and member for Bedwin. Mr Richard Burke, collector of Granada. ¶ Mr Richard Cumberland, author of the West Indian, Fashionable Lover, the Brothers, and various other productions (a). ** Dr Douglas, canon of Windsor, (now bishop of Salisbury) an ingenious Scotch gentleman, who has no less distinguished himself as a citizen of the world, than a sound critic, in detecting several literary mistakes (or rather forgeries) of his countrymen; particularly Lauder on Milton, and Bower's History of the Popes. (a) Since this note was written, of "Calvary, or the Death of Christ." * Our Garrick's a sallad; for in him we see To make out the dinner, full certain I am, Who'd not be a glutton, and stick to the last? Here lies the good || Dean, re-united to earth, Who mix'd reason with pleasure, and wisdom with mirth : If he had any faults, he has left us in doubt, Here lies our good ¶ Edmund, whose genius was such, We scarcely can praise it, or blame it too much; Who, born for the universe, narrow'd'his mind, And to party gave up what was meant for mankind. Though fraught with all learning, yet straining his throat, To persuade** Tommy Townshend to lend him a vote; * David Garrick, Esq. + Counsellor John Ridge, a gentleman belonging to the Irish bar. Sir Joshua Reynolds. An eminent attorney. Vide page 89. Vide page 89. ** Mr T. Townshend, member for Whitchurch. |