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 pext meeting produced the following poem. RETALIATION. OF F old, when Scarron his companions invited, Each guest brought his dish, and the feast was united. If our landlord' supplies us with beef, and with fish, Let each guest bring himself, and he brings the best dish: Our dean shall be ven'son, just fresh from the plains, Our Burke3 shall be tongue, with the garnish of brains, Our Will' shall be wild fowl, of excellent flavour, And Dick5 with his pepper shall heighten the ́sa vour: 1 The master of St. James's coffee-house, where the Doctor, and the friends he has characterised in this poem, occasionally dined. 2 Dr. Bernard, dean of Derry in Ireland. 3 Mr. Edmund Burke. 4 Mr. William Burke, late secretary to General Conway, and member for Bedwin. 5 Mr. Richard Burke, collector of Grenada, Our Cumberland's' sweet-bread its place shall ob tain, And Douglas2 is pudding, substantial and plain : To make out the dinner, full certain I am 4 That Ridge is anchovy, and Reynolds is lamb That Hickey's a capon, and, by the same rule, 1 Mr. Richard Cumberland, author of the West Indian, Fashionable Lover, The Brothers, and other dramatic pieces. 2 Dr. Douglas, canon of Windsor, 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. 3 David Garrick, Esq. 4 Counsellor John Ridge, a gentleman belonging to the Irish bar. 5 Sir Joshua Reynolds. 6 An eminent attorney. Then, with chaos and blunders encircling my head, Let me ponder, and tell what I think of the dead. Here lies the good dean, re-united to earth, Who mixt reason with pleasure, and wisdom with mirth: If he had any faults, he has left us in doubt, 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 TommyTownshend' to lend him a vote; Who, too deep for his hearers, still went on refining, And thought of convincing, while they thought of dining; Though equal to all things, for all things unfit; Too nice for a statesman, too proud for a wit; 1 Mr. T. Townshend, Member for Whitchurch. H |