Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 06.pdf/500

 Temple Students and Temple Studies. Temple Lane, we pass a dingy pile of build ings, known as Brick Court. Here, at No. 2, we might have seen, in 1768, no less a personage than Blackstone, engaged on the Commentaries, with a bottle of port always before him. He has to pause occasionally to send a polite message to the floor above, begging that Dr. Goldsmith will, in some

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and see him drink a bumper of the port to the success of the Commentaries. And, since Goldsmith has come into this chron icle, we may add the names of two others — Johnson and Charles Lamb — who are fosterchildren only, but who have left their markon the Temple buildings. Assuredly the Temple has a better claim on Goldsmith,

OLIVER GOLDSMITH'S CRAVE.

degree, lessen the noise upstairs. To lodge beneath Oliver was to work under difficul ties. Historically, the facts go no further; but yet we look to see the amiable jurist presently take up the port and mount the stairs to join the wits; and hear Dr. Johnson quote, half-dcfiantly, his own verses — al ways a pleasant thing — "Deign on the passing world to turn thine eyes And pause awhile from letters to be wise,"

and listen to Goldsmith's roystering " Hear!"

whom she sheltered through good report and ill, than Oxford has on Shelley — whom she expelled. And since the Univer sity now boasts the one, the Inn may still cherish the other. To many men the chief charm of the place is in these associations, and the world, which is not moved by the majesty of Smith's " immortal Leading Cases," makes many a pilgrimage to Brick Court, where Goldsmith lived and died, and to the Temple Church where he lies buried.