The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-08 00:00:00

ing classes :—" He was not about to set up the idea
of saving money, as if saving money was the pur-
pose for which man lived in this world. It was
not, however, his duty to lead them into the higher
regions of Christian doctrine. He came before them
as a member of the community, anxious to point cut
to them that which ho believed to be in itself valu-
able and useful. He was convinced that the fulfil-
ment of these lower duties was essentially associated
with the fulfilment of the highest. The privileges
of the man and the Christian were united and com•
biped together; and he did trust that by their con-
duct they would prove that they were resolved to
be good and faithful subjects and citizens both of
the kingdom of this world and the world to come:

It is pleasant, amid the excitement of political
controversies and the jar of conflicting opinions, to
tarn to the record of assemblies, whose objects are

purely literary, and where the voice of opposition

or censure never makes itself heard. Such a gather-

ing took place a day or two back in the chief city

of the sister kingdom, when the principal digni-
taries of the country were present to do honour to

:he memory of one whom not only Ireland, but the

civilised world holds in grateful and admiring re-
membrance. A statue in honour of OLIVER GOLD

SMITH is surely no uncalled-for or superfluous tri-
bute from his countrymen to the refined poet, the
genial creator of Dr. PRIMROSE, the pathetic

mourner over the desolation of Auburn. Some may
wonder how it is that such a movement has been so

long delayed, that no national memorial has hereto-
fore paid homage to one of Ireland's proudest
glories; but the neglect of such marks of recogni-

tion even among ourselves, is, unfortunately, too
common to be in any way remarkable. The omis-
sion, however, has now been rectified, and the figure
of OLIVER GOLDSMITH, wrought by the skilful
hand of one of his own gifted countrymen, stands

proudly in front of that great university of which
he was once a member. The project of such a
memorial owed its origin to one whose fine and
cultivated taste especially fits him for the apprecia-

tion of literary and poetical merit. Although not
himself an Irishman, the Earl of CARLISLE was no
unsuitable originator of a scheme which sought to
do honour to one of the standard ornaments of our
noble English literature. His high official position,
as well as his own personal reputation, invested the
suggestion with an importance which secured to it

the success it deserved. Some six years ago, accord.

ing to Lord CARLISLE'S own version, while engaged
in inaugurating the statue of another eminent Irish-
man—THomAs MOORE—he first started the idea
that a statue of GOLDSMITH should be raised in the
position it now occupies. Six years have elapsed
since then, and by the approval and assistance of all
classes the work has been carried to completion.
The eminent sculptor, Mr. FOLEY, lent the aid of
his gifted chisel, the board of the college came for-
ward with large subscriptions, at length the work is
done, and royalty smiled on the project, and Irish-
men in the most distant lands sent substantial tokens
of their sympathy. The poor, thriftless, penniless
paet and man of genies looks down in marble from
the front of the college, of which he was for some time
a humble and by no means proficient scholar, In
regarding him, we contemplate, to use the words of
Lord CARLISLE, "a career not free from impru-
dence, from error, nor even from ridicule, but re-
deemed by the most guileless simplicity, by the
most romantic benevolence, by the most manly
independence. We contemplate a genius of which
no more pithy or accurate a summary can bo given
than in the words of Dr. JOHNSON, inscribed
upon the stone which bears his name in West-
minster Abbey. " There was no style of composi-
tion which he did not essay, none he essayed
which he did not adorn." Great and-various
as were his successes, however, the Lord Lieute-
nant expressed the general sentiments when he
referred to the " Deserted Village" and the "Vicar
of Wakefield" as the most striking of his works.
These two productions alone suffice to build up a
great and enduring reputation, to secure a place
in the hearts and memories of all who speak his
language so long as that language lasts. It was
truly said by Mr. WHITEsIDE at the inaugura-
tion that the fame of GOLDSMITH is growing
rather than declining. Is is based on sure foun-
dations, which changes of fashion or canons of
taste cannot affect or weaken, and in spite of the
more dazzling attractions of the writers who have
succeeded him, in spite of the variations of opinion
and sentiment, the prevailing love of the startling
and the " sensational," the writings of GOLDSMITH
keep tnair hold on the nation, and he is not only
remembered but read. To deny the acquaintance
of Dr. PRIMROSE would be to argue yourself, in-
deed, unknown and uneducated ; to be ignorant of
the charms of the " loveliest village of the plain,"
and the sorrows of its mournful depopulation would
be to betray a want of reading which few would
care to own. Scenes from the quaint old parsonage
continually appear on the walls of oar exhibitions,
representatives of the fair and sprightly LETITIA
HARDCASTLE still tread our modern stage, while the
youthful student, seeking to acquaint himself with
the masterpieces of English literature, is never suf-
fered to pass by the " Traveller" and the "Deserted
Village." Even with her long list of men of genius,
Ireland cannot afford to slight OLIVER GOLDSMITH,
even though with his country's gifts he had his full
share of her characteristic failings. Irishmen have
now paid the debt due to two of their national
celebrities ; but a third remains whose place of
honour, as Lard CARLISLE pointed out, stands vacant
by the side of his friend and companion. "Let not
six years," said the Lord Lieutenant, "elapse before
we shall have added the statue of BURKE, he who
was proverbially the greatest intellect of Ireland,
the consummate orator, philosopher, and states-
man." Such a plan is already on foot, and we can
hardly doubt that it will be speedily carried to a
successful issue. Ireland, amidst all her misfor-
tunes, has ever had cause to be proud of the genius
of her children, and of their great and versatile
gifts these two eminent men are very fitting ex-
amples. We are glad to find the Earl of CARLISLE
marking his term of office with such a grateful
recollection, endearing himself to the people whom
he governs, by his ready sympathy with their feel-
ings and appreciation of their great men, while he
forwards works of national importance in a manner
befitting his own literary tastes and cultivated
mind.

PROGRESS OF THE MAIN DRAINAGE WORKS.—
Notwithstanding the shortness of the days in the
past month and the stoppage of the works in the Christ-
mas week, remarkable progress has been made in the exe-
cution of the main drainage works. Already nearly one-half
of the sewage is diverted by the main drainage, and can
only find egress into the river at Erith Creek, and by next
July it is confidently expected that the whole system of
main drainage will be completed, except the short length of
the low level sewer, and from that date all but about one-
tenth of the sewage will be swept off by the ebb tide below
Barking.

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHAPLAINS.—At the Somer-
set Epiphany Quarter Sessions at Taunton, on Tuesd,ay,
Mr. F. 11. Dickenson moved Ihat the visiting magistrates
for Taunton Cbunty Gaol and Shepton Mallet House of
Correction be requested to consider whether, in their opi-
nion, it would be desirable to adopt the provisions of the
Prison Ministers' Bill. Mr. King seconded the motion, but
on a division it was lost by 13 votes to 5.

THE HIGHWAY ACT.—At the Cornwall Quarter
Sessions, on Tuesday last, it was resolved that petty ses-
sional divisions should be made the basis of tho new high-
way districts throughout the county.