As a rule, the arrangement in the present edition is chronological; but it has not been thought necessary to depart from the practice which gives a time-honoured precedence to _The Traveller_ and _The Deserted Village_. The true sequence of the poems, in their order of publication, is, however, exactly indicated in the table which follows this Introduction. CHRONOLOGY OF GOLDSMITH’S LIFE AND POEMS. 1728 _November 10._ Born at Pallas, near Ballymahon, in the county of Longford, Ireland. 1730 Family remove to Lissoy, in the county of Westmeath. 1731 Under Elizabeth Delap. 1734 Under Mr. Thomas Byrne of the village school. 1736–44 At school at Elphin (Mr. Griffin’s), Athlone (Mr. Campbell’s), Edgeworthstown (Mr. Hughes’s). 1744 _June 11._ Admitted a sizar of Trinity College, Dublin, _‘annum agens_ 15.’ 1747 Death of his father, the Rev. Charles Goldsmith. _May._ Takes part in a college riot. _June 15._ Obtains a Smythe exhibition. Runs away from college. 1749 _February 27._ Takes his degree as Bachelor of Arts. 1751 Rejected for orders by the Bishop of Elphin. Tutor to Mr. Flinn. Sets out for America (via Cork), but returns. Letter to Mrs. Goldsmith (his mother). 1752 Starts as a law student, but loses his all at play. Goes to Edinburgh to become a medical student. 1753 _January 13._ Admitted a member of the ‘Medical Society’ of Edinburgh. _May 8._ Letter to his Uncle Contarine. _September 26._ Letter to Robert Bryanton. Letter to his Uncle Contarine. 1754 Goes to Leyden. Letter to his Uncle Contarine. 1755 _February._ Leaves Leyden. Takes degree of Bachelor of Medicine at Louvain (?). Travels on foot in France, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. Sketches _The Traveller_. 1756 _February 1._ Returns to Dover. Low comedian; usher (?); apothecary’s journeyman; poor physician in Bankside, Southwark. 1757 Press corrector to Samuel Richardson, printer and novelist; assistant at Peckham Academy (Dr. Milner’s). _April._ Bound over to Griffiths the bookseller. Quarrels with Griffiths. _December 27._ Letter to his brother-in-law, Daniel Hodson.