 In his ‘Life’, Washington Irving states that Goldsmith was between 5'4" and 5'6" in height, not heavily built but quite muscular and with rather plain features.In character he had a lively sense of fun, was totally guileless, and never happier than when in the light-hearted company of children.The money that he sporadically earned was often frittered away or happily given away to the next good cause that presented itself so that any financial security tended to be fleeting and short-lived.