"By last post I wrote to Jeany about the affairs | could be pronounced. With a slight alteration she mentioned to me. Remember me kindly to all the same eulogy may be passed on his whole life; friends." for it was free from a single act which could create remorse. To his relations he was liberal and

Mrs. Bell had two sons, Dr. James Bell, Minis- affectionate; to his friends faithful and devoted: ter of Coldstream, who published a volume of Ser-viewing all mankind with beneficence and love, mons, and Thomas Bell, who died a Merchant at he performed with exemplary but unostentatious Jamaica.

piety that first of Christian virtues, to teach the Mary, the poet's youngest sister, married Mr. world to reverence the Creator in his works, and William Craig, Merchant of Edinburgh, and died to learn from them veneration for his wisdom and on the 11th of September, 1790, the day on which confidence in his mercy. Thus the character of Lord Buchan celebrated the anniversary of the Thomson, both as a writer and a man, seems alpoet's birth. She had only one son, James, an in- most perfect; and whilst the admirer of his genius genious architect, who planned the new Town of may point to his poems as some of the most splenEdinburgh, and died in that city on the 23d of did emanations of human intellect, those who June, 1795. He intended to erect a pillar to his deem it more important to inquire how talents are uncle in the village of Ednam, and wished Dr. applied than to boast of their extent, may proudly Beattie to write an appropriate inscription. The adduce him as a rare example of the application intention was not carried into execution, but Beat- of a mind of the highest capacity to the improvetie's sensible letter in reply to the request, in ment of the taste and morals of society. His which he ridicules inscriptions in Latin to an Eng-poems may be placed in the hands of our wives lish poet, and states what ought to be said on these and our daughters even in the present age, when occasions, might have been read with advantage our ears are more delicate than our consciences, by those who superintended Burns's monument. without first subjecting them to the ordeal of a Lord Buchan's exuberant zeal, in honour of modern expurgator. Of his productions no " FaThomson, in crowning his bust, and other fool-mily Editions," which mar, if they do not destroy, eries, approaches so nearly to the ridiculous, that the natural vigour of a writer, are necessary. By his motive scarcely secures him from being laugh-confining himself to the strict rules of propriety, ed at. The annual commemoration of the poet's he has placed his fame beyond the power of those birth is in better taste; and proves the generous relentless censors who have emasculated Shakpride with which speare, our national bard, and Gibbon, our most eloquent historian. Secure from the revolutions of taste or time, Thomson's labours are destined to descend with undiminished admiration to the

Scotia, with exulting tear,

Proclaims that Thomson was her son."

Lord Lyttelton has justly said of Thomson's latest posterity; and it may be predicted with conwritings, that they contain

"No line which dying he could wish to blot;" and, considering the taste of the age in which he lived, this praise is perhaps the highest which

fidence, that future generations, like the last and the present, will have their reverence for the God of Nature excited, and their earliest attachment to Nature herself strengthened, by the Poet who has sung her in all her “Seasons.”

ADDENDA TO, THE MEMOIR OF THOMSON.

time of his death has not been ascertained, but it must have been about 1720.*

SINCE the foregoing Life of Thomson was printed, the author has been favoured with some of the Poet's letters, and other materials, by Mr. The Poet was entered a student of the Univer David Laing, of Edinburgh, who, to a laudable sity of Edinburgh in 1719, but his attendance, zeal in collecting information about the history as was often the case, seems to have been irregu and literature of his country, unites the greatest lar, for the only subsequent notice of him is on liberality, by placing the result of his researches the 27th October, 1724, when he performed a at the disposition of his friends.

prescribed exercise, being a Lecture on the tenth section of the 119th Psalm. It is said by all his biographers, that this exercise was a poetical paraphrase of the 104th Psalm;† that the powers of Notices of the Rev. Thomas Thomson occur in "Kirk

The Reverend Thomas Thomson, the Poet's father, was licensed to preach on the 17th June, 1691; was ordained minister of Ednam, 12th July, 1692; and was removed to Sudden, or Southdean, about the year 1701, which accounts for his son's wood's Plea before the Kirk." 4to. London. 1698 being sent to school at Jedburgh. The exact

† See p. iv. of the Memoir.

imagination which it displayed, though compli- though I live in Edinburgh, yet I am little conmented by the divinity professor, were considered versant in the beau monde, viz. concerts, balls, asunsuited to the sacred office for which he was de- semblies, &c. where beauty shines and coxcombs signed; that he consequently abandoned his in- admire themselves. If nature had thrown me in tention of entering the ministry; and, from the a more soft and indolent mould, had made me a approbation which Mr. Auditor Benson expressed Shapely or a Sir Fopling Flutter, if fortune had of the piece, his thoughts were directed to London. filled my pockets, I suppose my head is empty This story, though not without some foundation, enough as it is, had I been taught to cut a caper, inasmuch as he wrote a paraphrase of the Psalm to hum a tune, to take a pinch, and lisp nonsense in question, is disproved by incontrovertible facts. with all the grace of fashionable insipidity, then I No paraphrase in verse of a Psalm could possibly could-what could I have done? hardly write; have been admitted as an exercise at the Univer- but, however, I might have made a shift to fill up sity; and the subject referred to was a prose lec-a half sheet with 'rat me,'' damn me,' &c. interture, or dissertation, on part of the 119th Psalm; spersed with broken characters of ladies gliding but as it may have been written in too flowery a over my fancy like a passing image over a mirror. style, and been too redundant in poetical imagery, But if both nature and fortune had been indulthe censure said to have been pronounced by the gent to me, and made a rich, finished gentleman, divinity professor possibly occurred. That this yet would I have reckoned it a piece of my greatcircumstance did not alter his views with respect est happiness to be acquainted with you, and you to the church is evident from his saying, in some should have had entertainment if it was within letters from London, that he still intended to get the circle of wit and beauty to afford it; but alas! ordained. It does not appear, from the registers as it is what can you expect from the Divinity of the University, that he ever took his Master of hall or a Tippeny cell? It must be owned inArt's degree, but he certainly added the distinc- deed, that here in Edinburgh, to us humble sons tion to his name in the first edition of "Winter," of Tippeny, if beauty were as propitious as wit and the omission of it afterwards probably arose sometimes, we would have no reason to complain from his calling himself, in the title pages of his of the superior fortune of the fluttering genera works, Mr. Thomson. Among his contempora- tion; and O! ye foolish women, who have thus ries at the University, where their friendship bewitched you? is it not wit that immortalizes commenced, were David Malloch, or Mallet, who beauty, that heightens it, and preserves it in a contributed several pieces to the "Edinburgh fresh eternal bloom? And did ever a fop either Miscellany," and Patrick Murdoch, his subse- justly praise or admire you? but perhaps what I quent biographer; but his earliest, and one of the am railing at is well ordered, and if there was such warmest of his friends, was Dr. Cranston, to whom a familiar intercourse betwixt wit and beauty as I all the following letters, as well as some of those which are introduced into the Memoir, were addressed.

The annexed letter from Thomson, whilst at the University, presents a favourable idea of his pursuits and opinions before he attained his majority.

SIR,

Edinburgh, Dec. 11, 1720.

would have, wit would degenerate into softness and luxury, and lose all its edge and keenness; it would dissolve in sighs or burst in nonsense. Wit and beauty thus joined would be, as Shakspeare has it, making honey a sauce to sugar; and yet another would say that beauty, divine beauty! enlivens, heightens, and refines wit; that even wit is the necessary result of beauty, which puts the spirits in that harmonious motion that produces it I received yours, wherein you acquaint me that that tunes them to that ecstasy, and makes them mine was very acceptable to you. I am heartily dart through the nerves, and sparkle in the eyes! glad of it; and to waive all ceremony, if any thing-but whither am I rambling? What I am going I can scribble be entertaining to you, may I be to propose is, and you see there is great need for damned to transcribe dull books for the press all it, that you would in your next settle our corres. my life if I do not write abundantly. I fondly pondence into some order, and acquaint me on embrace the proposal you make of a frequent cor- what subject you would have me write to you, for respondence this winter, and that from the very same principle you mention; and when the native bright ideas which flow from your good humour have the ascendant over those gloomy ones that attend your profession, I expect you will not be wanting. Thomson alludes in most of his letters to some friend by You will allege that I have the advantage over «undoubtedly the Rev. Mr. J. Wilson, Minister of the Parish this appellation, and the Earl of Buchan observes, that it was you, being in town, where daily happen a variety of Maxton, in Roxburghshire, a particular friend of Dr. Crac of incidents. In the first place you must know, ston of Ancrum, and of Thomson."

on news of any kind I shall soon run aground.

You write to me that Misjohn* and his quadruped are making a large eccentrical orbit, toge

TO DOCTOR CRANSTON, AT ANCRUM.

ther with two or three wallets full of books, which suppose will be multiplied into several more of papers before they return; belike they may have DEAR SIR, taken a trip into China, and then we shall have I received yours, by which I find you have been his travels. There is one thing I hear storied, as much concerned as Mr. Golden indifferent God forbid it be true! that his horse is metamor- about me; he, good man, recommends me to God phosing into an ass; and by the last accounts I Almighty: very well; but I wish he had exerted had of it, its lugs are shot up into a strange length, something more of the layman on that . . . for, to and the cross was just beginning to dawn upon its be deeply serious, the . . . . Father of mankind shoulders; and, besides, as it one day was saluting beholds all . . . offspring with a melting eye . . . a capful of oats, wonderful to tell! it fell a-bray- needs none to prompt him to acts of goodness, so ing. I wish Nanny Noble were so, comfortably that I can not conceive for what purpose people's settled as you hint. Tell Misjohn, when you see him, that I have a bundle of worthies for him, if once I had received his packet.

There are some come from London here lately, that teach natural philosophy by way of shows by the beat of drum, but more of that afterwards. I designed to have sent you a manuscript poem, but I have no time till next week.

Yours heartily,

JAMES THOMSON.

...

prayers for one another are, unless it be to stir up humane and social dispositions in themselves. J have gotten several recommendations, and am promised more afterwards, when I am fixed on any particular view, which would make them more pointed and effectual; I shall do all that is in my power, act, hope, and so either make something out, or be buried in obscurity. There is, and I am persuaded of it, I triumph in it, another life after this, which depends as to its happiness on our virtue, as this for the most part on our fortune. Dr. Cranston appears to have furnished him My spirits have gotten such a serious turn by with letters of introduction, to which he alludes these reflections, that although I be thinking on in two letters written within the fortnight which Misjohn, I declare I shall hardly force a laugh preceded his departure for London. The observa- before we part, for this I think will be my last tion on a future state, which occurs in the second letter from Edinburgh, for I expect to sail every of these letters, is the earliest expression of the day; well, since I was speaking of that merry soul, Poet's religious opinions which has been disco-I hope he is as bright, as easy, as dégagé, as susvered; and his correspondence, as well as his ceptible of an intense laugh as he used to be; tell works, proved that they never varied.

him when you see him that I laugh in imagination with him, ha! ha! ha! Misjohn, how in the name of wonder dragged you so much good hu

....

...

JAMES THOMSON

I received yours and can never sufficiently re-mour along with you through the thorny paths sent the regard for my welfare that you show in of systems and school divinity, considering the them. You are so modest as to desire me to cor- many hardy attempts you have had to epitomize rect any thing I see amiss in your letter to Mr. and so forth-whenever I began to Elliot, and you will transcribe it again; but I as-rust in these exercises, the doctor cleared sure you I am not so vain as to attempt it: if there me-well, may wit, humour, and everlasting joy was no other thing to bind me to a good behaviour surround you both, and if I but at any time. .. but your recommendation and character of me, I kindle up the laugh from London, I shall be sure could go great lengths of mortification to answer to ha returned upon with greater them. Your letter to my cousin, I do not doubt, force. Yours, while I am will be considerably useful to me, if I can find him out. I remember I heard that Mr. Colden's letter was very serviceable to George Brown. I do not If you have the opportunity to be at Maxton, in doubt but if Mr. Colden was advertised, I might Mr. Wilson's, there you will find a treasure of a have one too, and there will be time enough, for good comrade, called Peter Murdock, who will our ship sails not this fortnight, yet during that stay there these eight days. time, if it can contribute any thing to your diversion, you shall hear from me every opportunity, and when I go to London, you may lay your account of paying out some sixpences. If you have leisure, I could wish to hear from you before I go away, notwithstanding your apostolical conclusion, which I believe as sincere, and will be as effectual, os the best of them.

His first letter to Dr. Cranston, after he arrived in London, was dated on the 3d of April, 1725. It expresses many fears for his success, and is interesting from the account of the impression made upon him by his first visit to the theatres. Amidst many playful remarks, and some levity in his criticism on the actors, and especially on the actresses, there is an anxiety manifested about his

future career, which shows that the state of his resources and the uncertainty of his plans rendered his mind ill at ease.

best of all I suppose in bed; she turns her body, and leers with her eyes most bewitchingly. Mrs. Porter excels in tragedy, has a short piercing voice, and enters most into her character, and if London, April 3, 1725. she did not act well she could not be endured, beDEAR SIR, I wish you joy of the spring. ing more disagreeable in her appearance than any I had yours some days since, the only letter I of them. Mrs. Booth acts some things very well, received since I came from Scotland. I was almost and particularly Ophelia's madness in Hamlet inout of humour at the letter I wrote for to Mr. El- imitably; but then she dances so deliciously, has liott, since it so curtailed yours to me; I went and such melting, lascivious motions, airs, and postures, delivered it; he received me affably enough, and as, indeed, according to what you suspect, almost promised me his assistance, though at the same throws the material part of me into action too; time he told me, which every one tells me, that it indeed the women are generally the handsomest will be prodigiously difficult to succeed in the bu- in the house, and better actors than the men, but siness you know I design. However, come what perhaps their sex prejudices me in their favour. will come, I shall make an effort, and leave the These are a few of the observations I have made rest to providence. There is, I am persuaded, a at Drury Lane Theatre hitherto, to which I have necessary fixed chain of things, and I hope my paid five visits, but have not been at the New fortune, whatever it be, shall be linked to diligence House yet. My purse will not keep pace with and honesty. If I should not succeed, in your my inclinations in that matter. O! if I had Misnext advise me what I should do. Succeed or not, john here, to see some of their top fools, he would I firmly resolve to pursue divinity as the only thing shakes the scenes with laughter. Give my service now I am fit for. Now if I cannot accomplish to him. Tell him I laugh at the thoughts of him, the design on which I came up, I think I had best make interest and pass my trials here, so that if I be obliged soon to return to Scotland again, I may not return no better than I came away: and to be deeply serious with you, the more I see of the vanity and wickedness of the world I am more inclined to that sacred office. I was going to bid you suppress that rising laugh, but I check myself severely again for suffering such an unbecoming thought of you to enter into my mind—so much for business.

and should be very glad to hear from him. You may send your letters to my mother in Edinburgh, in a line enclosed, desiring her to send them to me, which I have directed her to do, frank. However, you may send the next directly to me, to your cousin's care, and perhaps I shall fall upon a more expedite way. I must for the present stop here, and subscribe myself,

Yours sincerely, JAMES THOMSON.

It is said that Mr. Forbes, who was afterwards The playhouse is indeed a very fine entertain- Lord President of the Court of Session, was Thomment, though not to the height I expected. A son's earliest patron in London. This statement tragedy, I think, or a fine character in a comedy, is established by a letter from the widow of that gives greater pleasure read than acted; but your gentleman to Lord Buchan, in reply to his request fools and persons of a very whimsical and humor- that she would furnish him with any anecdotes ous character are a delicious morsel on the stage; of the Poet: they indeed exercise my risible faculty, and particularly your old friend Daniel, in Oroonoko, di- "I am sorry I can not recollect any of those parverted me infinitely; the gravedigger in Hamlet, ticular characteristic anecdotes your lordship says Beau Clincher and his brother, in the Trip to the I told you of in the year 84, of my father and Mr. Jubilee, pleased me extremely too. Mr. Booth has Thomson the poet; all the information I can give a very majestic appearance, a full, harmonious is, that they were intimate friends, my father havvoice, and vastly exceeds them all in acting trage- ing been Mr. Thomson's first acquaintance and dy. The last act in Cato he does to perfection, patron on his coming to London, and the former and you would think he expired with the 'Oh! having a numerous acquaintance amongst people that ends it.' Mr. Wilks, I believe, has been a of the first rank, and also amongst the literati folk; very fine actor for the fine gentleman and the he did not fail to bring Thomson forward as much young hero, but his face now is wrinkled, his voice as lay in his power. His first introductions were broken; and age forbids the youthful, clear Cibber; to the Duke of Argyle, the Earl of Burlington, I have not seen much of his action yet. Mills and and Sir Robert Walpole, to Dr. Arbuthnot, Mi. Johnstoun are pretty good actors. Dicky Norris, Pope, and Mr. Gay.

that little comical, toothless devil, will turn his "I remember, previous to the publication of his back, and crack a very good jest yet: there are Seasons, that many long winter evenings the tw>

some others of them execrable. Mrs. Oldfield has

a smiling jolly face, acts very well in comedy, but'

Memoirs, p. v.

were closeted, as I suppose correcting for the press, respect to the scribblers of politics and poetry. As and I used to see loose pages of the manuscript for news you never want too many of them, they lying interlined with my father's hand, who always increase proportionally to their distance from their expressed as great a value for Mr. Thomson's source, like rivers, or, since I am in the way of sipersonal merit as for his poetical talents." miles, like Discord, as she

Thomson's next letter to Cranston, dated from East Barnet, on the 20th of July, 1725, is of great value, 'from the information which it affords of his situation. It fixes the date of his mother's death; it proves when he was a tutor in Lord Binning's family; and it shows that his views were then strongly fixed upon the church.

DEAR DOCTOR,

person is to her small at first, but in a short time her body reaches from the zenith to the nadir, and her arms from one pole to the other, which is the case of fame. To sound as fame is, when great actions make a great noise. So news are a noise commonly about nothing. As for poetry, she is now a very strumpet, and so has lost all her life and spirit, or rather a common strumpet, passes herself upon the world for the chaste heaven-born virgin. All my other letters from this, if you will favour me with an answer, shall smell of the country. I need not tell you, I have a most affection

tisfaction to hear from you as any man: it will be a great pleasure to me likewise to hear of Mr. Rickerton's welfare, who deserves encouragement as much as any preacher in Scotland. Misjohn and his horse also would make a very good paragraph: give my service to them both; to Mrs, and

J. THOMSON.

East Barnet, July 20, 1725. I CAN NOT imagine the meaning of this long silence, unless my last letter has not come to your hand, which was written two or three months ate regard for you, and it will give me as real a sasince. I would have seconded it before now, but one thing and another, particularly the severe affliction of my mother's death, incapacitated me for entertaining my friend. Now I am pretty much at ease in the country, ten miles from London, teaching Lord Binning's son to read, a low task, you know, not so suitable to my temper, but I must Miss Cranston, John, &c. Yours sincerely, learn that necessary lesson of suiting my mind and temper to my state. I hope I shall not pass my time here without improvement, the great design of my coming hither, and then in due time, I resolve, through God's assistance, to consummate my original study of divinity; for you know the business of a tutor is only precarious and for the present. I approve, every day inore and more, of your advice to your brother John, as to the direc-which the date September 1726 is assigned, was tion of his study; if well pursued it is as honourable, useful, and certain a method of living as one, in his or my circumstances, could readily fall into con

temptible notions of things at home, and romantic ones of things abroad; perhaps I was too much affected that way, but I hope in the issue it shall not be worse for me

I can not be certain whether Sir William Bennet has lost post or not. Your country news, though they may seem trifling, yet will be acceptable to me. My brother will readily wait upon you, who is just now setting up at Kelso.

The letter to Dr. Cranston in the Memoir,* to

evidently the next communication to him, and must have been written in September 1725. "Winter" appeared in the March following, that is, March 1726, instead of March 1726-7.t

Notwithstanding that Thomson himself says that the idea of writing "Winter" was suggested by another poem on the same subject, yet Warton states, in one of his notes on Pope, "My what he seemed to be fond of, viz. surgery. It is, friend Mr. William Collins, author of the Persian as you can not but know, the merest drug here in Eclogues and Odes, assured me that Thomson inthe world. Scotland is really fruitful of surgeons, formed him that he took the first hint and idea of they come here like flocks of vultures every day, writing his Seasons from the titles of Pope's four and, by a merciful providential kind of instinct, Pastorals." Warton adds, in another place, “when transport themselves to foreign countries. The Thomson published his Winter in 1726, it lay a Change is quite full of them, they peruse the ship- long time neglected, till Mr. Spence made honour. bills and meet the sea captains. Pray let John able mention of it in his Essay on the Odyssey; know my sentiments in this matter, because through which, becoming a popular book, made the poem a giddy discontent I spoke too slightly to him of universally known. Thomson always acknowthe study which he has now so happily espoused ledged the use of this recommendation; and from I am not now in London, so can not acquaint you this circumstance an intimacy commenced between with any thing that passes there within my nar- the critic and the poet, which lasted till the laIow observation. Being there on Sunday last, I mented death of the latter, who was of a most Leard that every thing was very dead both with amiable and benevolent temper. I have before me