MEMOIR OF JAMES THOMSON. only did Collins, Shenstone, Lyttelton, Mendez, Jent to life. One, if not the only impediment to and others, sing his praises in most appropriate their union, was his straitened circumstances. "MuThomson was, as has been before stated, one of strains, but immediately after his decease, sidorus, a poem sacred to his memory," appeared; nine children. His only brother John came to and since that time Burns, Pye, the Honourable London, and acted as his amanuensis, but being Mrs. Boscawen, &c. have imitated their exam- attacked by consumption, he returned to Scotland, ple. That lady became possessed of his house and died young. Of his sisters, only three are near Richmond, and evinced her respect for the known to have married. Jean, the eldest, was the Poet, by preserving every memorial of him which wife of Mr. Robert Thomson, Master of the Grammar School at Lanark, with whom Boswell says, could be found. in July, 1777, he had placed two of his nephews. She was then an old woman, but having retained her memory, gave that writer many particulars of the Poet, together with the letter which Johnson has printed. Her son Robert, who was a student of medicine in Edinburgh, died in his father's lifetime at Lanark; and of her daughters, Elizabeth was born before 1747, and Beatrix married Mr. Thomas Prentice of Jerviswood. I received a letter from Mr. Robert Bell, Minister of Strathaven, in which he asks my consent to his marriage with you. Mr. Gusthart acquainted me with this some time ago; to whose letter I have returned an answer, which he tells me he has showed you both. I entirely agree to this marriage, as I find it to be a marriage of inclination, and founded upon long acquaintance and mutual esteem. Your behaviour hitherto has been such as gives me very great satisfaction, in the small assistance I have been able to afford you. Now you are going to enter upon a new state of life, charged with higher cares and duties, I need not. advise you how to behave in it, since you are so near Mr. Gusthart, who, by his good council and friendly assistance, has been so kind to you all along; only I must chiefly recommend to you to cultivate, by every method, that union of hearts, that agreement and sympathy of tempers, in which consists the true happiness of the marriage state. Thomson was never married, and in his letter The economy and gentle management of a family to his sister, in 1747, he says he was too poor to is a woman's natural province, and from that her form a domestic establishment. The only woman best praise arises. You will apply yourself thereto to whom he was known to be attached, was Miss as it becomes a good and virtuous wife. I dare Young, daughter of Captain Gilbert Young, of say I need not put you in mind of having a just the family of that name, in Gulyhill, in Dumfries- and grateful sense of, and future confidence in, the shire. She was a very fine young woman of su- goodness of God, who has been to you a 'Father perior endowments, and married Admiral Camp- to the fatherless.' Though you will hereafter be bell. Her lover has celebrated her in several more immediately under the protection of another, poems by the name of "Amanda," and so deep yet you may always depend upon the sincere was his passion, that his friend Mr. Robertson, friendship, and tenderest good offices of your most who married her sister, considers that his disap-affectionate brother, pointment in obtaining her rendered him indiffer "By last post I wrote to Jeany about the affairs she mentioned to me. Remember me kindly to all friends." could be pronounced. With a slight alteration the same eulogy may be passed on his whole life; 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." 4 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 UniverDavid 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 irreguand 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. 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 being sent to school at Jedburgh. The exact 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;t that the powers of Notices of the Rev. Thomas Thomson occur in "Kirk wood's Plea before the Kirk." 4to. London. 1698. 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 generaworks, 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, 1 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 corresmy 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 correspondence 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. You will allege that I have the advantage over you, being in town, where daily happen a variety of incidents. In the first place you must know, what subject you would have me write to you, on news of any kind I shall soon run aground. for You write to me that Misjohn* and his quadruped are making a large eccentrical orbit, toge Thomson alludes in most of his letters to some friend by undoubtedly the Rev. Mr. J. Wilson, Minister of the Parish this appellation, and the Earl of Buchan observes, that it was of Maxton, in Roxburghshire, a particular friend of Dr. Cranston of Ancrum, and of Thomson.” TO DOCTOR CRANSTON, AT ANCRUM. ther with two or three wallets full of books, which | 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 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. Dr. Cranston appears to have furnished him with letters of introduction, to which he alludes in two letters written within the fortnight which preceded his departure for London. The observation on a future state, which occurs in the second of these letters, is the earliest expression of the Poet's religious opinions which has been discovered; and his correspondence, as well as his works, proved that they never varied. DEAR SIR, Edinburgh prayers for one another are, unless it be to stir up humane and social dispositions in themselves. I 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, Letriumph in it, another life after this, which depends as to its happiness on our virtue, as this for the most part on our fortune. My spirits have gotten such a serious turn by these reflections, that although I be thinking on Misjohn, I declare I shall hardly force a laugh before we part, for this I think will be my last letter from Edinburgh, for I expect to sail every day; well, since was speaking of that merry soul, I hope he is as bright, as easy, as dégagé, as susceptible of an intense laugh as he used to be; tell 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 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 JAMES THOMSON 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 doubt but if Mr. Colden was advertised, I might have one too, and there will be time enough, for our ship sails not this fortnight, yet during that 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, as the best of them. If you have the opportunity to be at Maxton, in Mr. Wilson's, there you will find a treasure of a good comrade, called Peter Murdock, who will stay there these eight days. 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 acItresses, 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. DEAR SIR, 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 she did not act well she could not be endured, being more disagreeable in her appearance than any of them. Mrs. Booth acts some things very well, and particularly Ophelia's madness in Hamlet inimitably; but then she dances so deliciously, has such melting, lascivious motions, airs, and postures, as, indeed, according to what you suspect, almost throws the material part of me into action too; indeed the women are generally the handsomest in the house, and better actors than the men, but perhaps their sex prejudices me in their favour. These are a few of the observations I have made at Drury Lane Theatre hitherto, to which I have paid five visits, but have not been at the New London, April 3, 1725. I wish you joy of the spring. I had yours some days since, the only letter I received since I came from Scotland. I was almost out of humour at the letter I wrote for to Mr. Elliott, since it so curtailed yours to me; I went and delivered it; he received me affably enough, and promised me his assistance, though at the same time he told me, which every one tells me, that it will be prodigiously difficult to succeed in the business you know I design. However, come what will come, I shall make an effort, and leave the rest to providence. There is, I am persuaded, a necessary fixed chain of things, and I hope my 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 and should be very glad to hear from him. You best make interest and pass my trials here, so that may send your letters to my mother in Edinburgh, if I be obliged soon to return to Scotland again, I in a line enclosed, desiring her to send them to may not return no better than I came away: and me, which I have directed her to do, frank. Howto be deeply serious with you, the more I see of ever, you may send the next directly to me, to the vanity and wickedness of the world I am more your cousin's care, and perhaps I shall fall upon Yours sincerely, inclined to that sacred office. I was going to bid a more expedite way. I must for the present stop you suppress that rising laugh, but I check myself here, and subscribe myself, severely again for suffering such an unbecoming thought of you to enter into my mind-so much for business. 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 par"I am sorry I can not recollect any of those particularly your old friend Daniel, in Oroonoko, diverted 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 Cabber; 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, Mr. Johnstoun are pretty good actors. Dicky Norris, Pope, and Mr. Gay. that little comical, toothless devil, will turn his back, and crack a very good jest yet: there are some others of them execrable. Mrs. Oldfield has a smiling jolly face, acts very well in comedy, but "I remember, previous to the publication of his Seasons, that many long winter evenings the two • Memoirs, p. v. |