James Thomson

“ IT is commonly said, that the life of a good writer is best read in his works; which can scarce fail to receive a peculiar tincture from his temper, manners, and habits: the distinguishing character of his mind, his ruling passion, at least, will there appear undisguised. But however just this observation may be; and although we might safely rest Mr. Thomson's fame, as a good man, as well as a man of genius, on this sole footing; yet the desire which the Public always shews of being more particularly acquainted with the history of an eminent author, ought not to be disappointed ”

“ Pope's celebrated Essay, had opened the way to an acquaintance with the best poets and critics.
But the most learned critic is not always the best judge of poetry; taste being a gift of Nature, the want of which, Aristotle and Bossu cannot supply; nor even the study of the best originals, when the reader's faculties are not tuned in a certain consonance to those of the poet: and this happened to be the case with certain learned gentlemen, into whose hands a few of Mr. Thomson's first essays had fallen. ”

“ Your known goodness gives my presumption the hopes of a pardon, for prefixing to this new edition of the immortal work of an author, whose beauties you can, so exquisitely relish in the original, the Name of a Man, whose character and great universal learning deservedly are the pride of my countrymen, and the boast of all that have the honour of your acquaintance. ”

“ To know you, and not love your goodness would betray a total want of feeling and humanity in any one. In me it would amount to the highest ingratitude if I could ever be insensible or unmindful of that great degree of kindness and friendship, you have been pleased to show me, ever since I have been a nearer witness and ardent admirer of your worth. ”

“ And spreads a common feast for all that lives.⁠15
In Winter awful Thou! with clouds and storms
Around Thee thrown, tempest o'er tempest roll'd,
Majestic darkness! on the whirlwind's wing,
Riding sublime, Thou bidst the world adore,
And humblest Nature with Thy northern blast. ”

“ Thomson paints him, the friend of mankind and of merit, received him very graciously, and ever after honoured him with many marks of particular favour and confidence. A circumstance, which does equal honour to the patron and the poet, ought not here to be omitted; that my Lord Lyttelton's recommendation came altogether unsolicited, and long before Mr. Thomson was personally known to him. ”

“ Shade, unperceiv'd, so softening into shade;⁠25
And all so forming an harmonious whole; ”

“ I have very little to inform the Reader concerning this new edition of a poet whose immortal fame is so universally established in every country, where due honour is paid to genius, and uncommon natural endowments. ”

“ COLLINS.
(The scene of the following stanzas is supposed to lie
on the Thames near Richmond.)
IN yonder grave a Druid lies
Where slowly winds the stealing wave!
The year’s best sweets shall duteous rise
To deck its Poet's sylvan grave!
In yon deep bed of whispering reeds
His airy harp [1] shall now be laid,
That he, whose heart in sorrow bleeds,
May love thro' life the soothing shade. ”

“ Thomson, however, conscious of his own strength, was not discouraged by this treatment; especially as he had some friends on whose judgment he could better rely, and who thought very differently of his performances. Only, from that time, he began to turn his view towards London; where works of genius may always expect a candid reception and due encouragement: and an accident soon after entirely determined him to try his fortune there.
The divinity chair at Edinburgh was then filled by the reverend and learned Mr. Hamilton; a gentleman universally respected and beloved ”

“ THESE, as they change, Almighty Father, these,
Are but the varied God. The rolling year
Is full of thee. Forth in the pleasing Spring
Thy beauty walks, thy tenderness and love. ”

“ In imitation of the hebrew Bard, all Nature is called forth to do homage to the Creator, and the reader is left enraptured in silent adoration and praise.
Besides these, and his tragedy of Sophonisba, written and acted with applause, in the year 1729. Mr. Thomson had, in 1727, published his poem to the memory of Sir Isaac Newton, then lately deceased; containing a deserved encomium of that incomparable Man, with an account of his chief discoveries ”

“ Thomson himself published; his tragedy of Coriolanus being only prepared for the theatre, when a fatal accident robbed the world of one of the best men, and best poets, that lived in it.
He had always been a timorous horseman; and more so, in a road where numbers of giddy or unskilful riders are continually passing; so that when the weather did not invite him to go by water, he would commonly walk the distance between London and Richmond, with any acquaintance that offered ”

“ From seeming Evil still educing Good,
And Better thence again, and Better still,⁠115
In infinite progression. ”

“ It being chiefly intended for the use of schools, correctness and cheapness have been more consulted than that elegance and splendour, which too often exceeds the narrow circumstances of the diligent, but indigent youth. ”

“ He is not indeed known, through his whole life, to have given any person one moment's pain, by his writings, or otherwise. He took no part in the poetical squabbles which happened in his time; and was respected and left undisturbed by both sides. He would even refuse to take offence when he justly might ”