SOME ACCOUNT

OF

THE LIFE AND WRITINGS

OF

THOMSON.

JAMES THOMSON, author of the Seasons, was born in September, 1700, at Ednam, in the shire of Roxburgh. His father, who was pastor of the place, had nine children; to the support of whom we may suppose his revenue inadequate, since we find that Mr. Riccarton, a neighbouring minister, having discovered in James uncommon promises of future excellence, undertook to superintend his education, and provide him with books.

He was taught the common rudiments of learning at the school of Jedburg; a place which he mentions with delight in his Autumn. His master did

not, it seems, perceive his superiority, though he already began to entertain his friends with his poetical compositions: with these, however, he so little pleased himself, that on every newyear's day he, as it is said, threw into the fire all the productions of the preceding year. This anecdote, if true, would prove in Thomson a degree of judgment, and a strength of mind, seldom possessed by writers of maturer years.

From this school he was sent to Edin

burgh; where he had not resided two years when his father died, leaving all his children, to the care of their mother, who raised what money she could upon

a small estate, of which she had inherited a portion as co-heiress, and, removing with her family to the place her son inhabited, lived to see him rise into eminence.

Thomson's friends had designed him for the church; but a rebuke he received from Mr. Hamilton, the professor of divinity, for giving too poetical a diction when performing the probationary exercise of explaining a psalm, probably disgusted him with the ecclesiastical character, and induced him to cultivate with new diligence his talents for poetry.

He was advised to repair to London, to seek patronage and fame. On his arrival he found his way to Mr. Mallet, then tutor to the sons of the duke of Montrose. He had been furnished with

A poem on the death of Sir Isaac Newton, which he was enabled to perform as an exact philosopher by the assistance of Mr. Gray of Richmond; Britannia, a kind of poetical invective against the ministry, whom the nation did not think forward enough in resenting the depredations of the Spaniards; and Sophonisba, a tragedy, which did not answer the expectations raised by the rehearsal. Slight accidents have been sufficient to endanger the success of better works; and a waggish parody made upon a feeble line of Thomson's play probably contributed to the little success it had upon the stage. Of the prologue to this piece the first part is said to have been written by Pope, who could not be persuaded to finish it; and that the concluding lines were added by Mallet.

Spring appeared in 1728; but Autumn, which remained unsung, was delayed till 1730; when Thomson published his works collected.

His next performance was a long poem on liberty, which is very little regarded, although the author considered it as his noblest work. It does not now appear in its original state; but, after his death, was shortened by sir George Lyttelton, with a liberty which Dr. Johnson justly condemns, as tending to destroy the confidence of society, and confound the characters of authors.

Thomson had been rewarded for his attendance upon Mr.Talbot by the place of secretary of the briefs, which he did. not, however, long enjoy. On the death of the lord chancellor it became vacant; and, as Thomson would not solicit for it, it was given to another.