THOMSON.
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AMES THOMSON, the son of a minister well esteemed for his piety anddiligence, was born September 7, 1700, at Ednam, in the shire ofRoxburgh, of which his father was pastor. His mother, whose name wasHume, inherited as co-heiress a portion of a small estate. The revenueof a parish in Scotland is seldom large; and it was probably incommiseration of the difficulty with which Mr. Thomson supported hisfamily, having nine children, that Mr. Riccarton, a neighbouringminister, discovering in James uncommon promises of future excellence,undertook to superintend his education, and provide him books. He wastaught the common rudiments of learning at the school of Jedburgh, aplace which he delights to recollect in his poem of “Autumn;” but was notconsidered by his master as superior to common boys, though in thoseearly days he amused his patron and his friends with poeticalcompositions; with which, however, he so little pleased himself that onevery New Year’s Day he threw into the fire all the productions of theforegoing year. From the school he was removed to Edinburgh, where he had not resided twoyears when his father died, and left all his children to the care oftheir mother, who raised upon her little estate what money a mortgagecould afford; and, removing with her family to Edinburgh, lived to seeher son rising into eminence. The design of Thomson’s friends was to breed him a minister. He lived atEdinburgh, at a school, without distinction or expectation, till at theusual time he performed a probationary exercise by explaining a psalm.His diction was so poetically splendid, that Mr. Hamilton, the professorof divinity, reproved him for speaking language unintelligible to apopular audience; and he censured one of his expressions as indecent, ifnot profane. This rebuke is reported to have repressed his thoughts ofan ecclesiastical character, and he probably cultivated with newdiligence his blossoms of poetry, which, however, were in some danger ofa blast; for, submitting his productions to some who thought themselvesqualified to criticise, he heard of nothing but faults; but, findingother judges more favourable, he did not suffer himself to sink intodespondence. He easily discovered that the only stage on which a poetcould appear with any hope of advantage was London; a place too wide forthe operation of petty competition and private malignity, where meritmight soon become conspicuous, and would find friends as soon as itbecame reputable to befriend it. A lady who was acquainted with hismother advised him to the journey, and promised some countenance orassistance, which at last he never received; however, he justified hisadventure by her encouragement, and came to seek in London patronage andfame. At his arrival he found his way to Mr. Mallet, then tutor to thesons of the Duke of Montrose. He had recommendations to several personsof consequence, which he had tied up carefully in his handkerchief; butas he passed along the street, with the gaping curiosity of a newcomer,his attention was upon everything rather than his pocket, and hismagazine of credentials was stolen from him. His first want was a pair of shoes. For the supply of all hisnecessities, his whole fund was his “Winter,” which for a time could findno purchaser; till at last Mr. Millan was persuaded to buy it at a lowprice; and this low price he had for some time reason to regret; but, byaccident, Mr. Whately, a man not wholly unknown among authors, happeningto turn his eye upon it, was so delighted that he ran from place to placecelebrating its excellence. Thomson obtained likewise the notice ofAaron Hill, whom, being friendless and indigent, and glad of kindness, hecourted with every expression of servile adulation. “Winter” was dedicated to Sir Spencer Compton, but attracted no regardfrom him to the author; till Aaron Hill awakened his attention by someverses addressed to Thomson, and published in one of the newspapers,which censured the great for their neglect of ingenious men. Thomsonthen received a present of twenty guineas, of which he gives this accountto Mr. Hill:— “I hinted to you in my last that on Saturday morning I was with SirSpencer Compton. A certain gentleman, without my desire, spoke tohim concerning me: his answer was that I had never come near him.Then the gentleman put the question, if he desired that I should waiton him? He returned, he did. On this the gentleman gave me anintroductory letter to him. He received me in what they commonlycall a civil manner; asked me some common-place questions, and mademe a present of twenty guineas. I am very ready to own that thepresent was larger than my performance deserved; and shall ascribe itto his generosity, or any other cause, rather than the merit of theaddress.” The poem, which, being of a new kind, few would venture at first to like,by degrees gained upon the public; and one edition was very speedilysucceeded by another. Thomson’s credit was now high, and every day brought him new friends;among others Dr. Rundle, a man afterwards unfortunately famous, soughthis acquaintance, and found his qualities such that he recommended him tothe Lord Chancellor Talbot. “Winter” was accompanied, in many editions, not only with a preface anddedication, but with poetical praises by Mr. Hill, Mr. Mallet (thenMalloch), and Mira, the fictitious name of a lady once too well known.Why the dedications are, to “Winter” and the other Seasons, contrarily tocustom, left out in the collected works, the reader may inquire. The next year (1727) he distinguished himself by three publications: of“Summer,” in pursuance of his plan; of “A Poem on the Death of Sir IsaacNewton,” which he was enabled to perform as an exact philosopher by theinstruction of Mr. Gray; and of “Britannia,” a kind of poetical invectiveagainst the Ministry, whom the nation then thought not forward enough inresenting the depredations of the Spaniards. By this piece he declaredhimself an adherent to the Opposition, and had therefore no favour toexpect from the Court. Thomson, having been some time entertained in the family of Lord Binning,was desirous of testifying his gratitude by making him the patron of his“Summer;” but the same kindness which had first disposed Lord Binning toencourage him, determined him to refuse the dedication, which was by hisadvice addressed to Mr. Dodington, a man who had more power to advancethe reputation and fortune of a poet. “Spring” was published next year, with a dedication to the Countess ofHertford, whose practice it was to invite every summer some poet into thecountry, to hear her verses and assist her studies. This honour was onesummer conferred on Thomson, who took more delight in carousing with LordHertford and his friends than assisting her ladyship’s poeticaloperations, and therefore never received another summons. “Autumn,” the season to which the “Spring” and “Summer” are preparatory,still remained unsung, and was delayed till he published (1730) his workscollected. He produced in 1727 the tragedy of Sophonisba, which raised suchexpectation that every rehearsal was dignified with a splendid audience,collected to anticipate the delight that was preparing for the public.It was observed, however, that nobody was much affected, and that thecompany rose as from a moral lecture. It had upon the stage no unusualdegree of success. Slight accidents will operate upon the taste ofpleasure. There is a feeble line in the play:— “O Sophonisba, Sophonisba, O!”
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