from Edinburgh; and now, relieved from his late apprehensions, the Poet falls into a pleasant dream of the future, which he thus interprets :-"I received your welcome letter yesterday. I wish to heaven I could answer it. It is long, interesting, and, like yourself, the good old boy! But no-I am asleep! Nod I go; dead asleep. Here I dream a dream of futurity:-Bring the Mocha. My dear, will the pipes offend you?' 'Oh no, not at all; I like the smell of Oronoko.' Well--puff. . puff. puff... But pray, my dear, do spare my beautiful grate.' . [pause] 'Well, I do declare, Mr. Richardson, times are very bad; one can't have a family of daughters without amazing expence; and sons are so extravagant!' To be sure, Mr. Campbell; but your wife is a notable woman, and your daughters are so accomplished.' 'Why yes, poor things; but they want portions-that is, until my next epic poem is out [Long pause enter divers persons in male attire into the dreamer's brain, whom the Poet calls his friend's sons.] John, you are too young to marry !' 'Sir, my father married younger!' Ah-eh bienfoolish children! let Matilda have him.""

The Poet then awakes from his dream of future intermarriages, and remembering that his friend's letter contained an important announcement, thus concludes: "I wish you joy, my friend! Give my kiss by proxy to the fair intended. She will like the representative better than the constituent I delight to tell secrets. Frank Clason has published a large political tract, called An Appeal to the People of Great Britain, on Buonaparte's ambition-Motto, Tros Tyriusve,' &c. I want to surprise him with a review of it*

shall be done in three weeks."

.; and it T. C.

*The critique was intended for the Edinburgh Review.

ET. 26.]

PROFESSORSHIP AT WILNA-POLISH POLITICS.

7

Early in January this year, Campbell had the offer of an appointment abroad, which promised to ensure a permanent income, and thereby release him from entire dependence on the precarious gains of literature. The Regent's chair in the University of Wilna had just become vacant; and after consulting with his friends on the subject, he allowed his name to be sent in to the Russian minister as a candidate. The appointment, being lucrative as well as honourable, was soon an object of competition ; other candidates were named, and for some time the "Regentship" was contested between them in terms that evinced a keen political feeling. "The fame of Wilna," writes the Poet, "has been loud and popular; ingenuity, I suppose, affixed a certain name to the list of intended Regents. It was a good joke to him, but it is not true. For my part, I give you my word in confidence that I wish to go, although Paswan Oglou himself should go with me. A wife, and a boy in the box, are strong temptations to accept of any situation that offers sure support. The woods of Botany Bay were preferable to uncertainty at home."

's

It was desirable, however, that the wishes of Campbell should not be published until his election was secured. Any report of his being likely to quit the country would cancel his literary engagements, bring down his small creditors upon him, and expose him to various difficulties, from which it would be impossible to extricate himself at a day's notice. But, what weighed more with him, perhaps, than any other consideration, was the dread of being unsuccessful; and, as his rivals could cite passages from “The Pleasures of Hope," which would be no recommendation to him as a professor in Wilna, he was far from being sanguine as to the result. It was hardly to be expected that the Russian censor would be more indulgent

to the Poet, than he had been to his poems; and, as the weapons he had formerly discharged in the service of Poland, might now be returned with interest, he became less anxious to push the question.

In the meantime, however, the secret transpired; and the petty vexations to which he was consequently exposed, give a painful interest to his letters :-" Mr. " he says, "he "hearing, I suppose, of my outlandish appointment, refused my mother twenty pounds at my demand. Will you, my dear fellow, give her ten; for it requires five to make up her half year's annuity;* and she will require five more to send to Glasgow. That name calls up the bitterest feelings of reflection, occasioned by an event which I mention to you in confidence. I have this day received a letter, anonymously written in a female hand, signed by a member of the Glasgow Female Society,' upbraiding me in the grossest terms, 'for abandoning a 'near relation' to poverty and distress!' This relation,' it says, 'has none to support her.'

*

*

6

* * * * *

*

Now, if this letter be written at the instance, or founded on the complaints of that relation, it is the very person with whom I have, year after year, divided my last guinea!

As to my mother, it is hard to blame her for not supporting others, when she cannot support herself. And me, who, in labouring for scanty bread, can barely afford an income to my mother, it seems still more ungenerous to load with claims and reproaches so entirely overwhelming. It is not— as. God is my witness-possible for me to answer for

本

Mrs. Campbell's annuity was withdrawn at her husband's death; she had previously given up for the benefit of his creditors all that she derived from her father; and from that time she was supported almost exclusively by the Poet, her youngest son. Of the lady referred to in the text, some account has been given in the Introductory Chapter, Vol. I.; but there is no ground to believe that the heartless letter complained of was written with her knowledge.

ÆT. 26.]

WILNA-INTERVIEW WITH THE MINISTER.

9

a double annuity, and the little I give to my mother will not bear division. All this I must explain to the edification of the Glasgow Society, before I can wrest my name from the reproach of being unnatural; but one feels reluctant to publish one's poverty, even in vindication of character"

Nihil habet infelix paupertas durius in se
Quam quod ridiculos homines facit.

But to return to Wilna. In aspiring to this appointment, Campbell had the support of Lord Minto, Lord Holland, Professor Dugald Stewart, and other men of note and influence; and with their advice, he had interviews with the Russian Minister, one of which is thus recorded:

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD MINTO.

MY LORD,

LONDON, February 29th, 1804.

I called immediately after seeing your Lordship on Smirnowe, the great High Priest-he is more than six feet high-of the Russian legation. He seems, on further acquaintance, to be a good-natured, sensible man; and to have considerable respect for the literature of this country, particularly for the writings of Dugald Stewart. He talked of my poetry! The Count W., I suppose, has been asking after the character of my Muse. Mackintosh referred him to a volume of my printed poems; and what I suspect is, that, if they fall into his hands, he will propose sending me to Siberia instead of Wilna, for the passage* about Poland. Finding Smirnowe somewhat liberal in his politics, I asked his opinion, fairly but con

* See "Pleasures of Hope," Part I.

fidentially, how far this passage might affect me? He promised, upon his honour, to read the passage, and give me his best judgment, whether it be likely to affect me or not. The man looks so very honest, that I have no doubt of his telling me sincerely what he thinks of it, and what his brother Muscovites are likely to think of it. It is better to know this at home, than when I have been appointed to the office. The detection of having written such a passage, if it came too late, might bring me to the knout, or send me in a sledge to Kamschatka! So I think open conduct is the best policy in this case.

I have the honour to be,

With

every sentiment of respect, &c.,

T. CAMPBELL.

Shortly after the date of this letter, his ardour in the canvass was farther damped by "fears of an involuntary trip to Siberia!" He foresaw that if installed in the University of Wilna, he could never, without dereliction of principle, inculcate any opinions but those to which he had already given emphatic utterance in his poems. Before he had weighed the question maturely, he thought otherwise; he imagined that if once firmly seated in the chair, he might have promoted the "regeneration of Poland,” and thus realised the wish nearest his heart. But a little reflection taught him that such a course must have involved him in certain ruin. All further negotiations were therefore discontinued; he preferred the honour of advocating at home the cause of an oppressed people, who could only thank him in their prayers, to the emoluments of this, or any other post in the gift of Russia. In this resolution he was confirmed by the approbation of his friends, through whose influence he had the offer of another academical chair, which would have amply indem