106 CHAPTER V. THIRD SESSION-CORRESPONDENCE. ONE of the first and most intimate acquaintances of young Campbell at College was James Thomson, a fellow-student from Lancashire, whose kindred genius and amiable disposition formed the bond of a friendship which increased with years, and continued, without interruption, until the Poet's death. To this congenial friend, Campbell addressed most of his early letters; and from these I shall be readily excused for introducing a few extracts, such as will better illustrate the young Poet's character, than any commentary from the pen of his biographer. They are all written in the full candour and confidence of unreserved friendship, and exhibit a faithful picture of the warm heart, and brilliant intellect of the youthful writer. The second from which I shall quote, was written while residing in the immediate neighbourhood of Glasgow, and engaged in a merchant's office, with the view of joining his brothers in Virginia. It appears, that "the employments" of the session had not been agreeable; but by employments is to No distance shall put an end to our epistolary correspondence. Our friendship, though begun in the years of youth, I trust, shall survive that period, and be immutably fixed in graver years.' [Letter, dated June 12, 1794.] This was truly predicted. It was to Mr. Thomson's order that two marble busts of the Poet were executed by Bailey, one of which he presented to the University of Glasgow, and retained the other in his own family. The admirable portrait of the Poet, by Sir Thomas Lawrence, an engraving of which is prefixed to this volume,-was also commissioned by this early friend. be understood "the necessity of giving elementary instruction to others." In every other respect the session had been auspicious. Two prizes had been awarded to him; one for his poem on "the Origin of Evil;" and another for various translations from the "Clouds" of His correspondence with Mr. Thomson Aristophanes. begins thus: TO MR. THOMSON. MY DEAR THOMSON, GLASGOW, April, 1794. I am ashamed to trouble you with apologies for delay in answering your last favour; I shall not, therefore, at present, urge the incessant labours of Professor Anderson's class, or the time-consuming pursuits of Euclid, as the smallest excuse for for my second procrastination. Negligent as I may have been in writing, I depend upon your friendship for forgiveness; I assure you, my silence arose not from any cessation of my esteem for your correspondence, or from the smallest diminution of my regard for you, but partly from interrupting circumstances, and partly from that particular flatness of spirits, which, even allowing I were at leisure, would make me a very sorry correspondent. Do not imagine from this that I have grown phlegmatic; perhaps I may be wrong in delaying the duties of friendship on account of any peculiar mood I may be in; yet I cannot help thinking it would be a very bad return for your animated correspondence, to trouble you with the common-place remarks of a humdrum fit. I suppose you are now fairly metropolised. I congratulate you, my dear friend, upon the opportunity you enjoy of being thus introduced into so wide a field for observation. "The proper study of mankind is man;' and in the metropolis of England, human nature is seen in its most variegated states and employments. be met with there, have given scope to the contemplative geniuses of many distinguished men. The great Johnson speaks much of the improvement to be reaped from residences in numerous societies; and to hear this from the mouth of so learned a man, may convince us that intercourse with mankind, as well as acquaintance with books, has its share in polishing the mind. I once imagined that agriculture had such an effect on the happiness of men, as entirely outstripped all the advantages of commerce ; but upon considering the tendency of commerce to bring men together, in more extensive circles than agriculture can do, I became more warm in my admiration of it; and I think it admits of no doubt that commerce humanises society. In your next, however, I expect to hear a more complete review of the benefits of commerce than my narrow observation has permitted me to take. If you are at present in London, I request the favour of a few remarks upon the general cast of its inhabitants. I have heard several accounts of its edifices, curiosities, manners, &c.; but I assure you, your observations, on whatever part of it you have hitherto seen, would afford me much pleasure. The ignorant, you know, may be excused for curiosity; and to one who has seen so little of the world, as I have been acquainted with, the shortest account of our metropolis could not fail to be interesting. The concourse of characters to Please to inform me how long you are to remain in London. Are you fixed in business, or only on a visit? What are the politics of London? Are they pacific, or warlike? Are the Englishmen still so mad as to wager that the King of Prussia and his victorious hussars will take Paris in six weeks? Such indeed was a wager laid, when the war commenced, at Change Alley. I thank you for your specimen of English Newspapers. The Scotch papers speak not so boldly of the fate of our Edinburgh convicts; but I have always esteemed the condemnation of Muir and Gerald, as the blackest stain upon Scotch Justice. Palmer is still in the faith-I had no hand in his conversion. Gregory Watt thanks you for the what-d'ye-call-'em; I forget chemical names. He knows nothing about the Strontites, nor can he procure any. But a friend of mine, Mr. Irvine, is at present in quest of some; he esteems it a very rare matter, and has promised to give me some, as soon as obtained, which I shall send by the carrier.dear friend, I have much to say, but must defer it till another opportunity. Be so good as excuse my long delay; write me soon, and you shall be speedily answered by your most faithful and affectionate T. C. -My TO MR. THOMSON. MY DEAR THOMSON, GLASGOW, May 17th, 1794. I am almost afraid that my last scribbles were so miserable as to be totally illegible, and so hurried as to give you disgust. I assure you, my dear friend, nothing has tended so much to make my late employments disagreeable, as the idea of not having it in my power to commence an epistolary correspondence, in which I promised myself so much pleasure. But I find myself now almost entirely at leisure; and happy indeed shall I be, if the many long "botherations" with which I intend to plague you this summer be answered in due turn by you. We are now settled in our new rural habitation, which, though by no means a lordly dome, affords us all the pleasure of being free from the smoke of Glasgow. Our windows look down upon a valley, which is at present very fresh and beautiful; but I need not describe the place to one who has seen it. I come into town regularly every morning at seven o'clock. My first resort is to the "Green" on purpose to listen to the "shrill fife or martial drum." When Gregory Watt comes out of the Greek class, I walk with him till breakfast, unless he be in a stubborn fit and refuses to go, in which case I must pace away solus. I threatened one day to tell the "Doctor" of his behaviour; it had no effect; but he is a very agreeable fellow when he chooses. We often-very often talk about you; indeed, I never hear well-played music but I think of the 'Doctor' and his flute; two very agreeable ideas without flattery. Remember to bring your sweet instrument along with you when you you return to Scotland. I hope in God you have no intention of staying at home after September. Professor Young left town yesterday.—I dined lately with him at our friend's grandfather's, where he sat at the head of the table.-Richardson and Jardine (Professors) are still in town; the former is a polite agreeable gentleman; the latter is a most worthy, honest man; he is neither proud nor partial. This you will find when you are his student. I believe, however, he is not nearly so good a chemist as the gentleman I alluded to; for I believe that Europe never produced his match for extracting copper from all substances, and chiefly from the pockets of his students. What a long letter have I written you, and not one word of poetry in it-surely, this is an insult to the Muse! Many a sheet of nonsense have I beside me; insomuch, that when my father comes into my room, he tells me I would be much better reading Locke, than scribbling so. I intended to have sent you an Ode upon Mr. Tait's poetical abilities just now; but shall postpone it till next time I write you—that is, when I answer your next letter. In the meantime receive a few lines upon Music; the subject was *The Doctor;' the class-name for their mutual friend, Thomson. |