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mentioning my reasons for retracting from my views of going to America. The advice of my eldest brother, and that of my brother Robert,* prevailed over my inclination. I have it still ultimately in view, though God knows in what different shapes. I shall be forced to pursue my business," until the time arrive when I can go out on a truly respectable and agreeable footing. I think of leaving this city soon, so that you may address either to the College, or Charlotte-street, Glasgow. I have been much disappointed that you have not fulfilled your journey to Scotland. The summer is not quite spent, so that I may still entertain some hopes; but my mind is very uneasy, and must be so until I hear from you. How can it be otherwise, when you are so long silent? If you be alive, and still my friend, I am happy-and believe me, I am still yours T. C.

The "business," to which he refers in this letter, was that of private tuition; and, as all duties of this kind were usually suspended at the termination of the summer classes, he was looking forward to an emancipation of several weeks, which were to be spent in revisiting Glasgow and the neighbourhood. His private studies, however, were of a nature that did not allow him any protracted relaxation. While proceeding with his Poem, he had taken much pains with a critical revision of one or two of the Greek tragic poets, a small edition of which he intended to publish with original notes. This undertaking was encouraged by an Edinburgh bookseller; and it is probable that, between the text of Eschylus, and the "Pleasures of Hope," he fairly divided the ensuing vacation. His visit to the West Country, which took place in July, was the last to his

*For a notice of these two brothers see introductory chapter, pp. 20, 23-4.

father's house in Glasgow. Arrangements were now concluded for the safe transfer of the household gods to Edinburgh, where a small house was engaged for their reception, at St. John's Hill.* Under less encouraging circumstances, the propriety of such a step might have been justly questioned; but, finding that Edinburgh was to be the field of his literary exertions, Campbell was desirous to have his parents beside him. "He had the prospect of spending a happy winter; he had enlarged and liberal views of rising in life;" and to see them participating in his better fortune, would double the enjoyment. The old people, too, had been long watching for the rising sun, to finish the last stage of their pilgrimage; and, thinking they could now perceive visible tokens of his approach, they joyfully prepared to meet him in the east.+

To the reader it may appear a forced association; yet I never think of this episode in the Poet's history, but the old story of Æneas and the venerable Anchises is immediately presented to my mind.

+ In a letter from Mrs. Campbell, the Poet's mother, to her second son, Alexander, in Demerara, and written in October of this year, I find various allusions to the state of family affairs. The following are extracts :-" You cannot imagine, my dear Sandy, what pleasure it gives your father and me to hear of your welfare. Your father has given up corresponding with everybody; [he was then eighty-eight] but if you direct for me, 'Mrs. Campbell, of Kirnan,' [see page 13] it will find either of us that may be alive. You will find in me a regular correspondent, and an affectionate mother. I wish to God I could give you an invitation to come home to a wealthy father and mother's house! But that is not in my power. You may be assured that it would be one of the greatest blessings that the Almighty could bestow, to see you under our roof. I thank God that we have both the regard and esteem of all our connexions and acquaintances. I have had very little to depend on but my own industry [pages 17, 18] since your father gave up business-now near seventeen years ago with an eightsome family to provide for. I have furnished a small house for Elizabeth [see page 22] and there she is mistress. Daniel [see page 26] is in business, and I assure you is doing very well; and your father's opinion and mine is, that if you determine to come home, you could not do better than by putting part of your money into his concern; but this, my dear Sandy, is what we will not urge, as you must be the best judge of this

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But as the removal on which they had resolved, was not to commence until the Martinmas following, Campbell prolonged his visit to Glasgow, and divided the time between his friends and the Muses. Among other localities "endeared to young remembrance," he again visited the scenes of his childhood," on the River Cart. On taking final leave of this scene, he composed the following "Lines," a copy of which he gave to his friend, Mr. Richardson. As it is interesting to observe the train of feeling then passing through the Poet's mind, I have ventured, notwithstanding a previous quotation from it, to present the whole poem as it stands in the manuscript

"O, scenes of my childhood, and dear to my heart,
Ye green waving woods, on the banks of the Cart!
How oft in the morning of life I have strayed
By the stream of the vale, and the grass-covered glade!
Then-then, every rapture was young and sincere,
Ere the sunshine of life had been dimmed by a tear;
And a sweeter delight every scene seemed to lend,
That the mansion of peace was the home of a friend.
Now, the scenes of my childhood, and dear to my heart,
All pensive I visit, and sigh to depart ;

Their flowers seem to languish-their beauty to cease;
For a stranger inhabits the mansion of peace!
But hushed be the sigh, that untimely complains,
While Friendship, with all its enchantment, remains-
While it blooms like the flower of a winterless clime,
Untainted by chance, unabated by time!"

T. C.

matter. We have had no letters from Archy since last fall [end of autumn]. He was well then, and sent us a present of twenty-five pounds. Mary and Tom are well. Your worthy father joins me in saying, may the ALMIGHTY bless our dear Sandy! Believe me to be, with tender affection, Margaret Campbell."

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CHAPTER XI.

THE PLEASURES OF HOPE.

ON his return to Edinburgh, his progress with the "Pleasures of Hope" had been so satisfactory, that, in the opinion of one or two confidential friends, it was now ready for the press. It was proposed, therefore, to publish it by subscription; and all his young companions were ready to make every exertion in his favour. It does not appear, however, that Campbell, in this proposal, acted upon the advice of his seniors in criticism; but as the manuscript had passed the ordeal in some of the minor coteries, the step was considered safe and judicious. The only point that now remained to be settled was, to provide sufficient funds to defray the expenses of printing. This required some time and consideration; and, while Campbell was meditating on the subject, he received a visit from Mr. Thomas Robertson, one of those private friends who were in the secret. In his retrospective notes of this year, he thus expresses himself:-"I had a friend at this time, whose kindness I shall never forget." "He had

I

seen the manuscript of The Pleasures of Hope,' and calling on me one morning, he said-Campbell, if you need money for the printing of the Poem, my purse is at your service. How much will it cost?' At a random guess said 'fifteen pounds.' 'But, my dear fellow,' I added, 'God only knows when I may be able to repay you!' Never mind that,' he replied, and left me the money.

But for the fifteen pounds I had a hundred and fifty calls more pressing than the press itself."*

Under these circumstances, which had been rendered urgent by recent disappointments from a literary connection, the scheme of printing the Poem by subscription was abandoned. Before the seventh of November, however, he consulted his friend, Dr. Anderson, whose experience as an author gave peculiar weight to his advice on this point. The manuscript was then shown to Mr. Mundell, the only man in the trade "with whom the Poet had any profitable transactions ;" and after some discussion between Dr. Anderson and the publisher, as to the merits and chances of the Poem; "the copyright of my Pleasures of Hope,'" says Campbell, "worth an annuity of two hundred pounds for life,+ was sold out and out for sixty pounds," in money and books. "But on this subject let me not forget," he adds, “that for two or three years the publishers and purchasers of my Poem gave me fifty pounds on every new edition." Some further particulars of this transaction are thus stated by Dr. Irving, who has taken much pains to investigate the subject :

When the Poem was completed, his friend, Dr. Anderson, was again ready to negotiate with Mundell,

* On reminding Mr. Robertson of this circumstance, as recorded by the Poet, I was informed through their mutual friend, Mr. Richardson, that the fact regarding the money had escaped his memory; but, admitting that it happened as described, he thinks the amount of kindness greatly overstated. This is honourable both to borrower and lender-in the latter to forget, in the former to remember. The sum may possibly have been inaccurately stated; but whether it was five or fifteen pounds, the obligation in the Poet's mind was the He was the last to ask a pecuniary favour, but the first to acknowledge it when received. It was usual with Campbell to look at the merits of his friends, through a powerful magnifier; and to reverse the glass when he looked at his own.

same.