ET. 19.] FAMILY CIRCLE AT DOWNIE-POLITICS. 163 which characterized him through life, collisions between Whig and Tory were not unfrequent in their evening conversations, and were little to the taste of the ladies, who, with all respect for the cleverness of the preceptor, entertained a natural partiality for the opinions and the supremacy of their father. I never understood, however, that these disputes led to any permanent bitterness of feeling between the parties; they honored the Poet while he resided under their roof, and delighted to talk of him after he had left them. At the time I occupied his room in the Bachelor's wing, his celebrity was unrivalled. His character, his walks, the manifestations of extraordinary genius which he displayed-everything, in short, that was likely to occur to the inmates of a house, from which so distinguished a guest had recently gone forth, were the daily subjects of conversation, and were listened to by them with that extreme delight, which an enthusiastic admiration of the Poet's genius naturally inspired."* The poem of "Glenara" was suggested to Campbell by the following tradition :-Maclean of Duart, having determined to get rid of his wife, "Ellen of Lorn," had her treacherously conveyed to a rock in the sea, where she was left to perish with the rising tide. He then announced to her kinsmen "his sudden bereavement," and invited them to join in his grief. In the mean time, the lady was accidentally rescued from the certain death that awaited her and restored to her father. Her husband, little suspecting what had happened, was suffered to go through the solemn mockery of a funeral. At last, when the bier rested at the "grey stone of her cairn,”— "I dreamt of my lady, I dreamt of her shroud' Cried a voice from the kinsmen, all wrathful and loud; When the shroud was unclosed, and no lady was seen!" The inquest was brief. Maclean, it is added, was instantly sacrificed by the Clan Dougal, and thrown into the ready-made grave. *For this communication, which I have reluctantly abridged, I am indebted to the Rev. Thomas Wright, who, by his temporary residence, as the Poet's successor at Downie, ably supported the classical interest which that circumstance had awakened. CHAPTER VIII. RETURN TO GLASGOW. THE term of his engagement with Mr. Campbell of Downie being completed, the Poet returned, with no cheering prospect, to his father's house. The present moments were embittered by anxieties but the hope which had hitherto sustained his courage under so many disappointments did not desert him; although the expectation of seeing his fortunes improve, was still vague and unsatisfactory. His mind, so highly sensitive and so easily affected by the complexion of his fortunes, had latterly acquired a morbid degree of excitability, which the solitude of the place, and the severity of his studies, had evidently increased. His health was on the point of giving way, and, as may be inferred from the tone of his letters, was seriously impaired. Unless when roused by the conversation of his old college friends, his former energy appeared to have forsaken him; and, when left to himself, the only thoughts passing through his mind were those of gloom and despondency. This, however, was not merely the result of ill health, but of that natural temperament of genius, which was never, perhaps, more clearly defined than in the character of the Poet. The imaginative faculty had been so unremittingly cultivated, that circumstances, trifling in themselves, had acquired undue influence over his mind, and been rendered formidable by an exaggeration, of which he was at the moment unconscious. Hence various difficulties, which industry might have overcome, assumed to his eye the appearance of insurmountable obstacles. Without resolution to persevere, or philosophy to submit to the force of necessity, he drew from everything around him, with morbid ingenuity, some melancholy presage of the future. He was dissatisfied with himself, chilled by the world's neglect, and greatly hurt by the apathy of friends, who had extolled his merits, but left him to pine in obscurity. Thus alternately excited and depressed, he was at last relieved by an attack of fever, which, by calling the physical powers into action, gave a check to the current of his imagination. ET. 19.] LETTERS FROM THE POET'S SISTER-HIS TITLE. 165 Yet, with all his extreme sensibility, Campbell united great strength of mind, great fortitude of endurance. With him "to bear was to conquer his fate;" but to carry his maxim into practice, cost him many an unrecorded, but severe struggle. His virtue was passive: the little dark clouds in his horizon, he was too apt to contemplate as symptoms of a storm, the danger or inconvenience of which he chose rather to abide with stoic indifference, than avoid by seasonable retreat. Once fairly roused, however, no youth could do more, few so much as Campbell. But the excitements of college life had now subsided, and with them the stimulus to exertion. He had won for himself a high name and standing in the University; but the pleasure of having conquered, was alloyed by the reflection that there was nothing more to conquer. Then arose the question in his own mind, "What have all these academical honors procured for me?" To this, as it regarded the future, no satisfactory answer could be given. Yet, in the midst of all these discouraging circumstances, there was a silent current-the motion and tendency of which he did not perceive-that was bearing him slowly, but steadily forward. Little did he then imagine, while painting to his friends the very unpromising aspect of his affairs, that he was already standing on the threshold of fame; and that before many months elapsed, he would occupy one of the highest niches in the temple of living poets. To show with what affection the young student was regarded in the family circle, and in what estimation he was held by his townsmen, I quote a letter, written by his sister Elizabeth to their brother Alexander, in Demerara. It is dated a short time before Campbell's return from Downie, and confirms the tradition, that ever since the public reading of his "Essay on the Origin of Evil," at the close of the previous session, he was familiarly addressed by his fellow students, as the "Pope" of Glasgow: "Thomas has attended the College near six* years, is per * In explanation of this apparent inaccuracy, it is to be noted that, having matriculated at College in the winter of 1790-91, he may have attended the junior Humanity Class. But of that session I find no traces in the memoranda left for my information. His actual and regular at tendance at College began on the 1st of November, 1791, and continued at the rate of six months annually, until the 1st of May, 1796. The six years mentioned by his sister include that session in which he was first enrolled at the age of thirteen. His attendance at the High School, under the care of Mr. Allison, began on the 10th of October, 1785, when he was eight years and two months old. [1797. fectly master of the languages, and last year he studied law. That is the line he means to pursue, and what I think nature has just fitted him for. He is a fine public speaker, and I make no doubt will make a figure at the bar. He attended the College through the winter, and these two summers past has been in the Highlands, where he is much esteemed. He has a remarkable genius for poetry; has written many beautiful pieces, which have gained him the appellation of "the Pope of Glasgow." His personal accomplishments keep pace with those of his mind; and the sweetness of his manners renders him a most endearing relation indeed. Judge, then, what my happiness is in having such a brother; one, too, that loves me as much as it is possible. I regret that he is not at home just now, that he might write by this opportunity-but you shall hear from him.* ELIZABETH CAMPBELL." In the preceding extract some allowance will be made for a sister's partiality; but of his career at the University there is only one opinion among his surviving contemporaries; all concur in offering him the tribute of unfeigned regard and admiration. It is needless, therefore, to multiply evidence, or assert what has never been disputed; but I cannot resist the pleasure of quoting a passage from "Personal Recollections of the Poet," by a distinguished friend and class-fellow. Campbell and I," says the Rev. Dr. Muir, "entered the University at the same time, and prosecuted our studies together for several years. During the whole course he was a favorite with all the students who knew him, and in the department of Philosophy, he was allowed to be one whom Homer would have described as desirous * The other particulars in this letter respecting the loss of her brother James, and the position of the elder brothers, give an interesting confirmation to what has been already stated in the introductory chapter. Alexander and John Campbell, who had recently died in Jamaica, were the Poet's maternal uncles. The following is an extract from the same letter:"I heard lately from Archibald; he and Robert are both well; they are still in the same place in Virginia, that is, in Charlotteville, about forty miles from Petersburgh; they have both had their difficulties, but are now in a better way of business. John still follows the seafaring way. My dear brother James's death was, indeed, an unfortunate event. He was drowned in the Clyde in attempting to swim. He was a very promising boy, about thirteen years old; was remarkably clever, and a fine scholar. Your uncle Sandy, in Jamaica, died six years ago, and left about £12,000. Your uncle John's eldest son is since dead, and his widow now possesses the estate. Your uncle John is likewise dead; his widow, two sons and a daughter, now live in Edinburgh. E. C." ÆT. 19.] PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF CAMPBELL. ἀεὶ ἀριστεύειν και ἔξοχος ἔμμεναι άλλων. 167 Campbell's attainments to classical learning-even in those early days-were often mentioned with approbation in public, by the elegant-minded Professor Richardson. When his poetical translations from the 'Medea of Euripides' came to be read in the Greek class, by that profound grammarian and master of manly elocution, Mr. Young, both professor and students, with one consent, voted to Mr. Campbell the praise of being, in the department of Poetry-facile princeps. This praise, however, seemed to have impaired the lustre of his remaining career; for in the severer studies of mathematics and philosophy, although distinguished, he did not excel. This, however, resulted much less from want of talent, than from want of that industry and perseverance which alone insure success; so that it seemed as if the praise he merited and received in the Language Classes had led him to form the idea that perseverance and industry were requisite only in meaner minds. Like a poet, indeed, 'qui nascitur non fit,' he possessed discernment of character in no ordinary degree; and although the poignancy of his wit was felt by some, when he chose to give expression to his contempt of what was weak or worthless in human character, yet the suavity of his manners, the ease and even grace with which he spoke in common conversation, and the entire absence of pedantry in his words and demeanor, much endeared him to ús all. The indolence, incident to our fallen nature, was felt indeed and shown even by our youthful Poet. He seldom exercised his gift, except when roused into action, either by the prospect of gaining a prize, or by some stirring incident among the students. But once roused, he would produce couplets of verses, impromptu, in the midst of his fellows, which were allowed by all to be in excellent point." I now resume the narrative. After his return to Glasgow, young Campbell made sundry ineffectual efforts to discover a road to independence; but neither his own acknowledged talents, nor the countenance of the professors, could procure for him any situation of permanent value. The patronage of the College, indeed, could only benefit the Poet, by recommending him as an accomplished scholar; but as he had now relinquished all intention of entering the Church, and felt an invincible repugnance to the duties of a domestic tutor, he was no longer within the sphere of its influence. His intercourse with the Professors, nevertheless, continued on the best terms; and he made every effort to reflect honor on that |