T is commonly faid, that the life of a good writer is best read in his works; which can fcarce fail to receive a peculiar tincture from his temper, manners and habits: the diftinguifking character of his mind; his ruling paffion, at leaft, will there appear undisguised. But however juit is. obfervation may be; and although we might fafely reft Mr. Thomson's fame, as a good man, as well as a mån of genius, on this fole footing; yet the defire which the public always fhews of being more particu A 3 larly larly acquainted with the hiftory of an eminent author, ought not to be difappointed; as it proceeds not from mere curiofity, but chiefly from affection and gratitude to those by whom they have been entertained and inftructed. To give fome account of a deceased friend is often a piece of justice likewife, which ought not to be refused to his memory; to prevent or efface the impertinent fictions which officious Biographers are so apt to collect and propagate. And we may add, that the circumstances of an author's life will fometimes throw the beft light upon his writings; instances whereof we fhall meet with in the following pages. MR. Thomfon was born at Ednam, in the fhire of Roxburgh, on the 11th of September, in the year 1700. His father, minifter of that place, was but little known beyond the narrow circle of his co-prefbyters, and to a few gentlemen in the neighbourhood; but highly respected by them, for his piety, and his diligence in the pastoral duty: as appeared afterwards in their kind offices to his widow and orphan family. THE Reverend Meffrs. Riccarton and Gufthart particularly, took a most affectionate and friendly part in all their concerns. The former, a man of uncommon penetration and good tafte, had very early difcovered, through through the rudeness of young Thomson's puerile effays, a fund of genius well deferving culture and encouragement. He undertook therefore, with the father's approbation, the chief direction of his ftudies, furnished him with the proper books, corrected his performances; and was daily rewarded with the pleasure of feeing his labour so happily employed. THE other reverend gentleman, Mr. Gufthart, who is still living, one of the minifters of Edinburgh, and fenior of the Chapel Royal, was no less serviceable to Mrs. Thomson in the management of her little affairs; which, after the decease of her husband, burdened as fhe was with a family of nine children, required the prudent counfels and affiftance of that faithful and generous friend. SIR William Bennet likewise, well known for his gay humour and ready poetical wit, was highly delighted with our young poet, and used to invite him to pass the fummer vacation at his country feat: a fcene of life which Mr. Thomson always remembered with particular pleasure. But what he wrote during that time, either to entertain Sir William and Mr. Riccarton, or for his own amusement, he deftroyed every new year's day; committing his little pieces to the flames, in their due order; and crowning the folemnity with a copy of verses, in which were humorously recited the feverab grounds of their condemnation. AFTER the ufual courfe of school education, under an able master at Jedburgh, Mr. Thomson was sent to the University of Edinburgh. But in the fecond year of his admiffion, his ftudies were for fome time interrupted by the death of his father; who was carried off so suddenly, that it was not poffible for Mr. Thomson, with all the diligence he could use, to receive his last bleffing. This affected him to an uncommon degree; and his relations still remember fome extraordinary inftances of his grief and filial duty on that occafion. MRS. Thomson, whose maiden name was Hume, and who was co-heiress of a small eftate in the country, did not fink under this misfortune. She confulted her friend Mr. Gufthart; and having, by his advice, mortgaged her moiety of the farm, repaired with her family to Edinburgh; where fhe lived in a decent frugal manner, till her favourite fon had not only finished his academical courfe, but was even diftinguished and patronized as a man of genius. She was, herself, a perfon of uncommon natural endowments; poffeffed of every focial and domeftic virtue; with an imagination, for vivacity and warmth, fcarce inferior to her fon's, and which raised her devotional exercises to a pitch bordering on enthusiasm. BUT whatever advantage Mr. Thomson might derive from the complexion of his parent, it is certain he owed much to a religious education; and that his early |