beset out on foot for home, and was back at his father's manse (between fifty
and sixty miles distant) as soon as the man and the horse. When his parents
remonstrated with him respecting this disobedient conduct, he passionately observed that "he could study as well on the haughs of Sou'den [so Southdean is commonly pronounced] as in Edinburgh."[1] He was, nevertheless, prevailed upon to commence a course of study in Edinburgh.
In the second year of his attendance at the university, his studies were interrupted by the sudden death of his father. He was summoned home to receive his parent's dying benediction, but came too late. This circumstance Contributed to increase his sorrow, and his filial piety was expressed on this mournful occasion in instances of conduct which his surviving relations afterwards delighted to recollect.
His mother now realized as much as she could from her own little inheritance, and removed with her family to Edinburgh, in order to give them what persons of her rank in Scotland generally consider as the best of all endowments, a good education. James re-commenced his studies, and with some re- luctance was induced by his friends to enter upon a course of divinity, with the view of applying his talents to the church. After the usual attendance on the professor of theology, he delivered a probationary exercise in the hall; but his diction was so poetically splendid, that the professor reproved him for using language unintelligible to a popular audience; which so disgusted him with his theological pursuits, that he seems to have, soon after this event, resolved to abandon them. He had already contributed to a poetical volume, entitled the Edinburgh Miscellany, which was compiled by a society of young aspirants in verse who were attending the college, and among whom was David Mallet. About the same time he acted as tutor to lord Binning, the son of the sixth earl of Haddington, and himself a poet; to whom he had probably been introduced by his mother's friend, lady Grizzel Baillie, mother-in-law to his lordship, and whose "Memoirs" possess so much tender interest; who, finding him unlikely to do well in any other pursuit, advised him to try his fortune in London as a poet, and promised him some countenance and assistance. Accordingly, in the autumn of 1725, he took leave of his mother, whom he was never more to behold, and proceeded by sea to London, carrying with him little besides his poem of "Winter." On arriving in the metropolis, he found his way to his college friend Mallet, who then acted as preceptor to the two sons of the duke of Montrose; he also sought out Mr Duncan Forbes, afterwards president of the court of session, who, having conceived a favourable opinion of his talents in Scotland, was now disposed to promote his views by all means in his power. He was at first in considerable difficulties for the means of subsistence, and is found writing to an ancient friend of his family, the minister of Ancrum, for the loan of twelve pounds, in order to pay off some little debts he had contracted since his arrival in the metropolis, and to procure necessaries, till he should raise something by the sale of his deceased mother's lands of Whithope. By the friendly intervention of Mallet, a bookseller named Millar was induced to buy "Winter" at a low price, and it was accordingly published in 1726, with a dedication to Sir Spencer Compton, and several recommendatory verses by his friends. Though unnoticed for some time, it gradually attained that estimation which it has ever since maintained, and soon procured for the author the friendship of all the men then distinguished in literature. His acquaintance was sought by Dr Bundle, afterwards bishop of Derry, who recommended him to the lord chancellor Talbot. In 1727, he published another of his Seasons, "Summer," which he at first proposed dedicating to lord Binning, but eventually
- ↑ The editor is obliged for this curious anecdote to Mr Richmond.
