The Poets and Poetry of Scotland

THE POETS AND POETRY OF SCOTLAND. PERIOD 1777 TO 1876. THOMAS CAMPBELL Born 1777 — Died 1844. THOMAS CAMPBELL, so justly and himself of the instructions of the celebrated poetically called the "Bard of Hope," was Heyne, and attained such proficiency in Greek bom in High Street, Glasgow, July 27, 1777, and the classics generally that he was re- and was the youngest of a family of eleven garded as one of the best classical scholars of children. His father was connected with good his day. In speaking of his college career, families in Argyleshire, and had carried on a which was extended to five sessions, it is prosperous trade as a Virginian merchant, but worthy of notice that Professor Young, in met with heavy losses at the outbreak of the awarding to Campbell a prize for the best American war. The poet was particularly translation of the Clouds of Aristophanes, pro- fortunate in the. intellectual character of his nounced it to be the best exercise which had parents, his father being the intimate friend of ever been given in by any student belonging the celebrated Dr. Thomas Reid, author of the to the university. In original poetry he Inquiry into the. Human Mind, after whom he was also distinguished above all his class- received his Christian name, while his mother mates, so that in 1793 his "Poem on Descrip- was distinguished by her love of general litera- tion" obtained the prize in the logic class. ture, combined with sound understanding and Amongst his college companions Campbell a refined taste. Campbell afforded early indi- soon became known as a poet and wit; and on cations of genius; as a child he was fond of one occasion, the students having in vain made ballad poetry, and at the age of ten composed repeated application for a holiday' in commem- verses exhibiting the delicate appreciation of oration of some public event, he sent in a peti- the graceful flow and music of language for tion in verse, with which the professor was so which his poetry was afterwards so highly dis- pleased that the holiday was granted in com- tinguished. At the age of thirteen he entered pliment to his production. This incident was the university of his native city, and though often referred to in after years by his affectionate noted for his love of fun and bovish mischief, mother, as the first-fruits of his poetical genius. he made great progress, especially in his clas- For some years our author pursued his studies sical studies. The example of Professor Young, with the avowed object of entering the ministry, a most enthusiastic and accomplished Greek but circumstances of which we have no authentic scholar, was not lost upon the congenial mind account induced him to change his plan. He of his pupil, whose poetical translations at this applied himself for a short time to business, period showed not only his mastery over the but .soon gave it up, to proceed to the Highlands Greek language, but the power he already as a private tutor. Tiiere he found a happy possessed over his own. At a later period of home, and beautiful and romantic scenery to life, when travelling in German v, he availed delight his poetic fancy, and there we can trace Vol. II.—x\ THOMAS CAMPBELL. the germs of Iiis first great poem. In writing young poet of twenty-one was at once accorded to his friend Hamilton Paul, Campbell had an honourable position in the front rank of the bemoaned his solitary lot in being so far re- poets of Great Britain. moved from all his family and friends, and Though his reward was rather in cele- begged him to send him some lines calculated brity than in pecuniary profit, Campbell was to cheer him. Paul sent him a piece consisting enabled by the publication of the "Plea- of twelve stanzas, entitled the "Pleasures of sures of Hope," for each succeeding edition Solitude," accompanied by a letter, in which of which he received the sum of £50, to gra- he says: "As you have almost brought your- tify his desire to see foreign lands. His self to the persuasion that you are an an- choice settled upon Germany, already become chorite, I send you a few lines adapted to the famous in Scotland by its rising literature and condition of a recluse. It is the sentiment of the works of AVieland, Klopstock, Schiller, and Dr. Moore, that the best method of making a Goethe. He crossed over to Hamburg and man respectable in the eyes of others is to re- proceeded inland as far as Eatisl)on, where he .spect himself Take the lines, such as they are, saw the conflict that gave to the French posses- and be candid, but not too flattering. We sion of that town, and which he describes in a have now three pleasures, by first-rate men of letter to his brother. Amidst the uncertainties genius: the 'Pleasures of Imagination,' the produced by the war the poet's rambles were 'Pleasures of Memory,' and the 'Pleasures of brief and irregular. He returned to Hamburg, Solitude,' let us cherish the 'Pleasures of where he made the acquaintance of Anthony Hope' that we may soon meet again in old M'Cann, an Irish refugee who was accused of Alma Mater." Trivial as was the hint con- being a leader in the rebellion of 1798. Of this tained in the foregoing, the circumstances gentleman he formed a favourable impression, under whicii it reached Campbell caused and his expatriation from his native land sug- it to produce a powerful eflfect on his future gested one of Campbell's most exquisite poems. career. Placed among the grandest scenery Our author finally settled for the winter at of Scotland, and without suflicient means of Altona, but the appearance of a British fleet oflF mental occupation, he spent much of his time the Sound gave him sudden warning to provide in visiting the romantic localities of the neigh- for his safety. He therefore embarked in a bourhood, while the words " Pleasures of Hope" small trading vessel for Leith; but, in conse- tilled his mind, and at length ripened into the quence of being chased by a Danish privateer, full fruition of his splendid poem. the vessel put into Yarmouth for shelter. A Campbell had also tried the study of law, trip to London naturally followed, where he was but after a brief experience of its drudgery he at once welcomed by the best society. Eeturn- abandoneil the idea of the legal profession; ing to Edinburgh by sea, after a brief sojourn and in \'W we find him in Edinburgh, along in the capital, he Avrites in his memoranda of with his parents, in the hope of obtaining 1801: "A lady passenger by the same ship, literary employment, and gaining a livelihood who has read my poems, but was personally meanwhile liy private teaching. " And now," unacquainted with me, told me, to my utter he says of himself, " I lived in the Scottish astonislimont, that I had been arrested in metropolis by instructing pupils in Greek and London for high-treason, was confined to the Latin. In this vocation I made a comfortable Tower, and expected to be executed! I was livelihood as long as I was industrious. equally unconscious of having either deserved Hut | tiie ' Pleasures of Hope ' came over me. I took or incurred such a sentence." He found, how- long walks about .Vrthur's Seat, conning over ever, on reaching Edinburgh, that this ridicu- my own (as I thought them) magnificent lous report was circulating in the streets, and lines, ' and as my Pleasures of Hope ' got had reached the ears of his anxious mother. on my pupils fell off." At length his poem It was a wild period of rumour and suspicion, was completed and sold to a publisher for and he found that the fact of his having £60. On its appearance it was received messed with the French officers at Itatisbon Avith a universal outburst of admiration, and during the armistice, having been introduced edition after edition was rapidly sold. The to General Moreau, and having sailed as a THOMAS CAMPBELL. 3 f.'Uow-passcnger with an Irishman, had been that she has given to infants—a sweetness of amplified into a plot concocted between him- smell more delightful than all the treasures self, the gallant Moreau, and the Irish at of Arabia. AVhat adorable beauties of God Hamburg, to land a French army in Ireland! and nature's bounty we live in without know- He at once called upon the sherift' of Edin- ing! How few have ever seemed to think an burgh, and found to his astonishment tiiat infant beautiful! But to me there seems to he believed in his guilt, and that a warrant be a beauty in the earliest dawn of infancy, was issued for his apprehension. This was which is not inferior to the attractions of intolerable, and the poet could not help ex- childhood—especially when they sleep. Their claiming, "Do I live to hear a sensible man looks excite a more tender train of emotions. like you talking about a boy like me conspiring It is like the tremulous anxiety we feel for a against the British Empire?" He submitted candle new lighted, which we dread going to a strict examination, and a box of letters out." Such was an event, which, though an and papers which he had left at Yarmouth to important era in the life of every man, is be forwarded to Edinburgh, but which had especially so in that of a poet; and such is been seized at Leith, was at the same time the description which none but a poet, and opened and carefully examined.

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