late publication with his other poems. It would have been pleasing to have an opportunity of comparing the two best translations that perhaps were ever produced by one nation of the same author. Pitt engaging as a rival with Dryden, naturally observed his failures, and avoided them; and, as he wrote after Pope's "Iliad," he had an example of an exact, equable, and splendid versification. With these advantages, seconded by great diligence, he might successfully labour particular passages, and escape many errors. If the two versions are compared, perhaps the result would be, that Dryden leads the reader forward by his general vigour and sprightliness, and Pitt often stops him to contemplate the excellence of a single couplet; that Dryden's faults are forgotten in the hurry of delight, and that Pitt's beauties are neglected in the languor of a cold and listless perusal; that Pitt pleases the critics, and Dryden the people; that Pitt is quoted, and Dryden read. He did not long enjoy the reputation which this great work deservedly conferred; for he left the world in 1748, and lies buried under a stone at Blandford, on which is this inscription: In memory of CHR. PITT, clerk, M.A. for his talents in poetry; and yet more for the universal candour of his mind, and the primitive simplicity of his manners. He lived innocent, and died beloved, Apr. 13, 1748, Mr. Cunningham remarks here," Whoever is curious to know more about Christopher Pitt should turn to his letters in Hughe's Correspondence." THOMSON. AMES THOMSON, the son of a minister well esteemed JAME 2 for his piety and diligence, was born September 7, 1700, at Ednam, in the shire of Roxburgh, of which his father was pastor. His mother, whose name was Hume,' inherited as co-heiress a portion of a small estate. The revenue of a parish in Scotland is seldom large; and it was probably in commiseration of the difficulty with which Mr. Thomson supported his family, having nine children, that Mr. Riccarton, a neighbouring minister, discovering in James uncommon promises of future excellence, undertook to superintend his education, and provide him books. 3 4 He was taught the common rudiments of learning at the school of Jedburg, a place which he delights to recollect in his poem of "Autumn"; but was not considered by his master as superior to common boys, though in those early days he amused his patron and his friends with poetical compositions; with which however he so little pleased himself, that on every new-year's day he threw into the fire all the productions of the foregoing year. From the school he was removed to Edinburgh, where Thomson's mother's maiden name was Trotter. See Boswell's Johnson, vol. iii. p. 356. 2 Widehope in the county of Roxburgh. 3 Mr. Riccaltoun. "Mr. Rickelton's poem on Winter, which I still have, first put the design into my head. In it are some masterly strokes that awakened me." Thomson to Cranston, Sept. 1725. Ald. T. vol. i. P. xxviii. |