MALLET. 1698 ?-1765. Born in the Highlands of Scotland Educated at Edinburgh- Changes his name Made · Pub Pub Verbal lishes The Excursion,' a Poem Criticism' - Writes for the Stage - Made Under-Secretary to Frederick Prince of Wales Writes a Life of Bacon,' and undertakes a 'Life of the Duke of Marlborough' Publishes Amyntor and Theodora,' a Poem Seeks to blacken the memory of Pope Left Bolingbroke's Literary Executor His Pamphlet against Admiral Byng Obtains a Pension - Is twice married Death and Burial Works and Character. - OF DAVID MALLET, having no written memorial, I am able to give no other account than such as is supplied by the unauthorised loquacity of common fame, and a very slight personal knowledge. He was, by his original, one of the Macgregors, a clan that became, about sixty years ago, under the conduct of Robin Roy, so formidable and so infamous for violence and robbery that the name was annulled by a legal abolition,' and when they were all to denominate themselves anew, the father, I suppose of this author, called himself Malloch,* David Malloch was, by the penury of his parents, compelled to be janitor of the High School at Edinburgh,3 a mean office, Here is an error: the Clan Macgregor was outlawed long before Rob Roy's day, by an Act of the Privy Council of James I. in 1603. See Scott's Introduction to 'Rob Roy.' 2 The father, James Malloch, kept a small clachan, or publichouse, at Crieff, on the borders of the Highlands, where his son David was born cir. 1698. His mother's maiden name was Beatrix Clark. 3 Johnson's statement is confirmed by subsequent researches (see Steven's 'History of the High School of Edinburgh,' p. 89). Mallet studied at Aberdeen under Professor Ker; and Ker's kindness is spoken of in after-life with thankfulness by the pupil, in a series of interesting letters, printed in the European Magazine,' when under the direction of Isaac Reed. His first situation, after leaving Aberdeen, was that of tutor to the four sons (the of which he did not afterwards delight to hear. But he surmounted the disadvantages of his birth and fortune; for when [1723] the Duke of Montrose applied to the College of Edinburgh for a tutor to educate his sons, Malloch was recommended, and I never heard that he dishonoured his credentials." When his pupils were sent to see the world, they were entrusted to his care; and having conducted them round the common circle of modish travels, he returned with them to London, where, by the influence of the family in which he resided, he naturally gained admission to many persons of the highest rank and the highest character, to wits, nobles, and statesmen. 5 Of his works, I know not whether I can trace the series. His first production was William and Margaret,' of which, eldest under fourteen) of a Mr. Home, near Edinburgh. "He allows me my learning, clothes, and diet," he writes to Ker in Oct. 1720, "but no fixed salary." My encouragement is 301.; and because the Duke's family is in England, I am about the middle of August to depart for London, and from thence to Winchester.-MALLET to Ker, July, 1723. His first printed production was a Pastoral in the Miscellany of the Edinburgh wits, where Thomson's poetic puerilities first appeared. In 1721 he had completed a poem on the Transfiguration, "written," as he says to Ker, "in imitation of Milton's style, copying his epithets, his periods, and the elisions with which he abounds." Mallet's William and Margaret' was printed in Aaron Hill's Plain Dealer,' No. 36, July 24, 1724. In its original state it was very different from what it is in the last edition of his works.-JOHNSON. It first appeared in The Plain Dealer' as the probable production of “an Elizabethan writer; perhaps of Shakespeare himself." This piece of serviceable flattery drew, of course, a contradiction from Mallet. The gentleman is very young," writes Hill, "and received his education in the University of Edinburgh. He possesses so sincere a modesty that he declines being publicly named; but as he has obliged me with a letter containing the short history of an unhappy accident which gave occasion to his ballad, it will be an agreeable entertainment if I publish it as the author sent it me." As I have seen the letter nowhere save in its original publication. I have copied it for insertion here: TO THE PLAIN DEALER. SIR, Your Plain Dealer' of July 24th was sent me by a friend. I must own, after I had read it over, I was both surprised and pleased to find that a simple tale of my writing had merited the notice and approbation of the author of The Plain Dealer.' After what you have said of William and Margaret,' I flatter myself that though it contains nothing very striking or difficult, he has been envied the reputation, and plagiarism has been boldly charged, but never proved. Not long afterwards he published 'The Excursion' (1728), a desultory and capricious view of such scenes of Nature as his you will not be displeased with an account of the accident which gave birth to that ballad. Your conjecture that it was founded on the real history of an unhappy woman is true. A vain young gentleman had for some time professed love to a lady then in the spring of her life and beauty. He dressed well, spoke loud, and talked nonsense with spirit. She had good understanding; but was too young to know the world. I have seen her very often. There was a lively innocence in her look. She had never been addressed to by a man of sense, and therefore knew not how despicable and unsincere a fool is. In time he persuaded her there was merit in his passion-she believed him, and was undone. She was upon the point of bringing into the world the effect of her ill-placed love before her father knew the misfortune. Judge the sentiments of the good old man! Yet his affection outweighed his anger. He could not think of abandoning his child to want and infamy. He applied himself to her false lover with an offer of half his fortune; but the temper of the betrayer was savaged with cruel insolence. He rejected the father's offers, and reproached the innocence he had ruined with the bitterness of open scorn. The news was brought her when in a weak condition, and cast her into a fever; and in a few days after I saw her and her child laid in one grave together. It was some time after this that I chanced to look into a comedy of Fletcher's, called 'The Knight of the Burning Pestle.' The place I fell upon was where old Merrythought repeats these verses: When it was grown to dark midnight, And all were fast asleep, In came Margaret's grimly ghost, And stood at William's feet, which I fancy was the beginning of some ballad commonly known at the time this author wrote. These lines, naked of ornament, and simple as they are, struck my fancy; I closed the book, and bethought myself that the unhappy adventure I have mentioned above, which then came fresh into my mind, might naturally raise a tale upon the appearance of this ghost. It was then midnight. All round me was still and quiet. These concurring circumstances worked my soul to a powerful melancholy. I could not sleep. And at that time I finished my little poem, such as you see it here. If it continues still to deserve your approbation, I have my aim, and am, Sir, Your most obliged and most humble servant, [D. MALLOCH.] - Plain Dealer of Aug. 28, 1724. The ballad enclosed was the correct copy, such, I believe, as it is to be found with his Excursion' and collected Works. It fancy led him, or his knowledge enabled him, to describe. is not devoid of poetical spirit. Many of the images are striking, and many of the paragraphs are elegant. The cast of diction seems to be copied from Thomson, whose 'Seasons' were then in their full blossom of reputation. He has Thomson's beauties and his faults. 8 His poem on Verbal Criticism' (April, 1733) was written to pay court to Pope, on a subject which he either did not understand or willingly misrepresented; and is little more than an improvement, or rather expansion, of a fragment which 7 His letters to Ker throw some light on the history of The Excursion.' “I have now finished," he says (May, 1727), "and am preparing for the press against winter, a poem in two books, which I began last year in the country. The first book has been perused by Mr. Molyneux, the Prince's Secretary; by Mr. Hill, Dr. Young, &c. It is now in the hands of Mr. Dennis; and as soon as that dread critic has condemned or approved of it, I shall wait on you by the way of Edinburgh. I will try the town with this before I venture out a tragedy that I have been long meditating." By the July of the same year, it appears that Dennis had approved of it by letter, and that Mallet had sold it for twenty-five guineas. He was long in suspense to whom he should dedicate it. He had thought of the Duke of Dorset and the Earl of Scarborough, while it was yet in embryo; but since it had met with so much approbation in manuscript, he was preparing a dedication to the King, hoping by the influence of Molyneux and Montrose to gain an opportunity of introduction at Court. Pope procured him the situation of travelling tutor to the son of his friend and correspondent, Mrs. Newsham; an office of five years' continuance, spent in travelling abroad with profit and without expense. To prove to you how little essential to friendship I hold letter-writing, I have not yet written to Mr. Mallet, whom I love and esteem greatly; nay, whom I know to have as tender a heart, and that feels a friendly remembrance as long as any man. Pray send him the enclosed; 'tis all I can say, for (as I told you before) it makes me quite sick to be put upon the pikes, to be saying such things as can only be felt, not said."-POPE to Mrs. Newshamn. "May I never hope for the pleasure of hearing from you that you are well, and have not forgot me? By saying just that, and no more, you will give me the most agreeable piece of news I can receive or you yourself send. Believe me, I am in no treaty with Curll to furnish him any letters for his second volume. If he has no more influence with the clerks of the Post Office than with me, yours will come very safe, as it will be most welcome to, "Dear Sir, your most affectionate, faithful servant, "D. MALLET, "P.S. Mr. N. is extremely your humble servant; and we beg leave to send by you a thousand good wishes to Mrs. Blount for the continuance of her good humour and good health.”—MALLET to Pope. 'Gent.'s Mag.' for Oct. 1835. |