Slike strani
PDF
ePub

mencement of this benevolence is very honourable to Quin; who is reported to have delivered Thomson, then known to him only for his genius, from an arrest, by a very confiderable prefent; and its continuance is honourable to both; for friendship is not always the fequel of obligation. By this tragedy a confiderable fum was raised, of which part discharged his debts, and the reft was remitted to his fifters, whom, however removed from them by place or condition, he regarded with great tenderness, as will appear by the following Letter, which I communicate with much pleasure, as it gives me at once an opportunity of recording the fraternal kindness of Thomson, and reflecting on the friendly affiftance of Mr. Bofwell, from whom I received it.

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

"I thought you had known me better "than to interpret my filence into a decay "of

of affection, especially as your behaviour "has always been fuch as rather to increase

[ocr errors][merged small]
[ocr errors]

"I am a bad correfpondent, that I can ever prove an unkind friend and brother. I must "do myself the justice to tell you, that my af "fections are naturally very fixed and conftant; and if I had ever reafon of complaint

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

against you (of which by the bye I have not the least shadow), I am confcious of fo many "defects in myself, as difpofe me to be not "a little charitable and forgiving.

"It gives me the trueft heart-felt satis"faction to hear you have a good kind huf

[ocr errors]

band, and are in eafy contented circum"stances; but were they otherwise, that "would only awaken and heighten my ten"dernefs towards you. As our good and "tender-hearted parents did not live to re"ceive any material teftimonies of that highest human gratitude I owed them (than "which nothing could have given me equal pleasure), the only return I can make "them now is by kindness to those they " left behind them: would to God poor "Lizy had lived longer, to have been a "farther witness of the truth of what I fay, " and that I might have had the pleasure of seeing once more a fifter, who so truly de" ferved

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

S 3

"ferved my efteem and love. But he is

66

happy, while we must toil a little longer "here below: let us however do it chear

66

66

[ocr errors]

fully and gratefully, fupported by the pleafing hope of meeting yet again on a "fafer fhore, where to recollect the storms "and difficulties of life will not perhaps be inconfiftent with that blissful state. You "did right to call your daughter by her name; for you must needs have had a par"ticular tender friendship for one another, "endeared as you were by nature, by having paffed the affectionate years of your youth together; and by that great foftner "and engager of hearts, mutual hardship. That it was in my power to ease it a little, I account one of the most exquifite pleasures of my life. But enough of this melancholy though not unpleafing ftrain.

66

66

66

[ocr errors]

66

"I efteem you for your fenfible and difin❝terested advice to Mr. Bell, as you will fee by my Letter to him: as I approve entire"ly of his marrying again, you may readily afk me why I don't marry at all. My circumftances have hitherto been fo variable

"and

"and uncertain in this fluctuating world, as "induce to keep me from engaging in such a "ftate and now, though they are more

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

fettled, and of late (which you will be "glad to hear) confiderably improved, I begin to think myself too far advanced in "life for fuch youthful undertakings, not to mention fome other petty reasons that arẹ apt to startle the delicacy of difficult old "batchelors. I am, however, not a little fufpicious that was I to pay a vifit to Scotland (which I have fome thoughts of doing foon) I might poffibly be tempted "to think of a thing not eafily repaired if "done amifs. I have always been of opi"nion that none make better wives than "the ladies of Scotland; and yet, who more “forsaken than they, while the gentlemen

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

are continually running abroad all the "world over? Some of them, it is true, are "wife enough to return for a wife. You "fee I am beginning to make interest already "with the Scots ladies.But no more of "this infectious fubject.-Pray let me hear "from you now and then; and though I "am not a regular correfpondent, yet per"haps I may mend in that refpect. Re

[blocks in formation]

"member me kindly to your husband, and

"believe me to be,

"Your most affectionate brother,

"JAMES THOMSON.”

(Addreffed) "To Mrs. Thomson in Lanark.”

The benevolence of Thomfon was fervid, but not active; he would give, on all occafions, what affistance his purfe would fupply; but the offices of intervention or solicitation he could not conquer his fluggishness fufficiently to perform. The affairs of others, however, were not more neglected than his own. He had often felt the inconveniences of idleness, but he never cured it; and was fo confcious of his own character, that he talked of writing an Eastern Tale of the Man who loved to be in Diftrefs.

Among his peculiarities was a very unskilful and inarticulate manner of pronouncing any lofty or folemn composition. He was once reading to Doddington, who, being himself a reader eininently elegant, was fo much provoked by his odd utterance, that he fnatched the paper from his hand,

« PrejšnjaNaprej »