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vising plans of future advantage to them. But his peculiar avocations did not altogether preclude other pur

suits.

Early in 1774 he gave to the world a volume of poetry, under the name of" Poems, chiefly Rural," &c. which were so much approved of by the critics, and relished by the public, as in a short time to pass through three editions, two in Glasgow by the Messrs Foulis, and one in London. The following extracts, from the pen of a contemporary reviewer, Dr Gilbert Stuart, not the most lenient of critics, express, we suppose, the opinion of these poems which was then prevalent. "It must give us, (the reviewers in the Edinburgh Magazine and Review,) and every sincere enthusiast for literature, the most real and sensible pleasure, to see a new genius arise in our country, who, to the fire and fancy of a genuine poet, adils the propriety and elegance of a fine writer."-"On the whole, we cannot express our general sentiments of this poet more happily than in the words of Virgil:

«Tale tuum carmen nobis, divine poeta ! Quale soper fessis in gramine; quale per

æstum,

Dulcis aquæ saliente sitim restinguere

rivo."

The critic justifies this high commendation by a passage from the "Hymn to Health," which he pronounces to be pathetic, spirited, elegant, and beautiful, and which, that the reader may be enabled to judge for himself, we shall insert in this place.

HYMN TO HEALTH.

On by the gentle gales that blow
Refreshing from the mountain's brow,
By the vermil bloom of morn,
By the dew-drop on the thorn,
By the sky-lark's matin lay,
By the flowers that blooming May
Sprinkles on the meads and hills,
By the brooks and fuming rills,
Come, smiling Health! and deign to be
Our queen of rural sports and glec.-
What sudden radiance gilds the skies!
What warblings from the groves arise !
A breeze more odoriferous blows!
The stream more musically flows!
A brighter smile the valley chears!
And lo! the lovely queen appears!-
0 Health! I know thy blue-bright eye,
Thy dewy lip, thy rosy dye,

Thy dimpled cheek, thy lively air,
That wins a smile from pining care!
Soft-pinioned gales around thee breathe,
Perfuming dews thy tresses bathe;
The zone of Venus girds thy waist,
The young loves flutter round thy breast.
And in thy path the rose-wing'd hours
Shed the leaves of fragrant flowers.
See, the nymphs, and every swain,
Mingle in thy festive train,
With roguish winks, and winning wiles,
And whisp'ring low, and dimpling smiles,
And sweetly-soothing blandishment,
And the coy air of half consent,
And joy, and rose-complexioned laughter,
With tott'ring footstep following after.-
Ever mild and debonair,
Goddess ever blithe and fair,

Stay with us, and deign to be

Our queen of rural sports and glee.

This volume of poetry contained "Odes, Idyllions, and Anacreontics; Rural Tales; Runnymead; Corsica; Elegy on the Death of a Lady; Miscellaneous Verses; and the Progress of Melancholy." It was inscribed to Lord Cathcart. In the second edition, there was subjoined to the whole, a tale, entitled "The Indians," afterwards dramatised into the Mr Richardson acknowledges only tragedy of that name. Of these poems three editions, though a fourth was printed by Andrew Foulis.

About two months after the appearance of his poems, he published in a small volume a 66 Philosophical Analysis and Illustration of some of Shakespeare's Remarkable Characters," dedicated to his friend Robert Buntine, Esq. of Ardoch, afterwards Graham of Gartmore. The characters analysed and illustrated are Macbeth, Hamlet, Jacques, and Imogen. This work went through several editions, and placed its author high among the philosophical critics of his country, while it added to his reputation as a classical and elegant writer. The reviewer, from whose encomium on Mr Richardson's poetry we have already made an extract, after stating, in a review of the present work, the great difference, or even opposition, between poetry and philosophical research, and expressing his fear that our author would not have succeeded equally in both departments, thus goes on: But how agreeable was our surprise to find the exuberance of invention and the warmth of enthusiasm rendered subservient to the cool and severe inves

tigations of reason; while the ardent prepossessions, the luxuriant sallies of the poet, were chastened by the deliberate inspection, and the accurate penetration of the sage.' "The style of this work," he remarks in another place," is perspicuous, elegant, and interesting.'

"

In afterwards noticing the last and greatly enlarged editions of these his two principal works, we shall take the opportunity of offering a few observations on the merits of his poetry and his criticism.

The next literary productions by Mr Richardson were some papers in the Mirror and Lounger, his contributions to the former, as would appear from the enumeration of the correspondents by Dr Drake, entitling him to rank first among them. That critic gives the following account of Mr Richardson's communications."In enumerating the papers written by the correspondents of the Mirror, we shall commence with Professor Richardson, a gentleman of established reputation in the critical and poetical world. From his stores the Mirror has been enriched with five essays, Nos. 8, 24, 29, 66, and 96. Two of these, Nos. 24 and 66, are accurate and elegant pieces of criticism on the Allegro and Penseroso of Milton; and on the love-scene between Richard and Lady Ann, in Shakespeare's Richard the Third." A critique on the poetry of Hamilton of Bangour is the only paper which Mr Richardson furnished to the Lounger.

In 1783, Mr Richardson published his "Anecdotes of the Russian Empire." During the four years which he spent in Russia, he had enjoyed opportunities of observing the manners of the Russians, as well as of knowing the characters of distinguished individuals. The facts he records were either witnessed by himself, or communicated to him by persons on whose information he could rely. A considerable number, indeed, of the letters of which the volume is composed, have little or no connection with the author's general design. "But a reader of taste will not regret an intermixture which affords agree able diversity, and where national anecdotes are suspended only to make room for philosophical reflection, or some beautiful production of poetry."

Of the manner in which this work,

so miscellaneous in its nature, is executed, it is somewhat difficult to speak distinctly. Thus far, however, it may be stated, that the letters are perspicuously, easily, and elegantly written, and often finely diversified by translations from modern foreign authors; that the writer is lively without levity, and serious and judícious without being heavy; that his sentiments concerning governments are liberal, but his patriotic preference of the British constitution always evident; that the whole book, in short, is dictated by classical taste, and displays no inconsiderable acquaintance with a number of authors, as well as an ease in applying that knowledge to particular purposes.

The next work from the pen of Mr Richardson was presented to the world in 1784, and was entitled, "Essays on Shakespeare's Dramatic Characters of Richard III., King Lear, and Timon of Athens; to which is added, an Essay on the Faults of Shakespeare; and Additional Observations on the Character of Hamlet." This continuation of the Analysis fulfilled the expectations which its predecessor had raised, and contributed to increase, rather than impair, the reputation which its author had previously acquired. Soon after, a second sequel made its appearance, consisting of "Essays on Shakespeare's Dramatic Character of Sir John Falstaff, and on his Imitation of Female Characters, with Observations on the Chief Objects of Criticism in the Works of Shakespeare." These two last mentioned works, together with the Analysis, were collected into one volume, and published with a uniform title, in 1797.

In the April of the same year appeared a work, which public opinion, and the very great resemblance of the style to that usually employed by Mr Richardson, concur to warrant our considering as his production. We refer to the Philanthrope, a series of essays, after the manner of a periodical paper. "It consists of thirty-five essays, the diction of which possesses great amenity, perspicuity, and spirit; the morality of this little work is pure, the criticism acute, the poetry above mediocrity, and the tales interesting."

In 1780, Mr Richardson, in con. junction with his friend, Professor

Arthur, produced "Original Essays and Translations," a work to which allusion has already been made, and which was intended for the benefit of the Reverend Mr Chapman, the pub lisher. Of Mr Richardson's contributions, the following are a few: "The History of Sarah Th-, translated from the French," " Fa bles from the German of Gellert," "An Account of the Sacrifices of Heathen Nations," and "The Indians, a Tale." Of this volume, which is now very scarce, we need say nothing more, than that it bears the stamp of the talent for which its authors were distinguished.

In 1803, Mr Richardson appeared before the world in the capacities of Editor and Biographer. He was einployed by the relations of his friend Professor Arthur to publish his works, and to write his life. This duty he discharged with credit to himself; and it is almost unnecessary to add, that the life of Arthur displays its writer's usual taste, and his felicity and elegance of language.

In 1805, our author published, in two volumes duodecimo, an edition, corrected and enlarged, of his dramatic and other poetical performances, consisting of the "Poems, chiefly Rural," of others that had been occasionally offered to the public in miscellaneous and periodical publications, of the Poetical Epistle,-Morning Walk, and Epithalamium,-which had appeared at different times before, -together with the Maid of Lochlin, a lyrical drama, presented to the world in 1801, and The Indians, a tragedy, published in 1790, and acted with considerable applause at Glasgow and Richmond, — and, lastly, of three pieces, for the first time printed.From a perusal of these two volumes, we shall give what we conceive to be the general character of Mr Richardson's poems, of which want of room precludes any individual notice.

His imagination is evidently under the control of judgment and taste. His poems are full of thought and of method, couched and disguised under poetical language and illustration. This he derived from his philosophical turn of mind ; and hence it is that we seldom discover in his poetry any of those eccentric excursions, or, if we may be pardoned such an expression, any of those lawless bursts of passion,

VOL. VII.

which give such interest and effect to the productions of our masters in this art, and which are exemplified in the plays of Shakespeare and in the poems of Byron. But his lively and sprightly fancy impregnates all his verses with the sentiment of poetry. Forming his conceptions and his diction in the manner of a poet, the wanderings of fiction are yet never suffered to extend beyond the bounds of a regard to some object in view, or some useful effect to be produced on the mind of the reader. The intimate acquaintance which he had with history, with polite literature, with the arts of life, and the appearances of Nature, supplied him with plentiful, pleasing, and varied illustration. His copiousness of language, and that wonderfully happy propriety and precision of expression, which impress one with the idea that there is nothing to be improved, either in the choice of words or in the order of their construction, are derived from a careful study of the classical models of poetical writing in our own language, as well as among ancient and foreign authors. The smoothness and suavity of his verse give evidence of a soul alive to the finest impressions of taste and sensibility, and of an ear attuned to the nicest harmony of numbers.

His lyrical poems, though they do not rise to the enthusiasm and fire of the sublimer productions in that species of poetry, are in a high degree pleasing and sprightly. When he pays a compliment, narrates a circumstance, or expands an incident, he is indeed most happy. Two small pieces, for instance, called The Chaplet and The Painter, are simple, neat, and elegant. His two dramas, of which "The Indians" is by far the more excellent, are not distinguished, indeed, for intricacy of plot, for very interesting incident, or bold and masterly displays of the workings of human nature and passion; but they are correct in plan, awaken and sustain the softer emotions in the mind of the reader, and always please, and frequently delight, him by the diversity of poetical imagery, apposite illustration, and elegant expression, in which they everywhere abound. The chief defect of his poetry, in our opinion, consists in a superabundance of mythological allusion, and in that occasional languor which is a concomitant or consequence of too

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much labour and refinement, and Thus instructing and amusing the which arises also from the want of public, and improving the minds of those flights of fancy, and blazes of youth, did Mr Richardson pass the feeling, by which the soul is enrap greatest and most important part of tured and its attention sustained. his life. Very rarely was this chequered by any remarkable incident. Occasionally, indeed, he relieved its uniformity by a visit to England, where he was known to the learned. As a member, too, of the General Assembly of our National Church, he frequently had occasion to be in Edinburgh. In this intellectual city he found congenial society, particularly that of his friends, Lord Craig and Mr Henry Mackenzie, with the latter of whom he generally on those occasions " spent at least one day, when their conversation chiefly turned on subjects of literature and criticism." His extensive correspondence, also, afforded him a variation of employment. Among the number of his correspondents were the author of the Man of Feeling; Grettin, Dean of Hereford; Samuel Rose, the friend of Cowper; Dr Charters, minister of Wilton, and one of his most particular friends; and Dr Anderson of Edinburgh. Respecting the occasion of his connection with one of these friends, Hayley, in his Life of Cowper, says, "Samuel Rose was sent in 1784 to Glasgow; there he resided in the house of Professor Richardson, a philosopher and a poet-amiable in every character, and so just to the merits of youth, that a friendship and correspondence commenced between the tutor and his pupil, which terminated only with the life of the latter."

In 1812, Mr Richardson produced his great work,-that for which he is most esteemed at the present day, and on which his claims to future fame must chiefly rest,-the last edi. tion of his Essays on Shakespeare, containing, besides those separate por tions already mentioned, an "Essay on Shakespeare's Representation of National Characters, illustrated in that of Fluellen; together with Two Original Letters from Mr Burke, consisting of Observations on Shakespeare, and other Literary Subjects." His intention in this work is to make poetry subservient to philosophy, and to employ it in tracing the principles of human conduct. Yet he does not, with this view,-like his predecessor in the same path, Lord Kames deify Shakespeare, or bestow on him papal infallibility. He does not from this poet collect certain immutable principles of truth, to which our conduct must be conformed; but he evinces, from personal oh servation, and by illustrations from human life, how natural the characters, incidents, and circumstances, are in the works of our great dramatist. The ideas and language of the poet lead him, by association, into fertile fields of philosophical discussion.When we add, that Mr Richardson's work tends to enlarge our acquaintance with the faculties and principles of the human mind,-with the laws of writing and taste, with the import and merits of a great and popular author,--and with the theory and practice of morality, we must be convinced of the utility of his plan, and of the importance of the service which he has performed.

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Besides the more prominent productions of Mr Richardson's pen which have been considered, the following may be merely mentioned: "Memoir of the Rev. Dr Craig," in the Biographia Britannica.

Essay on the Origin of Superstition, illustrated in the Mythology of the Poems of Ossian," which was read in the Literary Society, and afterwards appended to Dr Graham's Essay on the Authenticity of the Poems of Ossian. Some Reviews, Essays, &c. in the Edinburgh Magazine and Review. A small posthumous publication on

But this long, elegant, and useful life, was now approaching its close. In 1814, Mr Richardson had commenced, as usual, the business of the Session, had taught his class for some weeks, and appeared to enjoy better health than for a long time before. During the latter part of his life he had been much subject to the gout, the fits of which at last, recurring more frequently, and with greater severity, greatly weakened him. In his

the method observed by himself in teaching Latin. He has left a work on Figurative Language, prepared for the press, of which there is reason to think that the publication cannot diminish his reputation, but will rather exhibit, to more advantage than any of his former writings, his extensive reading and research.

usual state of health, however, he attended a meeting of the Faculty on Wednesday the 26th of October; but on the following day he was attacked by his habitual distemper, which, increasing soon to a degree of excessive painfulness, disclosed symptoms of coming dissolution. Through the whole attack he exhibited great fortitude, uttering not a murmur or complaint. When near his end, the intensity of his sufferings seemed to relax, and he was able to see and converse with his relations, and to arrange his secular affairs. He expressed, about this time, his firm belief in the truths of our holy religion, and an earnest desire of obtaining the favour of God, and the happiness of heaven, blessings, for the enjoyment of which he rested his prayers and hopes on the infinite merits and mediation of the Divine Redeemer. On Thursday morning, the 3d of November, about two o'clock, he exchanged this life for another, and, it is hoped, a better. "His passage into the other world," to use the words of an intimate acquaintance, was placid, and might, in respect of his hopes, as expressed to one of his friends, be compared to one retiring from a scene, in which he had completed his part, into another, where he trusted he would enjoy the favour of an all-gracious God, through the merits of that Sa viour with whom he had carly and long been acquainted."

In delineating the character of Mr Richardson, we shall consider it only in a personal and professional point of view, as the observations already made on his separate works may suffice to shew what he was as an author.

As a teacher, Mr Richardson undoubtedly possessed no inconsiderable merit. In the public class, where strict discipline was requisite, he was severe without sternness, dignified, and impartial. The plan which he followed has been questioned, but it appeared to him, no doubt, to be the best, and it certainly was faithfully, ably, and profitably followed up. In the private class, however, he was more in his element. He took peculiar delight, it is said, in this department of his duty, and it was here unquestionably that he shone. Feeling, probably, the consciousness of his merit being here properly appreciated, disengaged from the drudgery of drilling mere boys,

and engaging in an employment more dignified, rational, intellectual, and congenial, he could expand himself, to meet the capacities of his auditory, in the freedom of disquisition and illustration in which he delighted and excelled. It was in this province of his office that he frequently charmed his audience by his beautiful theories, by the admirable manner in which he unfolded, and transfused into his native language, the beauties of Latin story, sentiment, and idiom, by eloquent and pleasing illustrations, by a sprightly humour, an understanding finely cultivated, and a taste which was nicely chastened; and by the elegancies of a choice phraseology, and of a graceful elocution.

In private society, he displayed himself to great advantage. Though in companies of a mixed kind, or where the persons were not so familiar to him, he was easy and elegant in conversation, yet he was especially so in his own house, where, freed from restraint, he poured forth a stream of rich, fluent, and correct dietion, in which close reasoning, ingenious remark, and beautiful illustra tion, were uniformly conveyed to the delighted listener. When he indulged in sallies of humour, they were divested of satirical poignancy, were seasoned with good-nature, and might in fact be termed pleasantry. Nemo unquam urbanitate, nemo lepore, nemo suavitate conditior. He had a double advantage in conversation. He was a philosopher, and therefore sensible and judicious; being a poet, he was consequently fanciful and eloquent. In no person's conversation perhaps, have these two characters been more happily united to produce an excellent converser. His conversational talents produced no rapture, indeed, nor sublimity of emotion: but they delighted, they charmed. There was a simplicity and chastity, a propriety and grace in his expressions, which made his manner of saying, like his way of doing, anything, irresistibly fascinating. These, with his politeness of address and extensive knowledge of the world, contributed to render him, perhaps, one of the most polished men, one of the completest gentlemen of his age. He had nothing of the pedant about him. He was superior in his manners to those who excelled him in general know

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