particular ;-also some excellent medallion portraits. Rev. Mr Thomson.Some very able landscape compositions, in black chalk. P. Syme. Some excellent flower pieces, of great truth and delicacy of colouring. I cannot conclude without observing, that the exhibition of 1808, tho' very respectable, was still greatly inferior, both in point of excellence and variety, to that of the present year. I am, Sir, &c. P. S. Annexed, you have a list of the names of the different artists in Mr Geo. Watson Mr R. Morrison Mr W. Crawford The Rev. Mr John Fleming of Bressay laid before the Society an outline of the Flora of Linlithgowshire, specifying only such plants as are omitted by Mr Lightfoot, or are marked as uncommon by Dr Smith. This, he stated, much to the Society's satisfaction, was to be considered as the first of a series of communica tions, illustrative of the natural history of his native county. Mr P. Walker, advocate, stated a curious fact in the history of the common eel. A number of eels, old and young, were found in a subterraneous pool at the bottom of an old quarry, which had been filled up, and its surface ploughed and cropped for above a dozen of years past. The Secretary read a letter from the Rev. Mr Donald Maclean of Small Isles, mentioning the appearance of a vast sea-snake, between 70' and 80 feet long among the Hebrides, in June 1 328 Monthly Memoranda in Natural His- view, vol. I. ann. 1749, there is a let 14. Swallows are now common. For the last week, the temperature has been from 60°. to 65°. The foliage of the forest-trees has very rapidly come on. To-day the scales of the leaf-bud of the elm are falling. 16. Swifts and martins both seen about Edinburgh. ter published, said to be a translation from the French of one from Racine, -17. After more than a fortnight of very dry, and rather warm weather, some refreshing showers have fallen. They were preceded by some thunder explosions, the first which we have observed in our atmosphere this 19. The leaf scales of the lime-Vous devez une belle chandelle, &c,— tree are also falling. year. 21. More rain and thunder. N. B. Account of Forfar Garden in our next. You owe a candle to such a saint, for your escape. This is all the mystery: Socrates meant without doubt, It is now that we owe a cock to Esculapius; for I have certainly got over all my ills. A thought too, which was perfectly conformable to the idea he had of On a circumstance attending the death death. Could you allow yourself to SIR, of SOCRATES. To the Editor. imagine that the last words of so great a man as Socrates turned on a silly superstition ?" This explication of the words of Socrates appears to be but little known, for in some late works you may observe them used in proving that Socrates was an idolater, and by no means freed of absurd superstition. I will thank you to insert it in your valuable magazine, and, IT is generally mentioned as a cir- I am, Sir, N. Biographical Account of the late JOHN HOME, Esq. Author of the Tragedy of DOUGLAS. JOHN HOME was born of a respectable, and formerly illustrious family, near Ancrum, in Roxburghshire. He received his first education at the parish school of that place, where Dr Buchan, the author of Domestic Medicine, was one of his schoolfellows. ture. Mr Home's inclination and the wishes of his parents coincided in directing his views to the church. He accordingly came to pursue his studies at Edinburgh. The long period of eight years attendance at the university, which is required previous to ecclesiastical ordination, tends to secure to the members of the church of Scotland a respectable proficiency in literaThe period of young Home's early studies was peculiarly propitious. The love of science and of literary composition, after having long lain dormant in Scotland, had revived among the students of that day, with peculiar ardour. He enjoyed the society and friendship of Robertson, of Blair, of Smith, of David Hume who was his relation, and of a number of other men, who were destined to form an æra in the annals of Scottish literature. While they were cultivating the pursuits of history and philosophy, Mr Home attached himself peculiarly to poetry, in which pursuit he might probably be animated by the splendid example of Thomson, who was then in the zenith of his fame. These peaceful studies received an unexpected interruption. The rebel lion in 1745, and the temporary success with which it was attended, called imperiously for the exertions of all friends to the civil and religious liberties of their country, as established by the revolution, and the accession of the house of Hanover. Mr Home, en this occasion, displayed an extra May 1809. ordinary zeal. He entered into a military association formed by the students of the university, of which Dr Robertson was also a member. This association being dissolved by the lukewarmness of some of its members, Mr Home went and joined the army. He was present at the battle of Falkirk, and was there taken prisoner. After being confined for some time in the castle of Doune, he effected his escape; and soon after, the battle of Culloden, and the total rout of the rebel army, enabled him to return to his studies. On their completion, and after having gone through the customary examinations, he was licensed to preach the gospel. As, however, he bad yet no pastoral charge, he availed himself of this leisure to pay a visit to London, where it appears that he had spent a considerable time. In this visit, he met with Collins, and was admitted to a great share of intimacy with that exquisite and interesting poet. Collins afterwards dedicated to him his fine ode on the superstitions of the Highlands, of which the first four lines are as follow: Home, thou return'st from Thames, whose Naiads long Have seen thee lingering, with a fond delay, 'Midst those soft friends, whose hearts, some future day, Shall melt, perhaps, to hear thy tragic song. From these lines it appears, that Mr Home had already devoted himself to the tragic muse. This circumstance would doubtless form a bond of union between him and Collins, who is known to have formed similar projects, tho' it appears to us very doubtful if he would have succeeded in that department. About the year 1750, Mr Home was settled in the parish of Atholstonford, a beautiful village near Haddington, which had already been rendered classical by the residence of Mr Robert Blair, author of the "Grave." Dr Robertson was then minister of Glad Gladsmuir, only five or six miles distant; and in the same neighbourhood lived Lord Elibank, a nobleman of the highest accomplishments, and with whom both Robertson and Home lived on terms of the utmost intimacy. Here too Mr Home was within only sixteen miles of Edinburgh, and had it therefore in his power to pay frequent visits to that metropolis. In conjunction with Dr Robertson and Lord Elibank, he was a member of a literary society, which then included all the most illustrious names of which Scotland could boast. His situation, however, afforded him still an ample share of leisure, and he now began seriously to apply himself to the composition of his Douglas. He proceeded in this task with all the care of one who was labouring for posterity. Hamilton of Bangour, well known as an accomplished gentleman and elegant poet, lived also in his immediate neighbourhood; and with him Mr Home is known to have had frequent conferences, previous to the production of Douglas, which was doubtless submitted to his careful revision. Dr Carlyle also, Mr Home's intimate friend, was, we believe, consulted on the occasion. Mr Home, at length, having completed the piece to his own satisfaction, went to London, and offered it for representation. Here, however, he met with an unexpected disappointment; Garrick, from whom better might have been expected, was unable to discover the merit of Douglas, The author returned to Scotland, with out attaining his object. He found no difficulty, however, in having it re presented on the Scottish stage, where it was received with the utmost applause. He was present himself, as well as several of his clerical friends. This soon came to the ears of a numerous party in the church, who, retain ing all its primitive austerity, regarded every play as an abomination, and every playhouse as the undisputed re sidence of Satan. A cry of profanity spread throughout all Scotland; Mr Home was summoned before the presbytery, along with those of his brethren who had abetted him in this work of iniquity. It was understood that the affair would have been carried through the different church courts to the General Assembly. Mr Home chose rather to leave his station in the church, than to abide the consequences of this proceeding. After preaching a valedictory sermon, which, it is said, drew tears from most of the audience, he gave in his resignation to the presbytery. It was with difficulty, however, that the storm could be prevented from breaking upon Dr Carlyle, who was understood to have been accessary to its composition.By the exertions, however, of his more liberal and enlightened brethren, and particularly of Dr Robertson, he esca ped with a slight reprimand. had Mr Home's fame now spread far and wide throughout Britain. All the literati of Edinburgh were loud in his praise; and David Hume, in dedi: cating some dissertations to him, expressed the most flattering opinion of his performance. Garrick now felt equally vexed and mortified at having made so false an estimate. He is said to have declared, that nothing in the whole course of his management given him so much uneasiness. Douglas, however, was introduced upon the London boards; but the expectations of the public had been raised so high, that its success was not at first so brilliant as had been anticipated. It was revived a few years after, about the time of the first appearance of Mrs Barry, who performed the part of Lady Randolph ; and it then excited the greatest admiration, which was raised higher if possible when the part fell into the hands of Mrs Siddons; it has now for a long time been a standard piece. Mr Home now repaired to London to reap the fruits of his celebrity. Uniting with his literary acquirements the . the polished manners of a man of the world, his society was very generally courted. He was introduced to Lord Bute, the minister of the day, who was ambitious of patronizing talents, particularly in natives of Scotland.He soon acquired, in an extraordinary degree, the friendship of this nobleman, insomuch, that sometimes, as we have been informed, when persons of the first distinction were waiting in vain at his antichamber for admittance, Mr Home was accustomed to pass through them, and enter without ceremony. Through this powerful interest he obtained a pension of 2001. ayear, which was certainly honourable, and well merited. After the splendid success which he had already met with, it was natural that Mr Home should endeavour to reap new laurels in the path of dramatic composition. Accordingly, in the winter of the following year (1758,) he brought forward Agis, a tragedy, derived from the Spartan history. It contains some fine poetical passages, but was considered by the audience as entirely destitute of dramatic interest. Gray says of it, in one of his letters, "I cry to think it should be by the author of Douglas; why, it is all modern Greek; the story is an antique statue, painted white and red, frizzed and dressed in a negligee made by a Yorkshire mantuamaker." In vain was it assisted by show and decoration, (which were not, it would appear, omnipotent then as now ;) in vain did a numerous party in the fashionable world combine in its favour; the piece dragged heavily through ten or eleven nights, and then sunk into oblivion. The continuation of Mr Home's dramatic career is only a melancholy repetition of disaster. Next year appeared the Siege of Aquileia, which was equally ill received. It is said to have been originally the Siege of Berwick; but a dread of fomenting animosity between the two nations, who had then but imperfectly coalesced, led him to change the scene. Soon after appeared the Fatal Discovery, a tragedy, the plot of which was taken from Ossian. The names were barbarous to English ears, and the audience declared it might as well have been written in Erse. Yet the name of the author carried it through nine nights. Mr Home now made a pause, and four years after, in 1773, brought out a new tragedy, called Alonzo, which was somewhat better received. The story is romantic and improbable, but the plot appeared to be well connected, and some of the situations interesting. Its reception made some amends for the failure of its three predecessors, though it seems now to be if possible still more completely forgotten. In considering this singular contrast between the reception of Mr Home's first tragedy, and of every succeeding one, we are naturally led to enquire, whether the fault lay on the side of the public or of the author. In justification of the former it may be observed, that there has been no fluctuation, and that posterity seems likely to confirm the sentence originally pronounced. We are able to speak upon a very faint recollection indeed, of all except Douglas. Yet we are rather inclined to suspect, that from the peculiar circumstances at tending its appearance, it has been rated somewhat above its merits, and the rest somewhat below. The tragic muse has been peculiarly unpropitious to Scotland. It seems to thrive amid the storms and tempests of life. It takes up its abode in great metropolitan cities, the theatre of political vicissitude, and of those violent passions, which are its favourite subject. Our Scottish poets, in general, are more conversant with nature, than with man. If Thomson be adduced as an exception, we would remark, that it was not till after a long |
