،، must do myself the juftice to tell you, that my affections are naturally very fixed and "conftant; and if I had ever reason of com

plaint against you (of which by the bye I "have not the leaft fhadow), I am con& fcious of fo many defects in myself, as dif"pose me to be not a little charitable and forgiving.

"It gives me the trueft heart-felt fatif"faction to hear you have a good kind huf« band, and are in eafy contented circum"ftances; 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

r

Lizy had lived longer, to have been a "farther witness of the truth of what I say, " and that I might have had the pleasure of "feeing once more a fifter, who fo truly de" ferved

"ferved my esteem and love. But he is "happy, while we must toil a little longer "here below: let us however do it chear

fully and gratefully, fupported by the "pleafing hope of meeting yet again on a fafer fhore, where to recollect the ftorms "and difficulties of life will not perhaps be "inconfiftent with that blifsful ftate. 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 hav "ing paffed the affectionate years of your

youth together; and by that great softner " and engager of hearts, mutual hardship.. "That it was in my power to ease it a little, I account one of the moft, exquifite pleasures of my life. But enough of this, "melancholy though not unpleafing strain...

your

" I esteem for you fenfible and difin"terefted advice to Mr. Bell, as you will fee by my Letter to him: as I approve entirely of his marrying again, you may readily. "ask me why I don't marry at all. My cir"cumftances have hitherto been fo variable

i.. and uncertain in this fluctuating world, as "induce to keep me from engaging in fuch a "ftate and now, though they are more "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 reafons that are

apt to startle the delicacy of difficult old "batchelors. I am, however, not a little "fufpicious that was I to pay a visit to Scot

land (which I have fome thoughts of doing foon) I might poffibly be tempted "to think of a thing not easily repaired if "done amifs. I have always been of opinion that none make better wives than "the ladies of Scotland; and yet, who more "forfaken than they, while the gentlemen

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 perhaps I may mend in that refpect. Re

"member

"member me kindly to your husband, and

"believe me to be,

"Your most affectionate brother,

JAMES THOMSON."

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

The benevolence -of Thomfon was fervid, but not active; he would give, on all occasions, what assistance his purse would fupply; but the offices of intervention or folicitation 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 idlenefs, 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 Distress.

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

and told him that he did not underftand his own verses.

The biographer of Thomson has remarked, that an author's life is beft read in his works: his observation was not well-timed. Savage, who lived much with Thomfon, once told me, how he heard a lady remarking that she could gather from his works three parts. of his character, that he was a great Lover, a great Swimmer, and rigorously abftinent; but, faid Savage, he knows not any love but that of the fex; he was perhaps never in cold water in his life; and he indulges himself in all the luxury that comes within his reach. Yet Savage always spoke with the most eager praise of his focial qualities, his warmth and conftancy of friendship, and his adherence to his first acquaintance when the advancement of his reputation had left them behind him.

As a writer, he is entitled to one praise of the highest kind; his mode of thinking, and of expreffing his thoughts, is original. His blank verfe is no more the blank verfe of Milton, or of any other poet, than the rhymes of Prior are the rhymes of Cowley. His numbers,