template the motions of the various feathered tribes that pursue their busy avocations below; the snow-white gulls slowly winnowing the air; the busy tringæ coursing along the sands; trains of ducks streaming over the surface; silent and watchful cranes intent and wading; clamorous crows; and all the winged multitudes that subsist by the bounty of this vast liquid magazine of nature. High over all these hovers one whose action instantly arrests his whole attention. By his wide curvature of wing, and sudden suspension in air, he knows him to be the fish-hawk, settling over some devoted victim of the deep. His eye kindles at the sight, and balancing himself with half-opened wings on the branch, he watches the result. Down, rapid as an arrow from heaven, descends the distant object of his attention, the roar of his wings reaching the ear as it disappears in the deep, making the surges foam around. At this moment the eager looks of the eagle are all ardour; and, levelling his neck for flight, he sees the fish-hawk once more emerge, struggling with his prey, and mounting in the air with screams of exultation. These are the signal for our hero, who, launching into the air, instantly gives chase, and soon gains on the fish-hawk; each exerts his utmost to mount above the other, displaying in these rencontres the most elegant and sublime aerial evolutions. The unencumbered eagle rapidly advances, and is just on the point of reaching his opponent, when, with a sudden scream, probably of despair and honest execration, the latter drops his fish: the eagle, poising himself for a moment, as if to take a more certain aim, descends like a whirlwind, snatches it in his grasp ere it reaches the water, and bears his ill-gotten booty silently away to the woods.' "By way of preface, to invoke the clemency of the reader,' Wilson relates the following exquisite trait of simplicity and nature: "In one of my late visits to a friend in the country, I found their youngest son, a fine boy of eight or nine years of age, who usually resides in town for his education, just returning from a ramble through the neighbouring woods and fields, where he had collected a large and very handsome bunch of wild flowers, of a great many different colours; and, presenting them to his mother, said, "Look, my dear mamma, what beautiful flowers I have found growing on our place! Why, all the woods are full of them! red, orange, and blue, and 'most every colour. Oh! I can gather you a whole parcel of them, much handsomer than these, all growing in our woods! Shall I, mamma? Shall I go and bring you more?" The good woman received the bunch of flowers with a smile of affectionate complacency; and, after admiring for some time the beautiful simplicity of Nature, gave her willing consent, and the little fellow went off on the wings of ecstacy to execute his delightful commission. "The similarity of this little boy's enthusiasm to my own struck me, and the reader will need no explanations of mine to make the application. Should my country receive with the same gracious indulgence the specimens which I here humbly present her; should she express a desire for me to go and bring her more, the highest wishes of my ambition will be gratified; for, in the language of my little friend, our whole woods are full of them, and I can collect hundreds more, much handsomer than these.' "The ambition of the poet-naturalist was amply gratified."-Chambers' "Cyc. Eng. Lit." vol. ii. p. 486-87. HECTOR MACNEILL. Hector Macneill was born in 1746, and died in 1818. He was brought up to a mercantile life, but was unsuccessful in most of his business affairs. In 1789 he published a legendary poem, "The Harp; " and in 1795 his moral tale, "Scotland's Skaith; or, the History o' Will and Jean." The object of this latter production was to depict the evils of intemperance. He wrote several Scottish lyrics. The latter years of the poet were spent in comparative comfort in Edinburgh, where he enjoyed the refined and literary society of the Scottish capital till an advanced age. See Chambers' "Cyc. Eng. Lit." ROBERT TANNAHILL. "Robert Tannahill, a lyrical poet of a superior order, whose songs rival all but the best of Burns's in popularity, was born in Paisley on the 3rd of June, 1774. His education was limited, but he was a diligent reader and student. He was early sent to the loom, weaving being the staple trade of Paisley, and continued to follow his occupation in his native town until his twenty-sixth year, when, with one of his younger brothers, he removed to Lancashire. There he continued two years, when the declining state of his father's health induced him to return. He arrived in time to receive the dying blessing of his parent, and a short time afterwards we find him writing to a friend- My brother Hugh and I are all that now remain at home, with our old mother, bending under age and frailty; and but seven years back, nine of us used to sit at dinner together.' Hugh married, and the poet was left alone with his widowed mother. On this occasion he adopted a resolution which he has expressed in the following lines: employ, But mostly this o'erclouds her every joy; flows From lessening an aged parent's woes. "The filial piety of Tannahill is strikingly apparent from this effusion, but the inferiority of the lines to any of his Scottish songs shows how little at home he was in English. His mother outlived him thirteen years. Though Tannahill had occasionally composed verses from a very early age, it was not till after this time that he attained to anything beyond mediocrity. Becoming acquainted th Mr. R. A. Smith, a musical composer, the poet applied himself sedulously to lyrical composition, aided by the encouragement and the musical taste of his friend. Smith set some of his songs to original and appropriate airs, and in 1807 the poet ventured on the publication of a volume of poems and songs, of which the first impression, consisting of 900 copies, were sold in a few weeks. It is related that in a solitary walk on one occasion herse hitciples of equality disseminated at the time season. ti publisher; but it was returned Niagara is a man, in consequence of his havile, as well works on hand than he could unde, as for bears, This disappointment preye ir atspirits of the sensitive poet, and lancholy became deep and habitualve burned all his manuscripts, and sank state of mental derangement. Retu from a visit to Glasgow on the 17th of 1810, the unhappy poet retired to rest; suspicion having been excited, in about hour afterwards it was discovered that he h stolen out unperceived. Search was made every direction, and by the dawn of morning the coat of the poet was discovere lying at the side of the tunnel of a neigh bouring brook, pointing out but too surely where his body was to be found.' Tannahil was a modest and temperate man, devoted to his kindred and friends, and of unblemished purity and correctness of conduct. His lamentable death arose from no want or irregularity, but was solely caused by that morbid disease of the mind which at length overthrew his reason. The poems of this ill-starred son of genius are greatly inferior to his songs. They have all a commonplace artificial character. His lyrics, on the other hand, are rich and original both in description and sentiment. His diction is copious and luxuriant, par. ticularly in describing natural objects and the peculiar features of the Scottish indscape. His simplicity is natural and unaffected; and though he appears to have possessed a deeper sympathy with nature than with the workings of human feeling, or even the passion of love, he is often tender and pathetic. His Gloomy Winter's now awa'' is a beautiful concentra tion of tenderness and melody."-Chambers Cyc. Eng. Lit." vol. ii. pp. 490-91. di avi I unde t preye et, and habitua and sank ent. Retu the 17th of template the motions of the various featherhill, and pos the air; the busy tringæ coursing al was author of some amusing songs, which are still very popular. 'Auld Gudeman, ye're a Druchen Carle,' 'Jenny's Bawbee,' Jenny Dang the Weaver,' &c., display considerable comic humour, and coarse but characteristic painting. The higher qualities of simple rustic grace and elegance he seems never to have attempted. In 1803 Sir Alexander collected his fugitive pieces, and published them under the title of Songs chiefly in the Scottish Dialect.' In 1810 he published a Scottish Dialogue, in the style of Fergusson, called Edinburgh, or the Ancient Royalty; a Sketch of Manners, by Simon Gray.' This sketch is greatly overcharged. Sir Alexander was an ardent lover of our early literature, and reprinted several works at his private printingpress at Auchinleck. When politics ran high, he unfortunately wrote some personal satires, for one of which he received a challenge from Mr. Stuart, of Dunearn. The parties met at Auchtertool, in Fifeshire: conscious of his error, Sir Alexander resolved not to fire at his opponent; but Mr. Stuart's shot took effect, and the unfortunate baronet fell. He died from the wound on the following day, the 26th of March, 1822. He had been elevated to the baronetcy only the year previous."-Chambers' "Cyc. Eng. Lit." vol. ii. p. 494. winged multitudes that subsist by r of the Siller Gun,' ired to rest ; innel of a ound.' . ited, in about fergusson, and came near to those of Burns.' vered that he 1836 the Siller Gun' was again reprinted arch was made ith the addition of a fifth canto. Mr. Mayne he dawn of tis author of a short poem on 'Halloet was discovereen,' printed in Ruddiman's Magazine' in neigh; and in 1781 he published at Glasgow it but too surelyfine ballad of Logan Braes,' which Burns Tannahiliscen, and two lines of which he copied e man, devoted tohis Logan Water.' The Siller Gun' is nduct. His lament- The author is a shrewd and lively d of unblemished tous and descriptive, and is happy in ant or irregularity, er, full of glee, and also of gentle and at morbid disease onate recollections of his native town gth overthrew his its people and pastimes. The ballad 3 ill-starred son of gan Braes' is a simple and beautiful to his songs. They perior to the more elaborate version artificial character. S. Though long resident in London hand, are rich and rietor of the Star' on and sentiment. etained his Scottish enthusiasm to ral objects and the him in advanced life, stopping in the indscape. his duties, as a public journalist, to nd unaffected; and remembrance of his native Dumpossessed a deeper the banks of the Nith, or to hum with the workings rural or pastoral song which he had the passion of love, or fifty years before, his name, as nd luxuriant, par Scottish netic. His 'Gloomy eautiful concentralody."-Chambers' p. 490-91. newspaper), Mr. and to those who, like ourselves, poetry, recalls the strength and of early feelings and associations." LEXANDER BOSWELL. nder Boswell, born 1775, died He st son of Johnson's biographer, ALLAN CUNNINGHAM. "Allan Cunningham, born 1785, died 1842. This poet, novelist, and miscellaneous writer, was born of comparatively humble parentage in Dumfries-shire. He began life as a stonemason; but his early literary ability was such that, being introduced to Cromek, the editor of Remains of Nithsdale and Galloway Song,' and undertaking to procure contributions to that work, he sent to the Editor, as genuine remains, compositions of his own. Cromek had slighted some original pieces shown to him as the production of Cunningham, and in retaliation, the young poet presented him with fabricated antiques.' These form the bulk of Cromek's collection. The cheat was long unsuspected; but the suspicious sagacity of the Ettrick Shepherd and others, especially Professor Wilson (see 'Blackwood's Magazine,' Dec., 1819), ultimately demonstrated the imposition, much to the reputation of the real author. of all who enjoyed his acquaintance. He died in London in 1842. · "His larger works are, the Maid of Elvar,' a species of epic in Spenserian stanzas, illustrative of Dumfries-shire in days of yore; wild and Sir Marmaduke Maxwell,' a tumultuous collection of Border superstitions. His reputation rests chiefly on his smaller pieces, which are airy, natural, and intensely Scotch; vigorous and even splendid in their higher moods, affectingly pathetic in their softer strains. His novels, 'Paul Jones,' &c., are full of glittering description, and exaggerated and unnatural character." - Scrymgeour's "Poetry and Poets of Britain," p. 436. See Allibone's" Crit. Dict. Eng. Lit.;" D. M. Moir's "Poetical Literature of the Past HalfCentury;" S. C. Hall's "Book of Gems." JAMES HOGG. James Hogg, born in Ettrick Vale, Selkirkshire, 1770, died 1835, known better as the "Ettrick Shepherd." His school was the mountain's side, where he kept the cattle and sheep. His education was scanty; but a quick and retentive memory, great natural gifts, and a fine appreciation of the wondrous scenes around him, called up the slumbering muse, and in 1801 he published a small volume of songs. 66 "The Mountain Bard" followed in 1807. Soon afterwards he left WILLIAM TENNANT. "William Tennant, born at Easter-Anstruther, Fife, 1785; died 1848; a Scotch poet, who studied for a short time at the University of St. Andrews. He was so unfortunate as to lose the use of his feet while still young. Unaided, he taught himself German, Portuguese, Hebrew, Syriac, Chaldaic, and other languages. After spending many years as a schoolmaster and classical teacher, he, in 1835, received the appointment of professor o WILLIAM MOTHERWELL. "William Motherwell, born 1798, died 1835, poet and journalist; when a youth, obtained a situation in the sheriff clerk's office at Paisley. where he continued for many years. In 1827 he published an interesting and pleasing collection of ballads, entitled 'Minstrelsy, Anand was afterwards cient and Modern;' successively editor of the 'Paisley Magazine,' 'Glasgow Paisley Advertiser,' and the Courier.' In 1833 was published a collected edition of his own poems, some of which possess a pathos and an intensity of feeling seldom equalled. These qualities are strikingly exhibited in his Jeanie Morrison,' and 'My heid is like to rend, Willie,' an address by a dying girl to her lover; while his success in imitating the old mystic ballad is well exemplified in the Ettin Lang of Sillerwood,' 'Holbert the Grim,' and other pieces. Some years after his death, a monument to his memory was erected by subscription in the necropolis of his native city, Glasgow."-Beeton's "Dict. Univ. Biog." See Chambers's "Cyc. Eng. Lit." ROBERT NICOLL. "Robert Nicoll, born in Perthshire, 1814; died 1837; a Scotch poet, the son of parents in humble circumstances, and whose efforts at self-education were pursued under the most At the age disadvantageous circumstances. of twenty-one he produced a small volume of ROBERT GILFILLAN. Robert Gilfillan, a native of Dunfermline, has written songs marked by much gentle and kindly feeling, and a smooth flow of versification, which makes them eminently suitable for being set to music.-See Chambers' "Cyc. Eng. Lit.," vol. ii. WILLIAM LAIDLAW. "William Laidlaw is son of the Ettrick Shepherd's master at Blackhouse. All who have read Lockhart's 'Life of Scott,' know how closely Mr. Laidlaw was connected with He the illustrious baronet of Abbotsford. was his companion in some of his early wanderings, his friend and land-steward in advanced years, his amanuensis in the composition of some of his novels, and he was one of the few who watched over his last sad and painful moments. Lucy's Flittin'' is deservedly popular for its unaffected tenderness and simplicity. In printing the song, Hogg added the last four lines to 'complete the story."-Chambers' " 'Cyc. Eng. Lit.," vol. ii. p. 507. JAMES HISLOP. "James Hislop was born of humble parents in the parish of Kirkconnel, in the neighbourhood of Sanquhar, near the source of the Nith, in July, 1798. He was employed as a shepherd-boy in the vicinity of Airsmoss, where, at the gravestone of a party of slain Covenanters, he composed the striking poem, 'The Cameronian's Dream.' He afterwards became a teacher, and his poetical effusions having attracted the favourable notice of Lord Jeffrey, and other eminent literary characters, he was, through their influence, appointed schoolmaster, first on board the Doris, and subsequently the Tweed man-of-war. He died on the 4th December, 1827, from fever caught by sleeping one night in the open air upon the island of St. Jago. His compositions display an elegant rather than a vigorous imagination, much chasteness of thought, and a pure but ardent love of nature."-Chambers' "Cyc. Eng. Lit.," vol. ii. p. 508. WILLIAM AYTOUN. "William Aytoun, author of 'Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers,' was a member of the Edinburgh bar, but never, we believe, devoted himself to any extent to the severer duties of his profession. He was long, however, one of the standing wits of the Parliament House, as the law courts of Edinburgh are locally denominated. He succeeded Mr. Moir as Professor of Literature and Belles Lettres in the university of Edinburgh, where his lectures-full of pith, energy, and distinguished by fine literary taste-were in great vogue. Professor Aytoun was for some years one of the chief contributors to Blackwood's Magazine,' and few numbers appeared from which his hand was absent. At the time of the railway mania he flung off a series of papers, -the first entitled, 'How we got up the Glen Mutchkin Railway,' descriptive of the doings in the Capel Court of Edinburgh and Glasgow; papers which for broad, vigorous humour, and felicitous setting forth of genuine Scotch character, are almost unrivalled. Under the nom de guerre of Augustus Dunshunner-then first adopted the professor frequently contributed pieces of off-hand criticism on books and men to Blackwood,' taking especial delight in showing up what he conceives to be the weak points of the Manchester school; and, humorous though the general tone of the papers be, hesitating not to dash headlong at piles of statistics intended to prop up the fallen cause of protection. Aytoun's politics, as may be inferred from his sole work published in an independent form, the 'Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers,' were high Tory, or, rather, they amount to a sort of poetic and theoretical Jacobitism, which finds vent in enthusiastic laudation of the Marquis of Montrose and the Viscount Dundee, as models of Scottish heroes. The ballads in question are strongly tinged by deep national feeling, and remind the reader of Macaulay's 'Lays of Ancient Rome;' and, from the more picturesque nature of the subject, are, perhaps, even still more highly coloured. Edinburgh after Flodden,' the Death of Montrose,' and the Battle of Killiecrankie,' are strains which Scotchmen will not willingly let die. Professor Aytoun married one of the daughters of Professor Wilson, otherwise Christopher North.""Men of the Time." See Allibone's "Crit. Dict. Eng. Lit." 6 HENRY HART MILMAN. "We are surprised that this poet is not more universally known by his countrymen! "There is an oriency of colour about his imagination that dyes every object upon which it falls with the richest tints. Or it may be compared to the richly-stained window of some dim cathedral, which throws on every spot or figure over which the light passing through it falls, a most heavenly and saintly glory. "His Fall of Jerusalem' has a fresh breezy beauty and delightfulness about it, joined with a vigorous action, that carries us on a bold, rapid stream to its conclusion. "His other poems show great command of powerful and yet classical language, a chaste |
