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MEMOIR of the Rev. THOMAS LLOYD, FITZ of FITZ.FORD. A Legend of A PRESERVATIVE against POPERY;

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a situation to be embarrassed by the res angusta | young men to approach this newly discovered domi, which might have otherwise interrupted spring of literature, a class was formed, of six my progress in a profession in which progress or seven intimate friends, who proposed to is proverbially slow. I enjoyed a moderate make themselves acquainted with the German degree of business for my standing, and the language. They were in the habit of living friendship of more than one person of consi- much together, and the time they spent in this deration efficiently disposed to aid my views in new study was felt as a period of great amuseAN animated literary auto-biography, and by life. The private fortune, also, which I might ment. One source of this diversion was the Sir Walter Scott. What a mass of interest expect, and finally inherited, from my family, laziness of one of their number, the present lies in those few words! from the country book-did not, indeed, amount to affluence, but placed author, who, averse to the necessary toil of club, that hurries its bookseller with orders for me considerably beyond all apprehension of grammar and its rules, was in the practice of the last volume of Memoirs, to the London want. I mention these particulars merely be- fighting his way to the knowledge of the drawing-room, crowding to gaze on the lion cause they are true. Many better men than German by his acquaintance with the Scottish of the night, the same passion of individual-myself have owed their rise from indigence and and Anglo-Saxon dialects, and, of course, freising our previous idea of a great man predo-obscurity to their own talents, which were, quently committed blunders, which were not minates. Whether it is that curiosity inherent doubtless, much more adequate to the task of lost on his more accurate and more studious in our nature, or, to subtilise a little, that level-raising them than any which I possess. Al- companions. A more general source of amuseling spirit which would fain believe that a dis- though it would be absurd and ungracious in ment, was the despair of the teacher, on finding play of the same weaknesses, passions, hopes, me to deny that I owe to literature many it impossible to extract from his Scottish stuand fears, makes our idol one with ourselves, marks of distinction to which I could not other-dents the degree of sensibility necessary, as he we have not time to analyse; but certain it is, wise have aspired, and particularly that of se- thought, to enjoy the beauties of the author to that the diorama which brings before us actual curing the acquaintance, and even the friend- whom he considered it proper first to introduce scenes of the author's life, is one of our most ship, of many remarkable persons of the age, them. We were desirous to penetrate at once popular exhibitions. Denon's talents for tell- to whom I might not otherwise have made my into the recesses of the Teutonic literature, ing a story are said to have been such, that way; it would, on the other hand, be ridiculous and were ambitious of perusing Goethe and Napoleon was wont to interrupt an unhappy to affect gratitude to the public favour, either Schiller, and others whose fame had been narrator with, "Ah, Denon, contez nous cela!" for my position in society, or the means of sup- sounded by MacKenzie. Dr. Willich, (a meThis peculiar talent-this natural honey-drop-porting it with decency,-matters which had dical gentleman), who was our teacher, was ping from the lip-Scott possesses in perfec-been otherwise secured under the usual chances judiciously disposed to commence our studies tion; and the history of his poetical career, as of human affairs. Thus much I have thought with the more simple diction of Gesner, and developed in a series of introductions to his it necessary to say upon a subject which is, prescribed to us The Death of Abel,' as the various works, makes this a truly delightful after all, of very little consequence to any one production from which our German tasks were volume. But his own account confirms what but myself. I proceed to detail the circum- to be drawn. The pietistic style of this author was always our opinion,-that he only (like stances which engaged me in literary pursuits. was ill adapted to attract young persons of our Wordsworth) wanted some strong passion to During the last ten years of the eighteenth age and disposition. We could no more symhave given his pages the last touch of poetical century, the art of poetry was at a remarkably pathise with the overstrained sentimentality of perfection: he has been the Lucullus of litera- low ebb in Britain. Hayley, to whom fashion Adam and his family, than we could have had ture he conquered, and then enjoyed; he has had some years before ascribed a higher degree a fellow-feeling with the jolly Faun of the led a life of pleasant study and social inter- of reputation than posterity has confirmed, had same author, who broke his beautiful jug, and course; and if his heroes are scarcely ever ter- now lost his reputation for talent, though he then made a song on it which might have rible in the conflict of passionate feelings, it is still lived admired and respected as an amiable affected all Staffordshire. To sum up the disbecause these feelings found no original cause, and accomplished man. The Bard of Memory tresses of Dr. Willich, we, with one consent, no answering tone, in his own mind. But in slumbered on his laurels, and he of Hope had voted Abel an insufferable bore, and gave the all other qualities, how large is his portion! scarce begun to attract his share of public at- pre-eminence, in point of masculine character, His descriptions are fairy wands, that call up tention. Cowper, a poet of deep feeling and to his brother Cain, or even to Lucifer himself. the scene before you; his narrative is dramatic bright genius, was dead; and, even while alive, When these jests, which arose out of the in its power, and but who ever took up a the hypochondria, which was his mental ma- sickly monotony and affected ecstasies of the volume of his without reading, or read without lady, impeded his popularity. Burns, whose poet, failed to amuse us, we had for our enterremembering? Like Prospero, we bury our genius our southern neighbours could hardly tainment the unutterable sounds manufactured book, and break our rod of criticism, in his yet comprehend, had long confined himself to by a Frenchman, our fellow-student, who, favour: let him speak for himself. song-writing. Names which are now known with the economical purpose of learning two "My birth, without giving the least preten- and distinguished wherever the English lan- languages at once, was endeavouring to acquire sion to distinction, was that of a gentleman, guage is spoken, were then only beginning to German, of which he knew nothing, by means and connected me with several respectable fa- be mentioned; and, unless among the small of English, concerning which he was nearly as milies and accomplished persons. My educa- number of persons who habitually devote a ignorant. Heaven only knows the notes which tion had been a good one, although I was de- part of their leisure to literature, those of he uttered, in attempting, with unpractised prived of its full benefit by indifferent health, Southey, Wordsworth, and Coleridge, were but organs, to imitate the gutturals of these two just at the period when I ought to have been little known. The realms of Parnassus, like intractable languages. At length, in the midst most sedulous in improving it. The young many a kingdom at the period, seemed to lie of much laughing and little study, most of us men with whom I was brought up, and lived open to the first bold invader, whether he acquired some knowledge, more or less extenmost familiarly, were those who, from oppor- should be a daring usurper, or could shew a sive, of the German language, and selected for tunities, birth, and talents, might be expected legitimate title of sovereignty." ourselves, some in the philosophy of Kant, to make the greatest advances in the profession An interesting view of German literature some in the more animated works of the Gerto which we were all destined; and I have the follows, and he proceeds to its influence on man dramatists, specimens more to our taste pleasure still to preserve my youthful intimacy himself. than The Death of Abel.'" with no inconsiderable number of them, whom "In Edinburgh, where the remarkable His friendship with Lewis is another link in their merit has carried forward to the highest coincidence between the German language and his progress; we cannot omit the following honours of their profession. Neither was I in that of the Lowland Scottish encouraged extract,

6

"I had, indeed, tried the metrical transla-thinking seriously on the subject, I wrote out | has been, by the general consent of his brethren, tions which were occasionally recommended to a fair copy (of Glenfinlas, I think), and marked recently elected to be their Dean of Faculty, or us at the High School. I got credit for at- all the various corrections which had been pro- President, being the highest acknowledgment tempting to do what was enjoined, but very little posed. On the whole, I found that I had been of his professional talents which they had it in for the mode in which the task was performed; required to alter every verse, almost every their power to offer. But this is an incident and I used to feel not a little mortified when line; and the only stanzas of the whole ballad much beyond the ideas of a period of thirty my versions were placed in contrast with others which escaped criticism were such as neither years' distance, when a barrister who really of admitted merit. At one period of my could be termed good nor bad, speaking of them possessed any turn for lighter literature, was at schoolboy days I was so far left to my own as poetry, but were of a mere commonplace as much pains to conceal it, as if it had in desires as to become guilty of verses on a character, absolutely necessary for conducting reality been something to be ashamed of; and thunder-storm, which were much approved of, the business of the tale. This unexpected re- I could mention more than one instance in until a malevolent critic sprung up, in the sult, after about a fortnight's anxiety, led me which literature and society have suffered loss, shape of an apothecary's blue-buskined wife, to adopt a rule from which I have seldom de- that jurisprudence might be enriched. Such, who affirmed that my most sweet poetry was parted during more than thirty years of literary however, was not my case; for the reader will stolen from an old magazine. I never forgave life. When a friend, whose judgment I re-not wonder that my open interference with the imputation, and even now I acknowledge spect, has decided, and upon good advisement matters of light literature diminished my emsome resentment against the poor woman's told me, that a manuscript was worth nothing,ployment in the weightier matters of the law. memory. She indeed accused me unjustly, or at least possessed no redeeming qualities Nor did the solicitors, upon whose choice the when she said I had stolen my brooms ready sufficient to atone for its defects, I have gene-counsel takes rank in his profession, do me less made; but as I had, like most premature poets, rally cast it aside; but I am little in the cus-than justice by regarding others among my copied all the words and ideas of which my tom of paying attention to minute criticisms, contemporaries as fitter to discharge the duty verses consisted, she was so far right, that there or of offering such to any friend who may do due to their clients, than a young man who was not an original word or thought in the whole me the honour to consult me. I am convinced was taken up with running after ballads, whesix lines. I made one or two faint attempts at that, in general, in removing even errors of a ther Teutonic or national. My profession and verse, after I had undergone this sort of daw-trivial or venial kind, the character of origi-I, therefore, came to stand nearly upon the plucking at the hands of the apothecary's wife; nality is lost, which, upon the whole, may be footing on which honest Slender consoled himbut some friend or other always advised me to that which is most valuable in the production. self with having established with Mistress Anne put my verses in the fire, and, like Dorax in About the time that I shook hands with criti- Page: There was no great love between us the play, I submitted, though with a swell- cism, and reduced my ballads back to their at the beginning, and it pleased Heaven to deing heart.' In short, excepting the usual original form, stripping them without remorse crease it on farther acquaintance." I became tribute to a mistress's eyebrow, which is the of those lendings' which I had adopted at sensible that the time was come when I must language of passion rather than poetry, I had the suggestion of friends, an opportunity un-either buckle myself resolutely to the toil by not for ten years indulged the wish to couple expectedly offered of introducing to the world day, the lamp by night,' renouncing all the so much as love and dove, when, finding Lewis what had hitherto been confined to a circle of Delilahs of my imagination, or bid adieu to the in possession of so much reputation, and con- friends. Lewis had announced a collection, profession of the law, and hold another course. ceiving that, if I fell behind him in poetical first intended to bear the title of Tales of I confess my own inclination revolted from the powers, I considerably exceeded him in general Terror,' and afterwards Tales of Wonder,' more severe choice, which might have been information, I suddenly took it into my head which last was finally adopted." deemed by many the wiser alternative. As my to attempt the style by which he had raised transgressions had been numerous, my repenthimself to fame." ance must have been signalised by unusual "It may be readily supposed that the at- sacrifices. I ought to have mentioned, that, tempts which I had made in literature had since my fourteenth or fifteenth year, my health, "Thus I was set up for a poet, like a pedlar been unfavourable to my success at the bar. originally delicate, had become extremely rowho has got two ballads to begin the world The goddess Themis is, at Edinburgh, and I bust. From infancy I had laboured under the upon; and I hastened to make the round of all suppose every where else, of a peculiarly jealous infirmity of a severe lameness, but, as I believe my acquaintances, shewing my precious wares disposition. She will not readily consent to is usually the case with men of spirit who suffer and requesting criticism-a boon which no au- share her authority, and sternly demands from under personal inconveniencies of this nature, thor asks in vain. For it may be observed, her votaries not only that real duty be carefully I had, since the improvement of my health, in that, in the fine arts, those who are in no re- attended to and discharged, but that a certain defiance of this incapacitating circumstance, dis. spect able to produce any specimens themselves, air of business shall be observed even in the tinguished myself by the endurance of toil on hold themselves not the less entitled to decide midst of total idleness. It is prudent, if not foot or horseback, having often walked thirty upon the works of authors; and justly, no doubt, absolutely necessary, in a young barrister, to miles a-day, and rode upwards of a hundred, to a certain degree; for the merits of composi- appear completely engrossed by his profession; without stopping. In this manner I made many tion produced for the express purpose of pleasing however destitute of employment he may be, pleasant journeys through parts of the country the world at large, can only be judged of by he ought to preserve, if possible, the appearance then not very accessible, gaining more amuse the opinion of individuals; and perhaps, as in of full occupation. He should at least seem ment and instruction than I have been able to the case of Molière's old woman, the less sophis- perpetually engaged among his law-papers, dust-acquire since I have travelled in a more commoticated the person consulted, so much the better.ing them, as it were; and, as Ovid advises the But I was ignorant, at the time I speak of, that fair,

Glenfinlas and the Eve of St. John were written about this time.

The following is the account of how he finally decided on pursuing the career of literature.

dious manner. I practised most sylvan sports, also, with some success, and with great delight. though the applause of the many may justly Si nullus erit pulvis, tamen excute nullum. But these pleasures must have been all resigned, appreciate the general merits of a piece, it is Perhaps such extremity of attention is more or used with great moderation, had I deternot so safe to submit such a performance to the especially required, considering the great num- mined to regain my station at the bar. It was more minute criticism of the same individuals, ber of counsellors who are called to the bar, and even doubtful whether I could, with perfect when each, in turn, having seated himself in how very small a proportion of them are finally character as a jurisconsult, retain a situation in the censor's chair, has placed his mind in a cri- disposed, or find encouragement, to follow the a volunteer corps of cavalry, which I then held. tical attitude, and delivered his opinion senten- law as a profession. Hence the number of de- The threats of invasion were at this time instant tiously and ex cathedra. General applause was serters is so great, that the least lingering look and menacing; the call by Britain on her chilin almost every case freely tendered; but the behind occasions a young novice to be set down dren was universal, and was answered by many, abatements in the way of proposed alterations as one of the intending fugitives. Certain it is, who, like myself, consulted rather their will and corrections were cruelly puzzling. It was that the Scottish Themis was at this time pecu- than their ability to bear arms. My services, in vain the young author, listening with becom- liarly jealous of any flirtation with the Muses however, were found useful in assisting to maining modesty, and with a natural wish to please, on the part of those who had ranged themselves tain the discipline of the corps, being the point cut and carved, tinkered and coopered, upon under her banners. This was probably owing on which their constitution rendered them his unfortunate ballads-it was in vain that to her consciousness of the superior attractions most amenable to military criticism. In other he placed, displaced, replaced, and misplaced; of her rivals. Of late, however, she has relaxed respects the squadron was a fine one, consisting every one of his advisers was displeased with in some instances in this particular; an eminent of handsome men, well mounted and armed at the concessions made to his co-assessors, and example of which has been shewn in the case their own expense. My attention to the corps the author was blamed by some one, in almost of my friend, Mr. Jeffrey, who, after long con- took up a good deal of time; and while it occuevery case, for having made two holes in at- ducting one of the most influential literary pe-pied many of the happiest hours of my life, it tempting to patch up one. At last, after riodicals of the age, with unquestionable ability, furnished an additional reason for my reluct