SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF WILLIAM FALCONER. "A low-born man of parentage obscure, THIS ingenious writer was a native of Scotland, having been, as supposed, born in one of the villages on the coast of Fife; but his parents, in consequence of some domestic misfortunes, removed to a seaport town in England, where they both died of an epidemic disorder, and left William a destitute orphan. He was bred to the sea, and spent the greatest part of his life as a sailor, but in a very low station. Curiosity is naturally excited to learn how a man, thus untutored, and busily employed in such an active capacity, had either talents or leisure to court the Muses:how a youth, so unfavourably situated for literary acquisitions, had imbibed that taste and knowledge which have ranked him so high among the British Poets; but such information, however desirable, cannot be ascertained, and it is to be regretted that he has not left behind him some memoirs of a life, which, from his situation, must have been chequered with incident, and would, in all probability, have been far more interesting than the biography of Bards in general. His poetic talents have, however, rescued his name from oblivion, and verified the adage "Poeta nascitur, non fit." We are informed, indeed, by the ingenious Editor of the works of Burns, that Falconer, while serving on board a man of war, attracted the notice of Campbell, author of Lexiphanes," who took him for his servant, and delighted in giving him instruction. Under such a kind master, our author, no doubt, profited considerably; and as merit generally overcomes all difficulties, he began to exercise his genius at an early age. In 1751 he published, at Edinburgh, "A Poem, sacred to the Memory of Frederick Prince of Wales;" though the confined nature of this loyal effusion afforded him but little opportunity of displaying his descriptive and imaginative powers, yet there was that harmonious versification in it which gave sufficient demonstration of a rising genius. But it is justly remarked, that the complimentary efforts of inexperienced and obscure bards are seldom or ever noticed; and such, we believe, was the fate of this poem. Whenever merit appears in the character of either a petitioner or flatterer, neglect or contempt is generally the reward! Our author still continued to struggle with the hardships of his profession; and it appears, his difficulties were likewise attended with misfortunes; for in some lines, afterwards addressed to his patron the Duke of York, he stiles himself, "A hopeless youth, whose vital page was one sad and |