all the most celebrated monuments of antiquity, and the best productions of modern art; and studied them so minutely, and with so true a judgment, that in some of his descriptions, in the poem of "Liberty," we have the master-pieces there mentioned placed in a stronger light, perhaps, than if we saw them with our eyes; at least, more justly delineated than in any other account extant: so superior is a natural taste of the grand and beautiful to the traditional lessons of a common virtuoso.

As for his more distinguishing qualities of mind and heart, they are better represented in his writings than they can be by the pen of any biographer. There, his love of mankind, of his country, and friends,-his devotion to the Supreme Being, founded on the most elevated and just conceptions of his operations and providence,—shine out in every page. So unbounded was his tenderness of heart, that it took in even the brute creation: judge what it must have been towards his own species. He is not indeed known, through his whole life, to have given any person one moment's pain, by his writings or otherwise. He took no part in the poetical squabbles which happened in his time, and was respected and left undisturbed by both sides. He would even refuse to take offence when he justly might, by interrupting any personal story that was brought him with some jest, or some humorous apology for the offender. Nor was he ever seen ruffled or discomposed but when he read or heard of some flagrant instance of injustice, oppression, or cruelty: then, indeed, the strongest marks of horror and indignation were visible in his countenance.

To the observations of his friend it may be added,that the simplicity of Thomson's character is seen in the purity and warmth of his sentiments, which are sometimes childish; his indolence in the carelessness of his

versification; the improper use of many of his epithetsand he never seems to have thought any line worth the toil of polishing, and hence the perpetual use of pompous glittering diction, substituted for thought or description. Amidst much that is truly exquisite, he has mingled the most absurd common-place. A line of perfect beauty is followed by a piece of bombast; his touches of nature and picturesque description are often marred by pedantry or carelessness. Hazlitt says, "that he is affected through carelessness, pompous from unsuspecting simplicity of character. He is frequently pedantic and ostentatious in his style, because he had no consciousness of these vices in themselves." In spite of all these drawbacks, Thomson is a charming poet, and his works have ever been the delight of all classes; his beauties are genuine, and no one has ever painted more successfully the "changing " and "rustic joys of England. "The Castle of Indolence" may be regarded as his best sustained effort, as on the whole it has fewer defects than "The Seasons." Some of the stanzas-especially in the first canto-fill the mind with lazy luxury. Of all Thomson's works, his "Liberty" is least read. This poem does not appear as originally composed, but as shortened by Lord Lyttelton.

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