The long parade of death I spy, And leave my lone captivity! "To purer mansions in the sky, Fair hope directs my grief-worn eye; Adieu, ye babes, whose infant bloom, Of undeserv'd captivity! "O, power benign, that rul'st on high! To soothe the sad captivity! "Now virtue's sure reward to prove, During his third session at college, the future poet made, according to the late Dr. Duncan, of Ruthwell, who was his fellow student, several enemies by the severity of his satirical effusions; but many of them were the cause of amusement rather than anger. Glasgow University has been long a haunt of Irish students; but the new colleges, we expect, will do much to retain these winter absentees at home. The Belfast College, founded, in some measures, on classes already formed, is likely to be efficient and "Vos, Hiberni, collocatis, and it answered his purpose, for all he wanted was a We come now to the first intimation respecting political matters; and it is a very interesting passage, confirming the views that we have steadily expressed regarding the conduct of the Scottish political martyrs, and the unjust severity of the proceedings by which they were victimised: ""Déchirant à l'envi leur propre république ; Lions contre lions; parents contre parents, "Of the great events which were now hastening to their consummation, and forcing the public mind into the most painful apprehensions as to their results upon the whole fabric of civilised society, Campbell, though comparatively a tyro in the school of politics, was, nevertheless, a keen and attentive observer. By this time,' he says, 'the French Revolution had everywhere lighted up the contending spirits of democracy and aristocracy; and being, in my own opinion, a competent judge of politics, I became a democrat. I read Burke on the French Revolution, of course; but, unable to follow his subtleties, or to appreciate his merits, I took the word of my brother democrats that he was a sophist. No doubt my principles-if I may so call my puerile opinionsgot a check from the atrocities of the French Jacobins ; and my hatred hung balanced between them and the allied invaders of France, who brought forth all the evil energies of that kingdom, and eventually created the salamander Napoleon. But although I wept at hearing of the execution of Louis, and the fate of his Queen and the Dauphin, with the same sincere regret as I now read them in the page of history, I was, nevertheless-boy as I certainly was-possessed, even then, with an opinion which I have retained through life, namely, that the French massacres, and, above all, the death of Louis, were signal calamities to the friends of peaco and liberty in England, and were equally signal advantages to its bitter enemies. "It was in those years that the Scottish Reformers, Muir, Gerald, and others, were transported to Botany Bay:--Muir, although he had never uttered a sentence in favour of reGerald for acts which, in the opinion of sound English lawform stronger than William Pitt himself had uttered; and vers, fell short of sedition. I did not even then approve of Gerald's mode of agitating the reform question in Scotland magnificent account of his talents and accomplishments; by means of a Scottish convention; but I had heard a and I longed insufferably to see him; but the question was, how to get to Edinburgh. "While thus gravely considering the ways and means, it immediately occurred to me that I had an uncle's widow in Edinburgh-a kind-hearted elderly lady, who had seen me at Glasgow, and said that she would be glad to receive me at her house, if I should ever come to the Scottish metropolis. I watched my mother's molia tempora fundi-for she had them, good woman-and eagerly catching the propitious moment, I said, "Oh, mamma, how I long to see Edinburgh: If I had but three shillings, I could walk there Campbell's, and walk back in another day!" To my dein one day, sleep two nights, and be two days at my aunt lightful surprise she answered, "No, my bairn; I will give you what will carry you to Edinburgh and bring you back; way in one day"-that was twenty-two miles. "Here," said but you must promise me not to walk more than half the she, "are five shillings for you in all; two shillings will serve you to go, and two to return; for a bed at the halfshall never forget the beautiful coin!-a King William and way house costs but sixpence." She then gave me-I Mary crown-piece. I was dumb with gratitude; but sallying out to the streets, I saw at the first bookseller's shop a print of Elijah fed by the ravens. Now, I had often heard "Early in the spring of this year, and in acknowledg- my poor mother saying confidentially to our worthy neighment of his exemplary conduct, Campbell obtained a few bour, Mrs. Hamilton-whose strawberries I had pilfereddays' leave of absence from College. He had just completed that in case of my father's death, and he was a very old man, the first sketch of a prize poem, and laid it aside for future she knew not what would become of her. "But," she used consideration. Another object had taken strong possession to add, "let me not despair, for Elijah was fed by the ravens." of his mind; and the holidays, just granted, encouraged the When I presented her with the picture, I said nothing of its hope of his being enabled to realise a pleasing and long- tacit allusion to the possibility of my being one day her supcherished object of ambition. This was a visit to Ediu- porter; but she was much affected, and evidently felt a strong burgh, during a time of great political excitement, when presentiment.' His mother's presentiment had its literal the trial of Muir, Gerald, and others, for high treason, was fulfilment; every reader will mark and feel the beauty of a expected to take place. At this trial Campbell was present; passage to which no commentary can do justice. Next and no circumstance of his life ever made so powerful an inorning, continues Campbell, I took my way to Edinburgh impression on his mind as what he heard and saw on th with four shillings and sixpence in my pocket. I witnessed occasion. The whole scene within the Parliament-house-Joseph Gerald's trial, and it was an era in my life. Hitherto the judges on the bench-the prisoners at the bar-their I had never known what public eloquence was, and I am looks-their eloquence-their indignant repudiation of the sure the Justiciary Scotch Lords did not help me to a concharges brought against them-their solemn appeals to the ception of it-speaking, as they did, bad arguments in broad jury-their sentence-their solemn protest and despair-all Scotch. But the Lord Advocate's speech was good-the seemed to haunt his imagination in after life, like a reality speeches of Laing and Gillies were better; and Gerald's which nothing could efface. In detailing the circumstance speech annihilated the remembrance of all the eloquence which preceded the poet's visit to the capital, I have again that had ever been heard within the walls of that house. He recourse to bis own manuscript, in which I find some domes- quieted the judges, in spite of their indecent interruptions of the traits of an interesting nature. It commences with a him, and produced a silence in which you might have heard short sketch of the political aspect of the country at this a pin fall to the ground. At the close of his defence stirring period, particularly of France, the wretched condi- he said, And now, gentlemen of the jury-now that I have tion of which Boileau had so briefly but admirably predicted:- to take leave of you for ever, let me remind you that mercy 46 is no small part of the duty of jurymen; that the man who || shuts his heart on the claims of the unfortunate, on him the gates of mercy will be shut; and for him the Saviour of the world shall have died in vain." At this finish I was moved, and turning to a stranger beside me, apparently a tradesman, I said to him, "By heavens, Sir, that is a great man!" "Yes, Sir," he answered; "he is not only a great man himself, but he makes every other man feel great who listens to him.' "This visit to Edinburgh, and above all, the trial he had witnessed in the Parliament-house-the strong political excitement evinced by the spectators-the dignified demeanour, and glowing eloquence of the prisoner Geraldmade an impression on young Campbell's mind that never left him. It may be supposed, indeed, to have had no little influence in strengthening and confirming those early principles, the strict observance of which, on all subsequent occasions, gave him that title of political consistency to which he so religiously adhered. "Full of his subject, he returned home to his father's house, and to the prosecution of bis studies, with that increased thirst for distinction which had already marked his progress, and was now conducting him to the summit of literary fame." The sympathy of a young man, possessed of commanding talents, unassociated with those political opinions for which Muir, Gerald, and their companions were punished; educated in the strictest circles of Scotch burgher life, always peaceable, decorous, and loyal to the dynasty; and under the influence of professors who were satisfied with the order of things then existing in this country-the sympathy even of a young man, in these circumstances, and with the acquirements and endowments of Thomas Campbell, was a testimonial, and even a vindication, which posterity will not disregard. The trial made a deep impression on one auditor who had walked to and from Edinburgh, not for the exclusive purpose of being present, but with a view to that amongst other objects. His character was changed. He became more sedate from that glimpse of the world's work. One agitator was made by the trial, and Dr. Beattie says that subscquently, after the business of the day was over, he would call a few of his comrades together, and read them lectures on the miserable prospects of societythe corrupt state of modern legislation-the glories of the ancient republics—and the wisdom of Solon and Lycurgus." During his sessions at college, Campbell's studies were directed towards the Church; but his biographer, unconsciously, we suppose, demonstrates the bad working of Church patronage in these days; which probably kept one man out of the Scottish pulpit, whose genius and energy, if they had been directed into that channel, would undoubtedly have placed him, in point of success and utility, on a level with its brightest ornaments. In 1794, however, the party who subsequently opened up the question of patronage, and the circumstances that induced a relaxation of its rigour, had not been developed. The want of any hope of efficient patronage changed the current of Campbell's life. His father, who was a strictly religious man, probably urged perseverance; but the opposite counsel appears to have prevailed, and the poet remained a layman. fellows were preparing for holy orders-theology, with all the weighty matters of the law,' ccclesiastical history, and logic, were the leading studies of the session. Having a warm friendship for those young men, living much in their company, and sharing their sentiments, it is probable that he at length embraced similar views; and, for some time, at least, steadily persevered in regulating his studies by theirs. Circumstances, however, of a domestic or personal nature, appear to have altered his purpose; but these are so indistinctly remembered, or so doubtfully stated, that I cannot take upon me to repeat them with any degree of confidence. "His prospects of Church patronage could never have been very encouraging. His family connections, on both sides of the house, were chiefly engaged in commerce; and when he looked towards Kirman, the home of his forefathers,' and thought of days when the staunch old 'lairds of that ilk' would have sold their last acre to have placed such a kinsman in the pulpit, the case was cheerless; roofless and wild' was their abode; and under the green sward of Kilmichael kirkyard lay the last 'heritors who could have lent him a helping hand. All this passed through his mind. But then it was said 'his talents would easily accomplish what family influence could not.' Talents he certainly had-talents of the first order-but of what avail were these? Res angusta domi.' "Haud facile emergunt, quorum virtutibus obstat Many other such arguments were employed; but they went merely to show that, if he aspired to Church prefer. ment, he must give much more attention to things Ecclesiastical study Calvin, compose homilies, read Mosheim, follow in the steps of those noble ancestors, who, at the peril of their lives and property, had ever clung fast to the interest of their mother Kirk; and take his own words for a His At the close of the third session, Campbell carried three prizes; but more pecuniary losses having been encountered by his family, he was induced to seek employment; and found it in the Hebrides. journey to Mull, where he was to act as tutor to the family of Mrs. Campbell of Sunipol, was made overland; and partly, from want of any other conveyance, on foot. The state of the Highlands, at that comparatively recent period, is shown pretty clearly in the following extract :— "At last, after crossing Cowal, and reaching Inverary, we regained a spot of comparative civilization, where there was a high road with milestones. On that road, I remember, we came up with a little boy, in a postman's dress, whose pony was left grazing on the road side, whilst Red Jacket himself was quietly playing at marbles with some other boys. 'You little rascal! we said to him, 'are you the post-boy, and thus playing away your time? Na! sir,' he answered, 'I'm no the post-I'm only an express!'' "Down to this period of his academical career, Campbell appears to have studied with a view to the Church. Among the most intimate of his associates was Hamilton Paul, whose talents were of a high order-a grave philosopher, but a lively poot. In the congenial society of this worthy compeer, and that of a kindred spirit, the late Rev. Dr. Finlayson, with whom he afterwards travelled to Mull, he spent many plea-pondence, by saying "there is no paper in Mull." sant, as well as profitable, hours. And as both his class- He remained only five months in the island, and re At Mull he found a famine of paper, and apologises in 1795 to a friend for the irregularity of his corres turned to Glasgow for his fifth session. In one of his notes he says: "After my return from Mull, I supported myself during the winter by private tuition. Among other scholars, I had a youth named Cuninghame, who is now Lord Cuninghame, in the Justiciary Court of Edinburgh." ap From a letter of his Lordship to Dr. Beattie, he pears to have been boarded in Mr. Campbell's family during this session. Campbell was greatly captivated by the lectures of Professor Miller, under whom the late Lord Melbourne studied for some time, and from whom he probably imbibed those constitutional principles to which he was strongly attached. Professor Miller nearly succeeded in making the poet a lawyer, that task in which the solicitor had failed; and he says: "At that time, had I possessed but a few hundred pounds, to have subsisted upon in studying law, I believe I should have bid adieu to the Muses, and gone to the bar; but I had no choice in the matter." Perhaps it was well for the world that he was so constrained and shut in by poverty on every side. This session closed his college life; and he began the world as a tutor in the family of General Napier, who was residing at Downie; but he disliked the profession. LITERARY LIFE. Although his famous and spirit-stirring lyric, "Ye Mariners of England," was not published until several years afterwards, when it appeared first in the Morning Chronicle, yet Dr. Beattie thinks that it was composed in Edinburgh during 1799, after the model of an old song, "Ye Gentlemen of England." He entered into descriptive of Scottish history, under the title of "The an engagement with Mr. Mundall for another poem, Queen of the North;" and arrangements for its illustration were made with Mr. Williams, a landscape painter, but the work was never completed. THE GERMAN PILGRIMAGE. left Leith for Hamburgh. The object of the journey, The poet made many attempts to become a lawyer. author a Munich." Mr. Campbell rebutted the charge respecting the "Exile of Erin," most decisively. The question was conclusively settled by the certificate of Lord Nu- | two Scottish vessels in convoy, and they were carried gent, a relative of the person by whom the song to Yarmouth along with the English fleet. Mr. was said to have been composed; and who intimated Campbell's first visit to England was therefore made that, for a considerable period, Mr. Nugent, the sup-involuntarily, and it was he cause of great regret to posed author, by the Monaghan version, was quite him. He landed in London with only a few shillings familiar with the song; knew it in Campbell's Works, in his pocket, for all his resources had been expended and never hinted a doubt of the authorship. The in assisting a friend at Altona. In London he found curious charge was chiefly got up by the editor of a none of his acquaintances, and he had never seen Mr. provincial paper, in a small Irish town, who professed Perry of the Morning Chronicle. He was obliged, notto draw his information from Mr. Nugent's sister. withstanding, to call upon him and to explain his situaThe circumstances connected with the song were all tion. Mr. Perry was a generous friend, to whom many well known to a party of Irish exiles whom Campbell | young men were indebted for their advancement in life. met in Germany; by whom it was first sung, and on Writing to one of his Scotch correspondents, the poet whose account it had been composed. Campbell says, "I have found Perry. His reception was warm passed the winter of 1800 and 1801 at Altona, making and cordial, beyond what I had any right to expect. occasional excursions into other parts of Germany. I will be your friend,' said the good man. 'I will His beautiful verses addressed to Judith, the Jewess, be all that you could wish me to be.'"' In reference were also written in Altona. To his residence in to this first visit to London, he says, in his own Germany we are indebted for some of his best lyrics-notes, "calling on Perry one day, he showed me a of those splendid compositions whose every line is a letter from Lord Holland, asking about me, and exhousehold word, and which will live while our lan-pressing a wish to have me to dine at the King guage endures. The Battle of Hohenlinden," and of Clubs. Thither with his lordship I accordingly the "Soldier's Dream," were undoubtedly of German repaired, and it was an era in my life. There origin. The "Wounded Hussar" was written before I met, in all their glory and feather, Mackintosh, he saw the banks of the Danube; and he never was Rogers, the Smiths, Sydney, and others." So in America, although the scenery of Wyoming is said by accident and mishap he was thrown into the centre to be accurately described in his "Gertrude." of the Whig literary coteries; but an affliction was prepared for him even then; for a friend, meeting him on the streets of London, hinted to him the serious illness of his father, in such terms as led him to anticipate that parent's death. His worst fear on the subject was realised. His father had completed his ninety-first year; and of his seven sons, who had reached the years of manhood, "not one was present to close his eyes." While proceeding to Leith, by sea, for the purpose of visiting his mother, a lady who had read his poems, without knowing Mr. Campbell, surprised him by expressing her regret that the poet had been arrested in London on a charge .of high treason, was confined in the Tower, and would probably be executed. On arriving at Edinburgh, he found his mother acquainted with, and greatly troubled by, the rumour. All his countrymen must regret that his "Queen of the North never appeared. She was the subject of his day-thoughts and night-dreams, in Germany. All his letters refer to his projects in reference to this great work; and we can hardly forbear from quoting the following outline of what he meant to do for Edinburgh in the matter: "But to finishing my Queen of the North.' I have already mentioned how shocked I should be at the idea of leaving my honour unfulfilled. I expect, besides pieces to Perry, to have much done in it before you come out, but for want of matter I cannot possibly perfect it till then. I find this subject fertile in good episodes. The parting apostro phe to Edinburgh is supposed to be from shipboard, by moonlight. The feelings of my heart are still as warm to it as they were when I saw it vanishing. I then mean to transport myself, in imagination, to the castle height, and describe the sensations that would naturally arise from taking in with the eye the most remarkable scenery visible from that point. I mean to describe the view from Queen Street; then if anything romantic or classical can be connected with it, any of the mountain scenery obvious to the eye from that point. The plain pastoral sublimity of Arthur's Seat is next to be noticed-and if any scene be visible from thence, it will find a place in the poem. One of the places of Mary's refuge is to be seen from its top. After a sketch of the murder-closet of Rizzio, and the hall of the Scottish Kings, an episode on the college will conclude the poem." He therefore determined to wait on the Sheriff, Mr. Clerk, and report his position. That * The extract shows that Campbell was not familiar with Edinburgh. "If any scene be visible from Arthur's Seat ?" In the absence of a thick fog there A box, with a number of his papers, had been seized is scenery visible from Arthur's Seat sufficient to serve at Leith, in the expectation of finding treasonable an indefinite number of poets. Early in the spring documents amongst his manuscripts. "The Exile of of 1801 war was declared against Denmark, the Erin" would rather have been against him at this pinch, English residents were obliged to abandon Altona, but "Ye Mariners of England" was also found in the and Campbell sailed for England on the 6th of March. arrested box, and turned the scale. The end of his They were allowed to pass the Danish batteries examination is told by himself. "The Sheriff began without molestation, and sailed under convoy to to smoke the whole bubble, and said, 'This comes of England. Thus the poet lost his promised sum-trusting a Hamburgh spy. Mr. Campbell,' he said, mer tour in Germany; and the world gained, in this is a cold wet evening-what do you say to our the language of his biographer, "his noblest lyric, having a bottle of wine during the examination of your the Battle of the Baltic."" There were only democratic papers ?? ?? || The fate of Donovan was fortunate, and his story, as told by Mr. Campbell, is ridiculous :— "A twelvemonth afterwards I met Donovan in London, and recognised my gaunt Irish friend, looking very dismal. 'Ha! Donovan,' said I, 'I wish you joy, my good fellow, in getting out of the tower, where I was told they had imprisoned you, and were likely to treat you like another Sir William Wallace.' 'Och,' said he, good luck to the Tower-black was the day-and it was only a week agothat I was turned out of it. Would that any one could get me into it for life!' 'My stars! and were you not in confinement? Tschach! ne'er the bit of it. The Government allowed me a pound sterling a-day as a State prisoner. The Tower gaoler kept a glorious table; and he let me out to walk where I liked all day long, perfectly secure that I should return at meal-times. And then, besides, he had a nice pretty daughter.' And don't you go and see her in the tower? Why, no, my dear fellow. The course of true love never yet run smooth.' I discovered that she had no money; and she found out that my Irish estates, and all that I had told her about their being confiscated in the Rebellion, was sheer blarney. So, when the day arrived that your merciless Government ordered me to be liberated as a State prisoner, I was turned adrift on the wide world, and glad to become a reporter to one of the newspapers.'' Mr. Campbell's domestic concerns bore heavily upon him at this juncture. His mother and sisters were dependent on him for support. His brothers were either too far away or unable to share the debt; but the poet nobly met this duty; and through his lifetime never shrunk from any expenditure necessary to secure the comfort of his relatives. No man ever better discharged, in these respects, the duties of a son and of a brother. The companionship of gay and wealthy friends never dazzled him into forgetfulness of his humble but esteemed relatives; although often the means necessary to secure their comfort were obtained Our extracts are neither from the beginning nor the end of this curious poem : "Thus, when Monopoly's briarean bands Had dragg'd her harrow o'er a hundred lands; "Nor ceased my day-dream till the waning hours •When mortal wants th' immortal spirit bow'd, Ill would it suit to ask a poet's food In vulgar phrase, ignobly understood!' Or simmering greens with soft rotation turn, Champ'd in the luscious treasure of the churn! Then pour the brown ale, rich as ever ran From Balder's horn, or Edin's creamy can! Blest in that honest draught, let none repine For nect'rous noyeau or ambrosial wine; But-lest my waining wealth refuse to raise So fair a feast, in these degenerate daysTake from this splendid shilling, what may find Some sweet refection of a sober mind, Yon earth-born apple, vegetable grace Of Erin's sons-a blunder-loving race; Well could that food of bulls delight me now, Mixt with the mantling beverage of the cow; My vaccine milk on 'tatoes sweet should pour, And fruit and liquor charm our fairy-footed bower!'" Lord Minto, who had been employed on an extraordiwith Germany, met Mr. Campbell, by his own desire, at nary mission to the court of Vienna, and was acquainted the house of the late Dugald Stewart, and afterwards treated the poet with great respect. The Minto family are always engaged in special missions. They have a of it in Italy during the present year, to very little turn for that work. The present Earl has had his share good purpose. His father was a Tory-Campbell was man's credit, that in times when political differences a Whig or a Radical-but it is greatly to the nobleprivate friendship, to which Campbell refers in the folran high, he did not permit them to interfere with his lowing extract:- than many other spots of my life. I was attacked again at "My history since I left you has not been much brighter Liverpool with a resurrection of my winter complaint. The remedy has been an obstacle to what I ought principally to namely, my numerous introductions. I have not delivered have been employed in cultivating since I came to London, above one half of my letters; nor have I found myself in spirits to call upon the generality of those persons whose acBrougham, all of which I threw into the fire; for, unless quaintance I have formed. I began letters to Graham and to one has pleasant thoughts to communicate, what is the use of residence. correspondence? Horner would inform you of my present Lord Minto has shown me great kindness, and conferred that kindness with delicacy. At an early period of our acquaintance, I had a conversation with him on the ticklish subject of politics, in which it was my design that he should have my confession of faith; and, if that were inconsistent with his good opinion, that our acquaintance should drop. I told him that my principles were Republican; and that my opinion of the practicability of a Republican form of government had not been materially affected by all that had happened in the French Revolution. I added that my oldest and best friends were even of the same creed, and attributed my opinion in politics to my attendance on the lectures of John Miller. Lord Minto is a Tory of the Burke school. He censured the opinions of the opposite sect very strongly; but said that he never cherished an illiberal dislike to young and candid errors of judgment. I see him but once a-day, at breakfast, for he is abroad the rest of the day. His conversation is very instructive, from his intimate acquaintance with political facts and characters; and, though his creed is not favourable to political liberty, it has no mixture of personal asperity.'' "Lochiel's Warning" was written at Minto House, during the night. It has the character of an inspiration. The poet's evening thoughts had been turned to the wizard's warning, and in course of the night he awoke, repeating the idea for which he had been searching for days, rung for the servant, had a cup of tea, and produced "Lochiel's Warning" before day dawn. Of that poem Mr. Telford wrote, "I am absolutely vain of Thomas Campbell. There was never anything |