دو much labour and refinement, and Thus instructing and amusing the which arises also from the want of public, and improving the minds of those flights of fancy, and blazes of youth, did Mr Richardson pass the feeling, by which the soul is enrap- greatest and most important part of tured and its attention sustained. his life. Very rarely was this chequered by any remarkable incident. Occasionally, indeed, he relieved its uniformity by a visit to England, where he was known to the learned. As a member, too, of the General Assembly of our National Church, he frequently had occasion to be in Edinburgh. In this intellectual city he found congenial society, particularly that of his friends, Lord Craig and Mr Henry Mackenzie, with the latter of whom he generally on those occasions spent at least one day, when their conversation chiefly turned on subjects of literature and criticism.' His extensive correspondence, also, afforded him a variation of employment. Among the number of his correspondents were the author of the Man of Feeling; Grettin, Dean of Hereford; Samuel Rose, the friend of Cowper; Dr Charters, minister of Wilton, and one of his most particular friends; and Dr Anderson of Edinburgh. Respecting the occasion of his connection with one of these friends, Hayley, in his Life of Cowper, says, "Samuel Rose was sent in 1784 to Glasgow; there he resided in the house of Professor Richardson, a philosopher and a poet-amiable in every character, and so just to the merits of youth, that a friendship and correspondence commenced between the tutor and his pupil, which terminated only with the life of the latter.” In 1812, Mr Richardson produced his great work,-that for which he is most esteemed at the present day, and on which his claims to future fame must chiefly rest,-the last edition of his Essays on Shakespeare, containing, besides those separate portions already mentioned, an Essay on Shakespeare's Representation of National Characters, illustrated in that of Fluellen; together with Two Original Letters from Mr Burke, consisting of Observations on Shakespeare, and other Literary Subjects." His intention in this work is to make poetry subservient to philosophy, and to employ it in tracing the principles of human conduct. Yet he does not, with this view,-like his predecessor in the same path, Lord Kames -deify Shakespeare, or bestow on him papal infallibility. He does not from this poet collect certain immutable principles of truth, to which our conduct must be conformed; but he evinces, from personal oh servation, and by illustrations from human life, how natural the characters, incidents, and circumstances, are in the works of our great dramatist. The ideas and language of the poet lead him, by association, into fertile fields of philosophical discussion.-When we add, that Mr Richardson's work tends to enlarge our acquaintance with the faculties and principles of the human mind,-with the laws of writing and taste, with the import and merits of a great and popular author,--and with the theory and practice of morality, we must be convinced of the utility of his plan, and of the importance of the service which he has performed.* * Besides the more prominent productions of Mr Richardson's pen which have been considered, the following may be merely mentioned: "Memoir of the Rev. Dr Craig," in the Biographia Britannica. "Essay on the Origin of Superstition, illustrated in the Mythology of the Poems of Ossian," which was read in the Literary Society, and afterwards appended to Dr Graham's Essay on the Authenticity of the Poems of Ossian. Some Reviews, Essays, &c. in the Edinburgh Magazine and Review. A small posthumous publication on But this long, elegant, and useful life, was now approaching its close. In 1814, Mr Richardson had commenced, as usual, the business of the Session, had taught his class for some weeks, and appeared to enjoy better health than for a long time before. During the latter part of his life he had been much subject to the gout, the fits of which at last, recurring more frequently, and with greater severity, greatly weakened him. In his the method observed by himself in teaching Latin. He has left a work on Figurative Language, prepared for the press, of which there is reason to think that the publication cannot diminish his reputation, but will rather exhibit, to more advantage than any of his former writings, his extensive reading and research. usual state of health, however, he attended a meeting of the Faculty on Wednesday the 26th of October; but on the following day he was attacked by his habitual distemper, which, increasing soon to a degree of excessive painfulness, disclosed symptoms of coming dissolution. Through the whole attack he exhibited great fortitude, uttering not a murmur or complaint. When near his end, the intensity of his sufferings seemed to relax, and he was able to see and converse with his relations, and to arrange his secular affairs. He expressed, about this time, his firm belief in the truths of our holy religion, and an earnest desire of obtaining the favour of God, and the happiness of heaven, blessings, for the enjoyment of which he rested his prayers and hopes on the infinite merits and mediation of the Divine Redeemer. On Thursday morning, the 3d of November, about two o'clock, he exchanged this life for another, and, it is hoped, a better. "His passage into the other world," to use the words of an intimate acquaintance, was placid, and might, in respect of his hopes, as expressed to one of his friends, be compared to one retiring from a scene, in which he had completed his part, into another, where he trusted he would enjoy the favour of an all-gracious God, through the merits of that Saviour with whom he had early and long been acquainted." 66 In delineating the character of Mr Richardson, we shall consider it only in a personal and professional point of view, as the observations already made on his separate works may suffice to shew what he was as an author. As a teacher, Mr Richardson undoubtedly possessed no inconsiderable merit. In the public class, where strict discipline was requisite, he was severe without sternness, dignified, and impartial. The plan which he followed has been questioned, but it appeared to him, no doubt, to be the best, and it certainly was faithfully, ably, and profitably followed up. In the private class, however, he was more in his element. He took peculiar delight, it is said, in this department of his duty, and it was here unquestionably that he shone. Feeling, probably, the consciousness of his merit being here properly appreciated, disengaged from the drudgery of drilling mere boys, and engaging in an employment more dignified, rational, intellectual, and congenial, he could expand himself, to meet the capacities of his auditory, in the freedom of disquisition and illustration in which he delighted and excelled. It was in this province of his office that he frequently charmed his audience by his beautiful theories, by the admirable manner in which he unfolded, and transfused into his native language, the beauties of Latin story, sentiment, and idiom, by eloquent and pleasing illustrations, by a sprightly humour, an understanding finely cultivated, and a taste which was nicely chastened; and by the elegancies of a choice phraseology, and of a graceful elocution. In private society, he displayed himself to great advantage. Though in companies of a mixed kind, or where the persons were not so familiar to him, he was easy and elegant in conversation, yet he was especially so in his own house, where, freed from restraint, he poured forth a stream of rich, fluent, and correct diction, in which close reasoning, ingenious remark, and beautiful illustration, were uniformly conveyed to the delighted listener. When he indulged in sallies of humour, they were divested of satirical poignancy, were seasoned with good-nature, and might in fact be termed pleasantry. Nemo unquam urbanitate, nemo lepore, nemo suavitate condition. He had a double advantage in conversation. He was a philosopher, and therefore sensible and judicious; being a poet, he was consequently fanciful and eloquent. In no person's conversation perhaps, have these two characters been more happily united to produce an excellent converser. His conversational talents produced no rapture, indeed, nor sublimity of emotion: but they delighted, they charmed. There was a simplicity and chastity, a propriety and grace in his expressions, which made his manner of saying, like his way of doing, anything, irresistibly fascinating. These, with his politeness of address and extensive knowledge of the world, contributed to render him, perhaps, one of the most polished men, one of the completest gentlemen of his age. He had nothing of the pedant about him. He was superior in his manners to those who excelled him in general know ledge, and he surpassed the mere man of the world both in graceful and in more substantial qualifications. His taste was exquisite. It was composed of a most correct judgment, and refined sensibility. He was acute and ready, almost intuitively so, in discerning what was faulty or not pleasing in writing or conduct. This quality was improved by his study of those authors who have successively given law to men in matters of fine writing. By their rules he was perhaps too much trammelled, especially in his poetry, in which every thing is sometimes so much refined, that the sense is frittered away, or suspended on the smallest modification of a term. The constant endeavour to square one's productions by other rules than those which are suggested by nature and experience, must prevent that free unfettered exercise of the intellectual powers, which is necessary to original thinking, to the production of works of genius, and to great and splendid achievements in science or art. This may partly account for the fact, that Mr Richardson's essays are superior to his poems. In the former, he seasonably manifested his extensive and intimate acquaintance with the principles of the human mind, and with the laws of writing; while, in the latter, he had to be regulated and restrained by that very strict observ ance of these, which proceeded from his particular, knowledge of them, tation. Should many not have it in their power to be useful to young men in pecuniary matters, or should the latter, from a principle of independence, and from feelings of delicacy, not choose to accept of such assistance, there are a thousand other ways in which aid can be afforded to those who, though possessing high merit, are struggling with difficulties. Even the notice and approbation of an older man, eminent in the walks of literature, and in a superior station of life, is most grateful and encouraging to the young beginner in the course of learning; imparting to him a rapture and an impulse, which surmount difficulties, which gladden his heart, which gild his otherwise gloomy prospects. Admitting young men, too, to society superior either by learning or rank to that in which they were accustomed formerly to mix, has the effect of extending their views and improving their manners, while it often warms the heart, and exhibits a standard of estimation which they are ambitious of reaching, and which they will not suffer themselves to fall below by subsequent misconduct or relaxation of effort, But it is impossible to enumerate all the beneficial results of the species of kindness to which we have referred, and which usually appears on the aspect of the literature and society, not only of one period, but also of many ages. Few of the acts even of Mr Richardson's beneficence are known to us, because many of them were studiously concealed from the world; and few, therefore, of their effects can be traced. Like the noiseless dew, they have fallen in the night, and unheeded; or, like the hidden streamlet, they have refreshed and fructified the places through which they have passed, while their source is unexplored, and while, in their progress, they have been blended in the confluence of many currents of benevolence. There is a period, however, yet to be evolved, when the number and nature of all such deeds shall be most exactly ascertained, and most equitably rewarded. Mr Richardson was benevolent, to a great extent, to his relations and to young students of talent, who were in circumstances of comparative penury. Many persons, now high in the world, are the living monuments and evidences of his pecuniary liberality; while others, who fill eminent situations in the learned professions, will confess, that they owe their prosperity, in a great measure, to his early patronage and kind encouragements. Many students have been stimulated -by the notice of the Professor, when they had discovered abilities such as to excite expectations of future eminence. Others has he benefited by admitting them gratuitously to his lectures, by getting them situations as tutors in families, or by recommending them to those who had it in their power to be of assistance to them. The example of Mr Richardson in this respect is worthy of imi With the following traits in the character of Mr Richardson, by the pencil of one who had the best opportunities of knowing him, we shall conclude this imperfect sketch. Richardson possessed an intimate acquaintance with the great doctrines "Mr those deep feelings, and that peculiar language which are all remarkable in savage life. We come now to speak of it in the second step of its progress. A very early connection appears to have taken place between poetry and music. Music, produced both by the human voice and by instruments of rude construction, is common to all nations. In times of war, every savage tribe, when they go to battle, is anxious to strike terror into its enemies, by art as well as by valour. They have themselves experienced, that the dreadful music of nature, the voice of the thunder, or the roaring of the storm, is capable of inspiring the feeling of terror. They imitate this, therefore, in those instruments of warlike music which are intended to strike terror into their enemies, the hoarse toned trumpet, the deep hollow sounding drum; and adding to these their own dissonant shouts, they anticipate the same effects from them which they themselves have experienced. * of Christianity, the result of diligent and profound research. He frequently devoted a portion of his leisure time in summer to the study of the Scriptures, and during the winter preceding his decease, was engaged in writing a dissertation on the book of Job. He always possessed the deepest reverence for the Deity, and the most animating views of a future state; and he died with the full impression of these great realities on his mind.As a teacher his excellencies were transcendent. His translations of the Latin classics represented the originals, as nearly as a translator could do, in their native beauty and force. The most elegant and energetic expressions in English were always at his command, to convey the true meaning of the Latin idiom, without circumlocution, and without suffering the grace of the original idea to be impaired. In reading his translations of Horace, the scholar may catch the fire and spirit of that truly elegant poet. Another talent, which he possessed in an Man, also, in listening to the eminent degree, was that of opening melody of the birds, would probably the minds of his pupils to the percep- derive from the same source, the mution of the beauties of the Latin classic of nature, the first hint of theinvensics. The interesting views which he unfolded of the subject of these writings, united with the attractions of his diction, inspired the youth instructed by him with a degree of enthusiasm, which insured their attention to what he delivered. There was a charm in his voice, in his pronunciation, and manner of address, which was irresistible, and which gave effect to every word he uttered. Added to this, the warm interest he took in the proficiency of his students, and the conviction with which he impressed them, that their improvement was the object nearest his heart, filled them with respect, and commanded their attention to his prelections." ON THE CONNECTION BETWEEN HITHERTO We have spoken of poetry in its simplest form, as the offspring of that ardent imagination, * See Essay on the Causes of the Excellence of Early Poetry, p. 3 of the present volume. tion of those softer instruments which accompany the human 'voice. He would be led to this by the strong and universal principle of imitation which we see every day so powerfully exhi bited by children. Every one must have observed, that the imitation of the notes and cries of different animale, and particular birds, is one of the first and most favourite games of children, and one in which, even be fore they have acquired the use of language, they appear anxious to display * L'imitation de la Nature par le chant a du etre une des premieres qui se soient offertes à l'imagination. Tout etre vivant est sollicité par le sentiment de son existence à pousser en de certains momens des accens plus ou moins melodieux suivant la nature de ses organes: Comment au milieu de tant de chanteurs l'homme seroit il resté dans le silence? ENCYCLOPEDIE, Art. Poeme Lyrique, Et Zephyri, cava per calamorum, sibila LUCRETIUS, B. V. v. 1382. their infant ingenuity. The music of tle, we are certain that the tones of the North American Indians appears the voice with which these would be to confirm this conjecture. Travellers accompanied, would be expressive have given us an account of it in that and imitative of the feelings they instate which appears to have been al- volve; would, therefore, in the one most immediately subsequent to its case, be deep and solemn, in the other invention. Its only instruments were soft and plaintive. then the drum and the flute, and in playing upon this species of flute, the performer could accomplish nothing like a regular tune. Unconnected, but not unharmonious notes, as chance led their fingers to one stop or to another, was all which they ever attempted. They could not even elicit from the instrument any thing like the songs which they sung, and yet such seems to have been their fondness for this art, that we are told they would sit for hours together beside the cabin fire, playing over a few wild melancholy notes, and that every one who could direct his fingers to the stops, and produce a sound by breathing into it, imagined himself master of the instrument. * Such is the origin of the music of instruments, and as it owed its invention to an imitation of the melodies of nature, so vocal music, it is probable, was also entirely an imitative art, and was employed at first to give an additional effect by the variety of tone and modulation, to the language of passion. We mean it was imitative, because men not only in the savage state, but in all situations, attempt to modulate the tones of the voice to the feelings which they are anxious to inspire, whether in common discourse or in recited poetical composition, by the sounds with which they accompany them. It is in this manner that every passion has its own particular note, and that so universal is this feeling, that even those utterly ignorant of the science of music adapt these notes to the feelings which they mean to convey, nearly as skilfully as the most learned performer. If the subject was a war harangue, and the words were expressive of the feelings of determination or revenge, the sounds would be loud, harsh, and discordant. If the subject of the poem or harangue was devotional, in praise of the Great Spirit, or if it was melancholy, as a lamenta tion for those who had fallen in bat * Weld's Travels, p. 359. This seems to be the first and natural approach to the music of song, and we see this opinion every day verified by children, who, in the soft tones of their voice when they wish to please, or the plaintive notes they utter in distress, or the harsh accent they assume when their passions are roused, exactly suit their voices to the feelings they experience at the moment. According to this idea, the earliest vocal music would at first be nothing more perfect than a few disjointed but expressive notes, thrown together without any regular order, but as they were drawn forth by the poetical lan guage which they accompanied. It would therefore have little of what we are accustomed to admire in modern music, a regular song or burden, but would approach nearer to the bold and expressive style of Italian recitative, and it is from this great irregularity of structure, and from being subject to no precise or definite rules, that those who have accompanied travellers to savage nations have found it so extremely difficult to acquire any knowledge, or convey any idea of their musical compositions. Every thing, however, which we have learnt of the vocal music of savage tribes, confirms this idea of its origin. It is never sung without words, and its greatest efforts are generally when it accompanies the most solemn language on the gravest occasions. In offering up praises, or in conciliating the favour of the Great Spirit, in the solemn burial of their dead, at the hour of death, in going to battle, or rejoicing after a victory, these are the occasions on which this earliest species of vocal music was first employed. We are told by Adair, in his History of the North American Indians, that an Indian captive, even amidst all the horrors of that cruel death to which he is doomed, is "never dismayed, but with an insulting manly voice, sings his war song." In * See Adair's History of the North American Nations, p. 46. |