Page:A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen, vol 1.djvu/220

 with the genius of true philosophy, and with the practice and principles of those whom all acknowledge to hare been the most successful in the investigation of truth; concluding with some inferences or rules, by which the most important fallacies of the sceptical philosophers may be detected by every person of common sense, even though he should not possess acuteness of metaphysical knowledge sufficient to qualify him for a logical confutation of them. In the third place he answers some objections, and makes some remarks, by way of estimate of scepticism and sceptical writers.

The Essay appeared in May 1770, and met with the most splendid success. It immediately became a shield in the hands of the friends of religion, wherewith to intercept and turn aside the hitherto resistless shafts of the sceptics. A modern metaphysician may perhaps find many flaws in the work; but, at the time of its publication, it was received as a complete and triumphant refutation of all that had been advanced on the other side. Under favour of the eclat which attended the publication, religion again raised its head, and for a time infidelity was not nearly so fashionable as it had been.

After getting this arduous business off his mind, Beattie returned to his long Spenserian poem, and, in 1771, appeared the first part of "The Minstrel," without his name. It was so highly successful, that he was encouraged to republish this, along with a second part, in 1774; when his name appeared in the title-page. "Of all his poetical works, 'the Minstrel' is, beyond all question, the best, whether we consider the plan or the execution. The language is extremely elegant, the versification harmonious, it exhibits the richest poetic imagery with a delightful flow of the most sublime, delicate, and pathetic sentiment. It breathes the spirit of the purest virtue, the soundest philosophy, and the most exquisite taste. In a word, it is at once highly conceived and admirably finished." Lord Lyttleton thus expressed his approbation of the poem; one of the most warmly conceived compliments that was ever perhaps paid by a poet to his fellow: "I read the Minstrel with as much rapture as poetry, in her sweetest, noblest charms, ever raised in my mind. It seemed to me, that my once most beloved minstrel, Thomson, was come down from heaven, refined by the converse of purer spirits than those he lived with here, to let me hear him sing again the beauties of nature and finest feelings of virtue, not with human but with angelic strains!" It is to be regretted that Beattie never completed this poem. He originally designed that the hero should be employed in the third canto in rousing his countrymen to arms for defence against a foreign invasion, and that, overpowered and banished by this host, he should go forth to other lands in his proper character of a wandering minstrel. It must always be recollected, in favour of this poem, that it was the first of any length in pure English, which had been published by a Scottish writer in his own country so late has been the commencement of this department of our literature.

Beattie visited London a second time in 1771, and, as might be expected from his increased reputation, entered more largely into literary society than on the former occasion. Among those who honoured him with their notice, was Dr Johnson, who had been one of the warmest admirers of the Essay on Truth. In 1773, he paid another visit to the metropolis, along with his wife, and was received into a still wider and more eminent circle than before. On this occasion, the university of Oxford conferred upon him an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws.

The chief object of this tour was to secure a provision which his friends had led him to expect from the government, in consideration of his services in the cause of religion. Many plans were proposed by his friends for obtaining this