Page:A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen, vol 3.djvu/279

Rh excite those sympathetic feelings that arise only from the contemplation of suffering virtue. This would be very justly said, if it were true that the success of a dramatic author depends upon his enlisting the approbation of the audience in behalf of his hero. But the case is widely different. A view of human nature under the influence of some powerful emotion, with which mankind, in general, are not familiar, seems to be what is mainly required. All men are not acquainted with the workings of an ambitious and wicked heart ; and hence, when the tyrant is exhibited before them, they learn something that is new and surprising, and the skill of the poet meets with its proportionate meed of applause. But there are few, indeed, who have not considered from their youth up, the character of a great patriot like Wallace; their admiration and pity have been bestowed upon him from their tenderest years, and there is nothing left for poetry to effect. Nor was the genius of Fergusson fitted for the delineation of a majestic character. He had a fund of humour, an agreeable gayety, but not much reach of passion or of feeling. In his English blank verses, there is no stately flow nor elevation of sentiment. His mind, moreover, did not possess strength sufficient to accomplish more than can be done in a series of occasional verses; he had not as much resolution to carry him through the succession of efforts necessary for the completion of a dramatic poem ; and on the whole, we see no occasion either for surprise or regret, that he never perfected his third act.

What were the reasons for Fergusson abandoning his academical career, is nowhere mentioned. Probably he had no great heart to the profession to which he had been destined, and was prevented by want of pecuniary means, from pursuing his studies with a view to any other. When the term of his bursary expired, which was at the end of four years, he quitted St Andrews, and returned to Edinburgh, to his mother's house, his father having died two years before. Here, if his prospects were not gloomy, his plans were unsettled, and never took any decided aim for his settlement in life. The profession of a teacher has been resorted to by many who have acquired some learning, but whose narrow circumstances did not allow them to aspire to more pleasant and profitable employments; and, even after qualifying themselves for superior offices, numbers of young men, failing to obtain the reward of their labours, fall back upon that humbler means of obtaining a subsistence. But for the patient duties of a schoolmaster, Fergusson's ardent temperament completely disqualified him; and probably, he never thought of the alternative. The study of medicine was suggested to him; but this was no less distasteful, for, to such vivid nervous excitement was he liable, that he could not read the description of a disease, without imagining that his own frame felt its symptoms.

After some time spent in vain hope that some opening would present itself, he paid a visit to Mr John Forbes, a maternal uncle, near Aberdeen, who, being in easy circumstances, was expected to do something for his nephew. That gentleman, according to the usual account, entertained him for some time, hoping, perhaps, that after a reasonable stay, such as the hospitality of an uncle's roof might warrant, he would take his leave and give him no farther trouble. But time slipt on, and Fergusson still continued his guest. At last, the habiliments of the dependent relative began to grow somewhat shabby, and an intimation was conveyed to him, that he was no longer fit to appear at Mr Forbes's table. The indignant poet immediately retired to an ale-house in the neighbourhood, where he penned a letter full of resentment of the usage he had received. This remonstrance produced some little effect, for his uncle sent him, by a messenger, a few shillings, to bear his charges to Edinburgh. He performed the journey on foot, and returned to his mother's house so worn out with fatigue, and overwhelmed with mortification, that he fell into a serious illness. In a few days his