Page:The Poetical Works of William Motherwell, 1849.djvu/51

 the first time, appeared some of the poet's best pieces, such as The Sword Chant of Thorstein Raudi—Midnight and Moonshine—The Water! The Water!—The Wooing Song of Jarl Egill Skallagrim—and Wearie's Well. His position, however, had now changed, and it will be necessary to explain how this was brought about.

In the year 1826 a newspaper was begun in Paisley, called the Paisley Advertiser. Its politics were Conservative and Ministerial, and its first editor was a Mr John Goldie, who had been formerly connected with an Ayr journal. He died suddenly within a year, and was succeeded in his office by Mr William Kennedy, an Irish gentleman of distinguished poetical abilities, and the author of the pretty poem called ';' and also of a little volume of poems entitled '.'

Between Mr Kennedy and Motherwell there sprang up a strong friendship. They were both addicted to literature and poetry, they thought alike on matters political, and were nearly of an age. It is not surprising, therefore, that Motherwell should have become a contributor and a proprietor, and still less so that, on the retirement of Mr Kennedy, in 1828, he should have succeeded him as editor of that paper. What success he may have had in his new capacity I know not, but, on the retirement of Mr James M'Queen from the management of the Glasgow Courier, in 1830, Mr Motherwell was invited by the proprietors of that journal to take his place; and all things being satisfactorily