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THOMSON, (DR) WILLIAM, an
ingenious, versatile, and multifarious writer, was born in 1746, in the
parish of Forteviot, in Perthshire. His father, though in humble, was in
decent circumstances, earning a livelihood by uniting the businesses of
carpenter, builder, and farmer. Young Thomson was instructed in the first
rudiments of education by his mother, and was then sent to the
parochial school. He afterwards attended the grammar-school of Perth, and on
leaving it proceeded to St Andrews, where his abilities attracted the notice
and procured him the patronage of the Earl of Kinnoul, then chancellor of
the university. This munificent nobleman, after satisfying himself, by
personal examination, that young Thomson’s high reputation as a classical
scholar was not exaggerated, admitted him into his family in the capacity of
librarian, and shortly after directed his views to the church, with the
intention of presenting him to one of the livings in his gift.
Mr Thomson prosecuted his
theological studies, first at St Andrews, and then at Edinburgh, and, having
obtained a license to preach, was appointed assistant to the minister of
Monivaird. Unfortunately neither his tastes nor habits accorded with the
clerical calling. His temper was irascible, and he delighted more in field
sports and jovial companionship than in the discharge of his professional
duties. The complaints of the parishioners induced him to resign his office,
and he resolved to try his fortune in London as a man of letters. In this he
was at first far from successful. At length, through the influence of his
distinguished friends, Drs Robertson and Blair, he was chosen to continue
the History of Philip III. of Spain, a work begun by Dr Robert Watson,
principal of the United Colleges of St Andrews, but which that gentleman
left unfinished at his death, which happened in 1780. This work Dr Thomson
completed in a manner highly creditable to his talents, and so much to the
satisfaction of the public, that he soon found himself surrounded with
friends, and his hands filled with employment. The former procured him about
this period, wholly unsolicited on his part, the degree of LL.D. from the
university of Glasgow. Dr Thomson now became a regular London author, being
ready to write on any subject, and for any one who should employ his
versatile talents. Business increased apace upon him, and from this period
till near the close of his life, extending to upwards of five and thirty
years, he continued in close connection with the press, and with the
exception of poetry, went, in that time, creditably through every department
of English literature. Nothing came amiss to him; history, biography,
voyages, travels and memoirs, novels and romances, pamphlets and
periodicals. In all of these he wrote largely, and wrote well. In his
literary labours he was indefatigable. Night and day he wrought with
unwearying perseverance, and, by dint of this industry, associated with a
remarkable facility in composition, he accomplished, in the course of his
life, a greater amount of literary work, and of a greater variety of
character, than perhaps any English writer who preceded him. Amongst the
most important of his avowed works are, "The Man in the Moon," a novel;
"Travels in Europe, Asia, and Africa," a compilation from other works,
published in 1782; a translation of "A History of Great Britain from the
Revolution in 1688, to the Accession of George I. in 1714," from the Latin
of Cunningham, 2 volumes 4to, 1787; "Memoirs of War in Asia," 1788;
"Mammoth, or Human Nature displayed on a Grand Scale," a novel, 1789;
"Travels in the Western Hebrides, from 1782 to 1790," from notes by the Rev.
John Lane Buchanan, A. M., missionary minister to the Isles from the church
of Scotland, 1793. Dr Thomson also largely assisted in a work which appeared
about this period, entitled, "Travels into Norway, Denmark, and Russia," by
A. Smith, Esq.
Numerous as this list is, it
comprises but a very small portion of our author’s literary achievements,
and gives but a faint idea of the extent and variety of his labours. He
contributed largely, besides, to various newspapers, magazines, and other
periodicals of the day. He also frequently acted as a reporter, and is said
to have greatly excelled in this department of literary labour. For many
years he published a weekly abridgment of politics in the Whitehall Evening
Post, but lost this employment in 1798, in consequence of some political
transgressions. In the latter years of his life, he was engaged in bringing
up the arrears of Dodsley’s Annual Register, of which he compiled the
historical part from 1790 to 1800 inclusive. Amongst the last of his
literary performances, (and it is a remarkable proof of the variety of his
attainments,) was a work entitled "Memoirs relative to Military Tactics,"
dedicated to his royal highness, the duke of York, commander-in-chief of the
forces. This work, which was begun in 1805, and finished in the ensuing
year, was reckoned no inconsiderable addition to that department of
literature to which it belongs, and is said to have been looked upon
with favour by those competent to judge of its merits. Towards the close of
his life, Dr Thomson wholly resigned his literary labours, and retired to
Kensington, where he died, in decent, but not by any means affluent
circumstances, on the 16th of March, 1817, in the 71st year of his age,
leaving behind him a reputation very far from being proportioned, either to
the extent of his labours, or to the amount of his abilities and
acquirements. |
