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ANDERSON, JAMES, an
agricultural and miscellaneous writer of great merit, was the son of a
farmer at Hermiston, in the county of Midlothian, where he was born in the
year 1739. His father dying when he was very young, he was educated by his
guardian to occupy the farm, which accordingly he began to manage at the
early age of fifteen. It may be supposed that he could not have been
intrusted with so important a charge, if he had not already manifested
symptoms of superior character and intellect; much less, without such
qualifications, could he have discharged it, as he is said to have done,
with the approbation of all who had occasion to observe his operations. In
reading some agricultural works, to qualify himself for his duties, he had
observed that it would be of advantage to study chemistry: he accordingly
attended the lectures given in the university of Edinburgh by Dr Cullen,
who, although surprised that one so young should have formed this
resolution, had soon reason to admire his pupil's laudable curiosity and
good sense, and liberally afforded him every encouragement in his power. To
chemistry he added the study of certain collateral branches of science; so
that, when he entered upon his farm, he was not only able to keep up with
his more aged and experienced neighbours, but adopted a number of
improvements, suggested by scientific knowledge and native good sense, which
were speedily found to be of a most profitable nature. Among his
improvements was the introduction of the small two-horse plough, which,
since then, has so completely banished the lumbering engine formerly drawn
by a string of cattle. Nor did the necessary business of his farm preclude
all advancement in knowledge. He still prosecuted his studies with great
eagerness, and soon contrived to amass an immense stock of information upon
almost all subjects.
His first attempts in
literature appeared in the shape of Essays on Planting, in Ruddiman's Weekly
Magazine for 1771. In 1777, having previously removed to a large farm in
Aberdeenshire, he published these essays in a separate volume. In 1776,
appeared his Essay on Chimneys, in which the principle afterwards acted on
in the patent Bath stove was first explained. In the same year with his
volume on Planting, appeared various pamphlets connected with rural economy,
all of which were more or less calculated to gratify the increasing desire
of his countrymen for scientific knowledge upon such familiar subjects. The
fame of these works procured him a very extensive acquaintance with persons
of eminence, who wished to profit by the remarks of so able a practical
farmer; and in 1780, the University of Aberdeen acknowledged his merit by
conferring upon him the degree of LL.D.
Anderson had been married in
1768; and a desire of educating a very numerous family, together with
certain considerations as to the enjoyment of literary society, induced him,
in 1783, to remove to Edinburgh, leaving the management of his farm to
persons properly qualified. A tract which he had written on the subject of
the Fisheries, though not printed, attracted the attention of the
government, and he was requested in 1784 to undertake a tour of the western
coast of Scotland, for the purpose of obtaining information on this
important subject. He readily acquiesced, and performed the task to the high
satisfaction of his employers, who, however, never offered him any
remuneration. The result of his labours appeared in 1785, as "An
Account of the present state of the Hebrides and Western Coasts of Scotland;
being the substance of a report to the Lords of the Treasury."
Passing over some minor works
of Dr Anderson, we must make honourable mention of a literary and scientific
miscellany which he commenced in 1791, under the title of the Bee. This work
was published in weekly numbers at six-pence, and, by its delightful
intermixture of useful information with lighter matters of the belles
lettres, was eminently calculated for the improvement of the young. It
was occasionally embellished with portraits, views, and draughts, or
scientific objects - in, it is true, a very homely style, but still not much
inferior not to the taste of the age, and certainly fitted to give the work
an increased merit in the eyes of its juvenile purchasers. The work ran from
the 22nd of December, 1790, to the 21st of January, 1794, when it was at
length reluctantly abandoned, as the ingenious editor informs us, not on
account of any failure in its circulation, for that was considerable enough
to yield a large apparent profit, but because such a 1arge proportion of the
subscribers were remiss in their payments as to induce an absolute loss to
the conductor. The cessation of such a meritorious little publication was
the more to be regretted, as Anderson had only been able, towards its close,
to bring the assistance of his numerous and distant correspondents into full
play. The numbers published form eighteen volumes duodecimo, and throughout
the whole of that space, we believe there does not occur one line which can
be considered reprehensible for its moral effect.
Among other papers in the Bee
was a series of Essays on the Political Progress of Britain. Though only
written in what would now be considered a liberal strain, they appeared in
the eyes of the sheriff as calculated to have an injurious tendency at that
inflamed period; and the learned Doctor was accordingly summoned to give up
the name of the author. This Anderson refused, from peculiar notions as to
literary secrecy; he desired to be himself considered as the author. After a
second and a third application, he still refused; and when the printers were
sent for, and similarly interrogated, he charged them in the face of the
magistrates, to preserve his secret. All this was the more singular, as his
own principles were known to be eminently loyal. Respect for his talents and
character induced the magistrates to let the matter drop. The real author, a
worthless person named Callender, being afterwards about to quit his country
for America, waited upon the authorities, and insinuated that the papers
were written by lord Gardenstone, a man to whom he owed many obligations.
Immediately on hearing of this infamous conduct, Anderson came forward, and
refuted the charge by avowing Callander himself to be the real author. The
whole of this affair reflects great credit upon the character of Dr
Anderson.
About the year 1797, this
ingenious person removed with his family to London, where he undertook
various works connected with his favourite study of agriculture. For several
years he wrote the articles on this subject in the Monthly Review; and from
1799 to 1802, he conducted a separate miscellany under the title of
"Recreations in Agriculture," which was only discontinued on
account of some obstructions incident to such a mode of publication. From
the last mentioned date, he devoted himself almost entirely to the
relaxation which advanced years and severe studies had rendered necessary,
and particularly to the cultivation of his garden, which became a miniature
of all his past labours. In 1801, he married a second wife, who survived
him. He died on the 15th of October, 1808, at the age of sixty-nine.
In his younger days, Dr
Anderson was remarkably handsome in his person, of middle stature, and
robust make. Extremely moderate in his living, the country exercise animated
his cheek with the glow of health; but the overstrained exertion of his
mental powers afterwards shook his constitution, and hurried him into old
age. He was a man of independent mind; and in the relative duties of husband
and father, exhibited a prudential care, mixed with affection, which
commanded the admiration of his friends. Of Dr Anderson's abilities, his
works exhibit so many proofs that they may be appealed to with perfect
confidence. Although a voluminous writer, there is no subject connected with
his favourite pursuit, on which he has not thrown new light. But his
knowledge was not confined to one science. He exhibited, to give only one
instance, very considerable powers of research, when in 1773, he published,
in the first edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica, an article under the
head Monsoon. In this he clearly predicted the result of captain Cook’s
first voyage; namely, that there did not exist, nor ever would be found, any
continent or large island in the southern hemisphere, except New Holland
alone; and this was completely verified on captain Cook’s return seven
months afterwards. Upon the whole, though the name of Dr Anderson is
associated with no scientific or literary triumphs of great splendour, his
exertions, by their eminent and uniform usefulness, have given him very
considerable claims to respect. A minute specification of his works is to be
found in the Scots Magazine for 1809. |
