old, began the study of mathematics in the same class. William at St. Andrew's established a very high character as a classical scholar, and a still higher as a profound metaphysician. By the time he had been two years at St. Andrew's, the professors considered him as a young man of extraordinary genius and acquirements. The Earl of Kinnoul, a nobleman of a very respectable moral character, was, with moderate capacity, well skilled in the ancient languages, and in several other branches possessed considerable knowledge; sought the acquaintance of literary men, and was in the vacations often visited by the professors of St. Andrew's university. In the summer of 1763, some of these gentlemen mentioned to his Lordship William Thomson, the son of one of his tenants, as a youth of great promise, and highly deserving of his noble and liberal patronage. The Earl took an early opportunity of sending for Thomson, examined him himself in Horace, Juvenal, and Cicero, prescribed themes for essays, was not only satisfied but highly delighted with the knowledge and genius of a boy born on his own estate, and not yet seventeen years of age; and resolved thenceforward to take charge of the young man himself. He received him into the family, and entrusted him with the care of the library; consisting of a very large collection of books, including the best writings in ancient and modern languages. This appointment proved very beneficial to William's mind. Besides his own desire of knowledge, he was farther stimulated by the wish of pleasing bis patron. The Earl

was

was generally at his country-seat, was a great reader himself, and his sitting-room was so disposed that he had the library under his eye, and could see how William was employed. Meanwhile, William went through the philosophy course at college with great and increasing reputation. His patron, a pious man, was much attached to the clergy, and held the sacred profession in very high estimation; he had also several livings in his own gift; and for these reasons he destined William for holy orders. His Lordship, indeed, totally mistook the young man's character. Thomson was by nature and study best adapted for a situation in which advancement would follow ability. Had his patron educated him for the Scottish bar, he might, and most probably would, have been at its head; and would have not only, by his quickness, acuteness, and strength of understanding, together with the most retentive memory, comprehended all the varieties of law and decision, and perceived their bearings in any given case, but through the details of statute, decree, and custom would have risen to the philosophy of jurisprudence. Had abilities as certainly tended to aggrandize their possessor in the church of Scotland as in the law, his dispositions and habits were by no means so fitted for the one as the other. Of an open and social turn, William was much inclined to convivial parties. Excelling in wit and humour as well as in deep philosophy, his company was in great request among his fellow students, and other gentlemen with whom he happened to become acquainted. Ardent in all his pas

Being

sions, he was fully sensible of the powers of female charms; and, though not more addicted to gallantry than most other young men of twenty, he was not so complete an ascetic as the strictness of the Scottish church required. His patron, however, knowing nothing of this part of William's character, stimulated him to close application in theological studies. He recommended Thomson to his brother,* Dr. Drummond, Archbishop of York, who once every two years spent a month at Duplin. The Earl did not intend the young man to be brought up for English orders, he merely wished the advice of so able a divine (as he presumed an archbishop must be) concerning the books most proper to be read to consummate William's knowledge of theology. chancellor of the university of St. Andrew's, and having great influence in the disposal of professorships, the Earl destined William to fill one of the chairs, but more particularly that of divinity. His chief object therefore was, to render him a sound and able theologian; and though controversial divinity makes but a small part of Thomson's literary acquirements, yet he collected and still retains stores of that kind of learning far surpassing most professors. Having left the philosophy college, he proceeded to the divinity college at St. Andrew's, which he attended for six years. At the university, William's superiority appeared most conspicuous in exercises that required original thinking, powerful rea

Father to the present Earl of Kinnoul.

soning,

soning, and inventive genius. In learning prescribed lessons, he was sometimes surpassed and often equalled by plodding industry unassisted by any extraordinary capacity. Of those, Thomson to this day gives the following description, very extensively applicable to many adventurers in literature. "There were (he

says)

and

who were always

straining hard to be men of genius: these had great emulation without proportionable capacity. They acquired the ideas of others without digesting or arranging them, much less inventing themselves. These passed with many, and still pass, as men not only of great erudition, but superior ability." At this time composition was very generally cultivated in the Scottish university, and though the excellence attained in it added such charms to philosophy and wisdom, it considerably facilitated imposture. Splendid diction and harmonious periods concealed frivolous observations, feeble and futile reasoning. Preachers acquired fame by melodious inanity. In the divinity college, the man of the highest philosophical powers, of William's comrades, was Mr. John Playfair; and next to him Mr. John Robertson, now minister in an obscure parish called Little Dunkeld, but fit for succeeding the illustrious Reid as professor of pneumatology and ethics. There were, however, some others who gained more prizes,* and got more temporary praise, than either Robertson, or Playfair, or Thomson.

* Dryden and Burke acquired fewer academical honours than many common men. See their respective lives.

All