The poetical works of James Thomson ...

I MEMOIR OF THOMSON.
quainted with the Newtonian Philosophy, furnished him with a sufficient idea of its principles
to enable him to allude to the subject with correctness. "Britannia" owed its existence to the
displeasure of the English merchants at the interruption of our trade by the Spaniards in America.
Thomson was particularly alive to impressions of
public liberty, and eagerly availed himself of a
moment of political excitement to indulge his
feelings.
In 1728, he published his s" Spring," and dedicated it to Frances Countess of Hertford, wife of
Algernon then Earl of Hertford, afterwards Duke
of Somerset. This lady, whose generous intercession in favour of Savage preserved his life, not
only patronized poetry, but was herself a votary
of the Muses; * and her letters create a very
favourable impression both of her heart and her
understanding. If the dedication may be relied
1765 was elected Rector of Marischal College, Aberdeen, and
died in 1769.
5 On the 15th of May, 1748, the Countess of Hertford, in a
letter to Lady Luxborough, noticed Thomson's Castle of Indolence in the following terms: -" I conclude you will read
Mr. Thomson's Castle of Indolence: it is after the manner of
Spenser; but I think he does not always keep so close to his
style as the author of the School Mistress, whose name I never
knew till you were so good as to inform me of it. - I believe the Castle of Indolence will afford you much entertainment; there are many pretty paintings in it; but I think the
wizard's song deserves a preference:' He needs no muse who dictates from the heart.'"