be conceived by those who were
acquainted with the constantly excited sensibility of his mind. When
he did publish the collection, nothing appeared in the style and form
of the publication that indicated any arrogance of merit. On the
contrary, it was brought forward with a degree of diffidence, which,
if it did not deserve the epithet of modesty, could incur nothing
harsher than that of bashfulness. It was printed at the obscure
market-town press of Newark, was altogether a very homely, rustic
work, and no attempt was made to bespeak for it a good name from the
critics. It was truly an innocent affair and an unpretending
performance. But notwithstanding these, at least seeming, qualities
of young doubtfulness and timidity, they did not soften the austere
nature of the bleak and blighting criticism which was then
characteristic of Edinburgh.

A copy was somehow communicated to one of the critics in that city,
and was reviewed by him in the Edinburgh Review in an article replete
with satire and insinuations calculated to prey upon the author's
feelings, while the injustice of the estimate which was made of his
talent and originality, could not but be as iron in his heart. Owing
to the deep and severe impression which it left, it ought to be
preserved in every memoir which treats of the development of his
genius and character; and for this reason I insert it entire, as one
of the most influential documents perhaps in the whole extent of
biography.

CHAPTER VI

Criticism of the "Edinburgh Review"

"The poesy of this young lord belongs to the class which neither God
nor man are said to permit. Indeed we do not recollect to have seen
a quantity of verse with so few deviations in either direction from
that exact standard. His effusions are spread over a dead flat, and
can no more get above or below the level than if they were so much
stagnant water. As an extenuation of this offence, the noble author
is peculiarly forward in pleading minority. We have it in the title-
page, and on the very back of the volume; it follows his name like a
favourite part of his style. Much stress is laid upon it in the
preface; and the poems are connected with this general statement of
his case by particular dates, substantiating the age at which each
was written. Now, the law upon the point of minority we hold to be
perfectly clear. It is a plea available only to the defendant; no
plaintiff can offer it as a supplemen