LORD  BYRON  and  his  TIMES
Byron
Documents Biography Criticism
Literary Reminiscences and Memoirs of Thomas Campbell
Cyrus Redding to Duncan Macfarlan, [April? 1828]
INTRODUCTION & INDEXES
DOCUMENT INFORMATION
GO TO PAGE NUMBER:
Preface
Vol. I. Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Vol. II. Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Creative Commons License

Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
Produced by CATH
 
“Rev. Sir,

“The alarming illness of Mrs. Campbell, protracted beyond expectation, and the consequent state of solicitude in which it has involved Mr. Campbell, incapacitating him entirely for study, has induced him, being doubtful of his own judgment at such an anxious moment, to call in the aid of two literary gentlemen to examine the prize-poems, to which, from the perturbed state of his mind, he was fearful he might not have given the consideration required. As one of the persons alluded to, he has further requested me to announce to you the decision.

“The poem of the non-togatus, beyond all question entitled to the prize, is that denominated ‘Petrarch Crowned,’ having for a motto
Io veggio del ciel scender l’Aurora;
and
Aspice venturo lactentur at omnia sæclo.
This poem may challenge competition with any prize-poem we have seen of late years from either of the universities.

MEMOIRS OF THOMAS CAMPBELL. 129

“There is a second non-togatus candidate, ‘Reminiscences of Youth,’ with the mottos
‘Admeritu locorum;’
‘There’s not a joy the world can give;’
which, though far from equalling the ‘Petrarch Crowned’ in merit, is entitled to high commendation for passages of simple elegance, and great adherence to truth and nature. The gowned candidates, I regret to state, do not attain an excellence equal to the preceding, making an allowance for the difference of advancement in education.
‘Infancy and boyhood;’
with the motto
‘Why love we Nature’s infant blessing;’
seems to promise best. With many errors and inaccuracies, it has numerous beautiful lines, which promise well. It would not, however, be advisable to suffer it to appear in print as a ‘prize production,’ while its announcement as above to its author, might stimulate him in his studies, and add fresh zeal after excellence.

“I am, Rev. Sir,
“Your most obedient servant,
“Cyrus Redding.
“The Rev. D. Macfarlane,
“The Principal of Glasgow University.”