[60] Home was at the time when he wrote "Douglas" a clergyman in the
Scottish Church; the theatre was then looked upon by the
religious Scotsmen with the most perfect abhorrence. Many
means were taken to deter the performance of the play; and as
they did not succeed, others were tried to annoy the author,
until their persevering efforts induced him to withdraw
himself entirely from the clerical profession.--ED.
[61] The objection to his tragedy was made chiefly by his
parishioners at South Leith, who were strongly opposed to
their minister being in any way connected with the theatre. He
therefore resigned his appointment, and settled in London,
which he never afterwards abandoned, dying there in
1788.--ED.
[62] This admirable little work is entitled "A Dissertation on the
Governments, Manners, and Spirit of Asia; Murray, 1787." It is
anonymous; but the publisher informed me it was written by
Logan. His "Elements of the Philosophy of History" are
valuable. His "Sermons" have been republished.
[63] The finest provinces of Egypt gained from a neglected waste.
[64] An attempt has been made to deprive Logan of the authorship of
this poem. He had edited (very badly) the poems of a deceased
friend, Michael Bruce; and the friends of the latter claimed
this poem as one of them. In the words of one who has examined
the evidence it may be sufficient to say, "his claim is not
only supported by internal evidence, but the charge was never
advanced against him while he was alive to repel it."--ED.
[65] "The Comforts of Life" were written in prison; "The Miseries"
(by Jas. Beresford) necessarily in a drawing-room. The works
of authors are often in contrast with themselves; melancholy
authors are the most jocular, and the most humorous the most
melancholy.