[_To Dr. Moore_]
ELLISLAND, 4th January, 1789.
. . . The character and employment of a poet were formerly my pleasure,
but are now my pride. I know that a very great deal of my late _éclat_
was owing to the singularity of my situation and the honest prejudice
of Scotsmen; but still, as I said in the preface to my first edition, I
do look upon myself as having some pretensions from nature to the
poetic character. I have not a doubt but the knack, the aptitude, to
learn the muses' trade, is a gift bestowed by Him "who forms the secret
bias of the soul"; but I as firmly believe that _excellence_ in the
profession is the fruit of industry, labour, attention, and pains. At
least I am resolved to try my doctrine by the test of experience.
Another appearance from the press I put off to a very distant day, a
day that may never arrive--but poesy I am determined to prosecute with
all my vigour. Nature has given very few, if any, of the profession,
the talents of shining in every species of composition. I shall try
(for until trial it is impossible to know) whether she has qualified me
to shine in any one.