Tobias Smollett

Tobias Smollett received his first instruction in the elements of classical learning at the school of Dunbarton, under Mr. John Love, the learned antagonist of Ruddiman; from thence he went to Glasgow, where he appears to have pursued his studies with diligence; and was at length, somewhat against his own wish, apprenticed to Mr. John Gordon, a surgeon of eminence there. His inclinations led him to a military life, and not being allowed to follow them, he is said to have resented the supposed injury by satirizing his grandfather and his master, under the characters of "the Old Judge and Mr. Potion," in his first novel of "Roderick Random." He did Mr. Gordon justice at a subsequent period, by speaking handsomely of him by name in "Humphrey Clinker."  When Smollett had scarcely attained his eighteenth year, his grandfather, Sir James, died, neglecting to make any provision for the children of his youngest son; and this, operating with the circumstance before mentioned, gave him the "painful distinction" of being handed down to posterity in the unamiable character of the Old Judge in "Roderick Random."

Thus thrown upon the world, without anything to hope for but from his own exertions, Smollett, before he was nineteen, commenced his career of adventure by a journey to London, taking with him "The Regicide," a tragedy written during the course of his studies. What can be more romantic? Without friends or protection he launched upon the troubled sea of life, and during his voyage gained that experience and that insight into character which his admirable productions evince.  "The Tears of Scotland," an effusion which came warm from the heart, was written at this period. One of his particular friends has recorded with enthusiastic manner in which it was poured forth. "Some gentlemen, having met at a tavern, were amusing themselves before supper with a game of cards; while Smollett, not choosing to play, sat down to write. One of the company (the late R. Graham, Esq., of Gartmore), who was afterwards nominated one of his trustees, observing his earnestness, and supposing he was writing verses, asked him if it was not so. He accordingly read them the first sketch of "The Tears of Scotland," consisting of only six stanzas.  Smollett was at this time settled in London, and tried his fortune in his profession, but failed of success.

About this time he married Miss Ann Lascelles, a lady of great beauty and accomplishments, with whom he became acquainted in the West Indies: he was to have received a fortune of 3000l. with her; but of that sum he obtained only a very small portion, after an expensive law-suit. Having established himself genteelly, the increased expense of house-keeping, which he was unable to meet, urged him to have recourse to his pen, and thus "Necessity, that fertile mother of Invention," gave the impulse which developed his extraordinary talent as a novelist, and produced "Roderick Random" in 1748.  The success of this novel was equal to its very superior merit; it brought both profit and reputation to the author. The general opinion that it described his own adventures gave it additional zest, and almost every character was applied to some known individual.

In 1750, Smollett went to Paris, but his prejudices against the French and his ignorance of their language rendered his stay there a short one. The year after he published "Peregrine Pickle," which was greatly read and applauded. His life was now devoted to literary occupation, and he soon published a new translation of "Don Quixote," for which, under the patronage of Don Ricardo Wall, he had obtained a large subscription.  He found at this period a short respite from his labours to make a visit to his native country, and to see his mother. Upon his return to London, Smollett was engaged to undertake the management of the "Critical Review," then set up in opposition to the "Monthly Review." His talents were very well calculated for the task he undertook, as he had a prompt and ready wit, and a good stock of general knowledge; but he possessed that irritable temperament which often interfered with his better judgement, and made him deal out invective instead of fair and dispassionate criticism. His life was thus embittered by perpetual squabbles, and he brought upon himself the whole genus irritabile of dissapointed authors. The poetical quack, Dr. Shebbeare, the satirist Churchill, and Dr. Grainger, were among others of less note whom he provoked to retaliation; and an unlucky attack upon Admiral Knowles, who drew him into his toils by a stategem unworthy of a gentleman and a man of honour, terminated in a sentence of imprisonment for three months, and a fine of 100 pounds. In 1758 he brought out his "Complete History of England from the earliest times to the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748." This was written in the space of fourteen months - a specimen, as it has ben observed, of "literary industry," a specimen also of literary presumption. Neither his temper of mind nor his pursuits had qualified him to be an historical writer. But the work was written in a clear and easy style, and it was very popular, and was immediately reprinted in 8vo weekly numbers, of which an edition of ten thousand was rapidly sold.

In 1770, he left England again for Italy, writing on the way "The Expedition of Humphrey Clinker." Smollett lingered through the summer, and, after much suffering, died on the twenty-first of October, 1771, at the untimely age of fifty-one years. It is much to be feared that his end was hastened by grief for the loss of his much loved child, and chagrin at unmerited neglect. His widow long continued to reside in the neighbourhood of Leghorn.