Taylor told me, the late Dr. Dodd had applied to him several years ago for anecdotes and information relative to Thomson.
Park Egerton, the bookseller, near Whitehall, tells me, that when Thomson first came to London, he took up his abode with his predecessor, Millan, and finished his poem of “Winter” in the apartment over the shop; that Millan printed it for him, and it remained on his shelves a long time unnoticed; but after Thomson began to gain some reputation as a poet, he either went himself, or was taken by Mallet, to Millar in the Strand, with whom he entered into new engagements for printing his works; which so much incensed Millan, his first patron, and his countryman also, that they never afterwards were cordially reconciled, although lord Lyttleton took uncommon pains to mediate between them.
[440] It appears that this gentleman was very intimate with the author of the “Seasons,” but we know nothing farther respecting him.
AN OLD SONG RESTORED
“Busy, curious, thirsty Fly.”
To the Editor.
Sir,—In Ritson’s “Collection of Old Songs” are but two verses of this, in my estimation, very beautiful song. Going from this place, Liverpool, to Chester, it was my good fortune to hear a blind fiddler on board the packet both play and sing the whole of the following, which I procured from him at his domicile about two years ago. He was lost in the same boat with the captain and others, during a gale of wind off Elesmere port. If you think them worthy a place in your amusing Table Book, be pleased to accept from
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
J. F. Phœnix.
Bold-street, Liverpool,
Oct. 15, 1827.