BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, 303
of Feeling,” was the only individual whose name was made public at the
time.’
The origin and progress of the club is related in the concluding number of
the Mirror. The object at first contemplated by the contributors was simply
that of relaxation from severer studies; and, by committing their thoughts to
writing, to improve and extend their tastes on various subjects connected with
the belles lettres. Their essays were read at weekly meetings held for the purpose
; and for some time no farther extent of publicity was given to the transactions
of this club, which generally met in a tavern.’
Lord Craig (then an advocate) was one of the most zealous members ; and
with him originated the idea of publishing the essays. Next to those of Mackenzie,
the contributions of his lordship were the most numerous; and are
distinguished for a chaste and elegant style of composition.
The Mirror commenced in January 1779 and terminated in May 1780. It
was published weekly ; and each number formed a small folio sheet, which was
sold at three half-pence. The thirty-sixth number of this work, written by Lord
Craig, “ contributed,” says Dr. Anderson (Lives of the Poets, vol. ii., p. 273),
‘‘ in no inconsiderable degree to rescue from oblivion the name and writings of
the ingenious and amiable young poet, Michael Bruce.” The Lounger,’ to
which Lord Craig also contributed largely, was commenced several years afterwards
by the same club of gentlemen ; and both periodical works have passed
through numerous editions, and become standard British classics.
In private life Lord Craig was much esteemed for his gentle and courteous
manners, and the benevolence and hospitality of his disposition. In person he
might be reckoned handsome, and was rather above the middle size. A fine
portrait of him, in his later years, by Sir Henry Raeburn, long graced the walls
of the house occupied by the late Robert Sym, Esq., in George Square.
Besides Mackenzie and Lord Craig, the gentlemen connected with the Club were, Mr. Alexander
Abercromby, afterwards Lord Abercromby (uncle of the Speaker) ; Mr. Robed Cullen, afterwards
Lord Cullen ; Mr. Macleod Bannatyne, afterwards Lord Bannatyne ; Mr. George Home (by a strange
mistake, in the new edition of Scotl’s Works this gentleman has been seated on the bench aa Lord
Wedderburn), afterwards a Principal Clerk of Session ; Mr. William Gordon of Newhall ; and Mr.
George Ogilvie. The association wm at first termed the Tabernacle; but when the resolution of
publishing was adopted, it assumed the name of the Mirror CZub. To the ninth edition of the
Mirror, publiihed in 1792, and the sixth of the Lounger, in 1794, are prefixed the names of the
authors. Among the correspondents were-Lord Hailes, Mr. Baron Hume, Mr. Tytler and his Son
(Lord Woodhouselee), Professor Richardson, Dr. Beattie, Dr. Henry, and other eminent literary
persons.
a The club met sometimes in CZmihugh’s, Writers’ Court ; sometimes in Somers’, opposite the
Guard-House in the High Street ; sometimes in Stewart’s oyster house, Old Fishmarket Close ; and
fully as often, perhaps, in Lucky Dunbar’s-a moderate and obscure house, situated in an alley
leading betwixt Forrester’s and Libberton’s Wynd. * In one of the numbers of this periodical work appeared a short review of the first (or Kilmarnock)
edition of the poems of Burns. The notice was written by Henry Mackenzie ; and it may be
said, with some truth, that this production of the “ Man of Feeling” proved the means of deciding
the fate, and probably the fame of the bard. He was an unknown wight, and on the eve of bidding
farewell to hia native country, when the Lmmgw, and the kind exertions of Dr. Blacklock the poet,
happily brought him into notice, and procured for him the patronage of the learned and fashionable
circles of Ediiburgh.
