414 CRITICAL STUDIES little more about than merely that they were burning and twinkling over us, and to be seen every night when the clouds were away. I began with high hopes and great warmth, and in a week declared my theme ready for the comparison ; Laidlaw announced his next week ; but my brother made us wait a full half- year, and then, on being urged, presented his un- finished. The arbiters were then dispersed, and the cause was never properly judged ; but those to whom they were shown rather gave the preference to my brother's. This is certain, that it was far superior to either of the other two in the sublimity of the ideas ; but, besides being in bad measure, it was often bom- bastical. The title of it was ' Urania's Tour ; ' that of Laidlaw's 'Astronomical Thoughts '; and that of mine ' Reflections on a View of the Nocturnal Heavens.' " The magniloquent titles of these peasant lads are delicious. "In 1 80 1 [when he was twenty-nine according to his own account, or thirty -one according to Mr. Thomson], believing I was then become a grand poet, I sapiently determined on publishing a pamphlet, and appealing to the world at once. This noble resolution was no sooner taken than executed, a proceeding much of a piece with many of my subsequent trans- actions. Having attended the Edinburgh market one Monday with a number of sheep for sale, and being unable to dispose of them all, I put the remainder into a park until the market on Wednesday. Not knowing how to pass the interim, it came into my head that I would write a poem or two from my memory and get them printed. The thought had no sooner struck me than it was put in practice ; and I
