The expedition of Humphry Clinker / by T. Smollett, M.D. With a memoir of the author by Thomas Roscoe ... and illustrations by George Cruikshank.

  • Smollett, T. (Tobias), 1721-1771.
Date:
1831
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The expedition of Humphry Clinker / by T. Smollett, M.D. With a memoir of the author by Thomas Roscoe ... and illustrations by George Cruikshank. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    1/462
    VI same time his love of ridicule and satire, by writing .squibs against several of his companions. The liveliness, however, of his disposition, did not prevent him from pursuing his studies with tolerable diligence and success. Under the instructions of Mr. John Lowe, the mas¬ ter of the seminary at Dumbarton, he acquired the usual acquaintance with the Latin classics; but even in this branch of his studies he was in great measure indebted to his poetical temperament for success. The rich and eloquent pages of Buchanan’s History of Scotland attracted his early attention ; and having become acquainted with some portion of the nar¬ rative, he was induced to labor with unremitted assiduity till he acquired a sufficient mastery of Latin to read that fascina¬ ting book with facility. Among the passages which most deeply affected him, was that recording the assassination of James the First, in a convent near Perth. The circum¬ stances attending that event were well calculated to interest such a lad as Smollett; and the impression which the recital made on his mind had perhaps the effect of making him an historian ; as it is certain it tended in great measure to make him a dramatist; the plot of the Regicide being founded on the murder of King James. After completing the ordinary routine of school education, Smollett was removed to the university of Glasgow; where, influenced by the example of several of his companions, he resolved on devoting himself to the study of medicine. There is no complaint on record against him of his having neglected the proper pursuits to qualify him for his intended profession. Anatomy and the other preliminary branches of the science obtained a sufficient share of his attention to win for him the praise of skill and industry; and it may therefore be sup¬ posed, that he commenced his apprenticeship under circum¬ stances considerably in favor of his future success. The surgeon to whom he was articled was a Mr. John Gordon ; a man of eminence in his profession, and also of large practice. It is generally believed that the character ot Potion, in Roderick Random, was intended by Smollett for