TITVE Ah! why, dear youth! in all the blooming prime ESTVOLS EDINBURGH: THOMSON, PRINTED FOR W. & J. DEAS, SHORT SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF FERGUSSON. ROBERT FERGUSSON, the author of the following poems, was born at Edinburgh on the 5th of September 1750. His parents were virtuous and respectable. His father, who was originally from Aberdeen, had in his early years shown an attachment to the study of poetry; but the necessity of providing for a family had quickly induced him to abandon such pursuits. For a considerable time he was engaged as a clerk, and at last was appointed to the office of an accountant in the British Linen Hall; which situation he continued to occupy till his death. YOUNG FERGUSSON, although he inherited but a feeble constitution, was at the age of six years sent to a public school; where, by his superior capacity, and the attention of the teacher, he was qualified for attending the High School of Edinburgh in the space of little more than half a year. His attendance at this celebrated seminary, owing to his delicate state of health, was much interrupted; but a generous disdain at being left behind, aided by his superior vigour of mind, made him even excel the most of his fellows. About this |