In 1760, Mr. Erskine edited the first volume of a work in duodecimo, entitled “A Collection of Original Poems, by the Rev. Mr. Blacklock and other Scotch gentlemen.” This publication contained compositions by Mr. Blacklock, Dr. Beattie, Mr. Gordon of Dumfries, and others; it was published by Alexander Donaldson,[12] an Edinburgh bookseller, and was intended as the first of a series of three volumes. The second volume was considerably delayed, owing to Mr. Erskine’s absence with his regiment, and on Boswell were latterly imposed the editorial labours. As contributors Erskine and Boswell were associated with Mr. Home, author of Douglas, Mr. Macpherson, editor of Ossian, and others. Of twenty-eight pieces from Boswell’s pen one is subjoined, eminently characteristic of its author. “B——, of Soapers[13] the king, On Tuesdays at Tom’s does[14] appear, And when he does talk, or does sing, To him ne’er a one can come near For he talks with such ease and such grace, That all charm’d to attention we sit, And he sings with so comic a face, That our sides are just ready to split. “B—— is modest enough, Himself not quite Phœbus he thinks, He never does flourish with snuff, And hock is the liquor he drinks. And he owns that Ned C——t,[15] the priest, May to something of honour pretend, And he swears that he is not in jest, When he calls this same C——t his friend. “B—— is pleasant and gay, For frolic by nature design’d; He heedlessly rattles away When the company is to his mind. ‘This maxim,’ he says, ‘you may see, We can never have corn without chaff;’ So not a bent sixpence cares he, Whether _with_ him or _at_ him you laugh. “B—— does women adore, And never once means to deceive, He’s in love with at least half a score; If they’re serious he smiles in his sleeve. He has all the bright fancy of youth, With the judgment of forty and five. In short, to declare the plain truth, There is no better fellow alive.” Writing to Erskine on the 8th December, 1761, Boswell remarks that the second volume of the “Collection” was about to appear, adding that his friend would “make a very good figure, and himself a decent one.” But the public, while not disapproving the strain of the known authors, condemned the levity of the anonymous contributors, and thrust aside the book. The publishing enterprise was ruined, and the projected third volume did not appear. Boswell determined to leave Edinburgh, assuring his father that a military life was alone suited to his tastes. In a letter to Erskine, dated the 4th of May, he proceeds:—