AIRD, TIIOMAS, a poet of considerable genius. b. at Bowden, in Roxburghshire, in 1802. He received the rudiments of education at schools in his native county, from which he passed to the university of Edinburgh. While in the metropolis he made the friendship of many distinguished men, especially prof. John Wilson, who was accus tomed to speak of him in the highest terms. In 1833 lie became editor of The Dumfries Herald, a new journal, started on conservative principles, an office, which lie filled till 1864. Ilis genius was of a purely literary character, and not calculated to be effective in the discussion of political questions. His works are not so well known as they deserve to be, from their intrinsic merit. In spite of very warm eulogy from some of the greatest names in popular criticism, and in spite of many elaborate And discrimi nating reviews in various important magazines, they have failed to secure a large measure of public approbation. The Devil's Dream is perhaps an exception to the rest, for it is both well known and admired. Competent judges have asserted that there is
something almost Dantesque in the stern, intense and sublime literalness'of the concep tion. Whether the scenes are colossal, as in The Devil's Dream, or minute, as in The ACummer's Day, there is the same clear, vigorous and picturesque word-painting. Herein lies A.'s chief originality, for his thought and sentiment. though always pure and fine, are not strikingly novel. In 1827 lie published Ikilgious Characteristics, a piece of exalted prose-poetry ; in 1845, The Old Bachelor, a volume of fates and sketches; in 1848, a collected edition of his poems—a second edition of which appeared in 1856; and in 1852 he edited the select poems of David Macbeth Moir (the "Delta" of Blackwood), prefixing a memoir for the benefit of Dr. Moir's family. Without having fully realized the expectations to which his early works gave rise, A. died 25th April, 1876. See LIFE AND POEMS edited by J. Wallace (1878).