Chapter Thomson to Tobin of T by Biographical Dictionary of English Literature

and Merrimac Rivers. Two years later, in 1841, he began a residence in the household of Emerson, which lasted for two years, when he assisted in conducting the Dial, and in 1845, after some teaching in New York, he retired to a hut near the solitary Walden Pond to write his Week on the Concord, etc. Later works were Walden (1854), and The Maine Woods (1864), and Cape Cod (1865), accounts of excursions and observations, both published after his death. Thoreau was an enthusiast in the anti- slavery cause, the triumph of which, however, he did not live to see, as he died on May 6, 1862, when the war was still in its earlier stages. The deliberate aim of Thoreau was to live a life as nearly approaching naturalness as possible; and to this end he passed his time largely in solitude and in the open air. As he says, “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach.” To his great powers of observation he added great powers of reflection, and two of the most characteristic features of his writings are immediateness and individuality in his descriptions of nature, and a remarkable power of giving permanent and clear form to the most subtle and evanescent mental impressions.

Tickell, Thomas (1686-1740).—Poet, born at Bridekirk Vicarage, Cumberland, and ed. at Oxford became the friend of Joseph Addison (q.v.), contributed to the Spectator and Guardian, and accompanied him when he went to Ireland as secretrayto the Lord Lieutenant. His translation of the first book of the Iliad came out at the same time as Pope’s, and led to a quarrel between the latter and Addison, Pope imagining that the publication was a plot to interfere with the success of his work. On Addison becoming Sec. of State in 1717 he appointed Tickell Under-Sec. Among the writings of Tickell are the well-known ballad, Colin and Lucy, Kensington Gardens, a poem, and an Elegy on the death of Addison, of which Macaulay says that it “would do honour to the greatest name in our literature.” In 1725 he became secretrayto the Lords Justices of Ireland, and retained the post until his death.

Ticknor, George (1791-1871).—Historian and biographer, son of a rich man, was born at Boston, Mass., and ed. for the law. He, however, gave himself to study and writing, and also travelled much. After being a Professor at Harvard, 1819-35, he went in the latter year to Europe, where he spent some years collecting materials for his magnum opus, The History of Spanish Literature (1849). He also wrote Lives of Lafayette and Prescott, the historian. His Letters and Journals were published in 1876, and are the most interesting of his writings.

Tighe, Mary (Blackford) (1772-1810).—Poet, daughter of a clergyman, made an unhappy marriage, though she had beauty and amiable manners, and was highly popular in society. She wrote a good deal of verse; but her chief poem was a translation in Spenserian stanza of the tale of Cupid and Psyche, which won the admiration of such men as Sir J. Mackintosh, Moore, and Keats.

Tillotson, John (1630-1694).—Divine, son of a Presbyterian clothier, was born near Halifax, and ed. at Cambridge, where his originally Puritan views became somewhat modified. At the Savoy Conference in 1661 he was still a Presbyterian, but submitted to the Act of Uniformity, and became next year Rector of Keddington, and in 1664 preacher at Lincoln’s Inn, where he became very popular. In 1672 he was made Dean of Canterbury. He vainly endeavoured to secure the comprehension of the Nonconformists in the Church. After the Revolution he gained the favour of William III., who made him Clerk of the Closet, and Dean of St. Paul’s, and in 1691 he succeeded Sancroft as Archbishop of Canterbury. His sermons, which had extraordinary popularity, give him a place in literature, and he was one of those writers who, by greater simplicity and greater attention to clearness of construction, helped to introduce the modern style of composition.

Timrod, Henry (1829-1867).—Poet, born at Charleston, S. Carolina, of German descent, was ruined by the Civil War, and died in poverty. He wrote one vol. of poems, published 1860, which attained wide popularity in the South. He had notable descriptive power.

Tobin, John (1770-1804).—Dramatist, was for long unsuccessful, but in the year of his death made a hit with The Honey Moon, which had great success, and maintained its place for many years. Other plays were The Curfew and The School for Authors.