One of the chief excellencies of Smith's genius
consists in his graphic portraiture of persons, and
curt but clear delineation of character. Few poets
have equalled him in sketching off a character in
one short sentence. His first efforts at full length
portraiture were not very successful, but his power
in this grew, and still was growing rapidly when
he died. The character of Bertha in " Edwin of
Deira" is well sustained, and far surpasses any-
thing of the same kind which he had prcviouslydone;
but even that is excelled by his after effort in the
character of Miss Catherine Macquarrie in " Alfred



24 ALEXANDER SMITH,

Hagart*s Household." That is a most sym-
metrical, natural, and noble character. It aston-
ished all his friends, and its execution must have
been contemplated by himself with much laudable
pride ; for he was early sensible of his ability of
accomplishment falling short of his ambition in
dramatic delineation. In miniature painting, how-
ever, he was an adept from his youth. His
earliest works abound with inimitable miniatures,
and he has seldom manifested this talent more
happily than in describing his shopmates. Thus : —

*' He at my right hand ever dwelt alone ;
A moat of dulness fenced him from the world.
My left-hand neighbour was all flame and air —
A restless spirit, veering like the wind ;
And what a lover ! what an amorous heart !
In the pure fire and fervency of love,
Leander, like the image of a star
Within the thrilling sea, was scarce his match.
