of ordinary genius, and as his mistress was,
as Rowe expresses it, 'more than painting can express,' or 'youthful
poets fancy when they love,' those who have felt that delicate
passion, may be able in some measure to judge of the severity of
distress into which our poetical bridegroom was now plunged: After
the fervours of sorrow had in some measure subsided, he expressed his
grief for her in several letters and poems, and with more passion
and sincerity celebrated his dead mistress, than others praise their
living ones. This extraordinary shock occasioned by the young lady's
death, on whom he doated with such excessive fondness, so affected his
spirits, that in order as much as possible to endeavour to forget her,
he quitted his retirement, and resided eight years at Paris and Rome;
he travelled through Germany, France and Italy, where he visited all
the famous universities, conversed with the learned men, and made an
excellent collection of the best ancient Greek, and of the modern
Spanish, French, and Italian books. Mr. Drummond, though a scholar and
a man of genius, did not think it beneath him to improve himself in
those gay accomplishments which are so peculiar to the French, and
which never fail to set off wit and parts to the best advantage.
He studied music, and is reported to have possessed the genteel
accomplishment of dancing, to no inconsiderable degree.

After a long stay of eight years abroad, he returned again to his
native country, where a civil war was ready to break out. He then
found that as he could be of no service by his action, he might at
least by his retirement, and during the confusion, he went to the feat
of his Brother-in-law, Sir John Scott, of Scotts Tarvat, a man of
learning and good sense. In this interval it is supposed he wrote his
History of the Five James's, successively Kings of Scotland, which
is so excellent a work, whether we consider the exact conduct of the
story, the judicious reflections, and the fine language, that no
Historian either of the English or Scotch nation (the lord Clarendon
excepted) has shewn a happier talent for that species of writing,
which tho' it does not demand the highest genius, yet is as difficult
to attain, as any other kind of literary excellence. This work was
received in England with as much applause, as if it had been written
by a countryman of their own, and about English affairs. It was first
published six or seven years after the author's death