MODERN SCOTTISH POETS.

A

JOHN F. MILL,

MOST prolific and deeply thoughtful prosewriter, who occasionally contributes to several of our magazines poems evincing a delicacy of thought, combined with a force and sweetness of expression, was born in the Pleasance of Edinburgh, in 1838. At the time of his birth, his father was traveller for the North British Advertiser, and was also cashier for forty-four years. Having received a good education, which he finished at the Edinburgh Institute, he entered on his first situation in the office of the Edinburgh News, under the late Mr Forsyth of the Inverness Advertiser. Since that time he has been what might be called a newspaper clerk, having served in that capacity in Edinburgh, Nottingham, and Plymouth.

Having been given to story-telling and versemaking from early in life, it was only natural that he should feel inclined to give the public the benefit of his abilities, and the first occasion of his doing so was in 1858, when a sentimental piece, inspired by