The Corvey Poets Project at the University of Nebraska
British Poetry of the later Eighteenth and Earlier Nineteenth Centuries
Bibliographical and Contextual Apparatus
Malcolm, John
Biographical Information
John Malcolm of Polltach, born in Argyllshire (1805), whose collection of renaissance
art is on display in the British Museum did not write Scenes of War and Other
Poems. Neither did the renowned historian, diplomat, and soldier, Sir John
Malcolm, who published seven books and at least one poem all relating to Persia
and India. Unfortunately, John Malcolm, the minor poet with whom we are concerned,
seems largely forgotten. The passage of 170 years combined with the relatively
greater fame of two contemporary John Malcolms has made reconstructing our John
Malcolm's life almost impossible. From his words, we can see that Malcolm lived,
loved, and lost-when it comes to poets, anything else is really just footnotes
anyway. Regardless, a few facts have been pieced together from reviews of his
first book and his poetry.
Reviews in European Magazine and The Literary Chronicle both
mention that Malcolm had exchanged his sword for a pen upon retirement from
the 42nd Regiment. Commonly known as the Black Watch, the 42nd Royal Highland
Regiment of Foot had served continuously through the Peninsular Wars to the
battle of Waterloo. They fought with distinction and endured many hardships,
including being the only regiment to wear kilts in battle. Malcolm's poetry
reflects his service, recounting the Pyrenees (1813), Paris (1815?), and the
return to Edinburgh (January of 1816?). European Magazine noted that
his rank was unknown; however, he was most likely Lieutenant John Malcolm who
was wounded at Toulouse (Scottish Regiments, par. 72).
Though it has been shown to be problematic to link any particular John Malcolm
with the author of Scenes (no Scottish brick is thrown without hitting
one it would seem), it is improbable that two John Malcolms served in the Black
Watch at the same time. Likewise, the published memoirs of the John Malcolm
injured at Toulouse further solidifies the link. The journal betrays a love
of poetry and the same observant, tender nature and prose style as seen in Scenes.
According to these memoirs, Malcolm joined the 42nd Regiment shortly after
the battle of Vittoria in 1813, fought in Spain and France until being injured
and captured at Toulouse. Treated amicably by the French, he was returned to
Portsmouth fourteen months after having left from that port for the war. At
this point, the memoirs published in Constable's Miscellany end. Based
upon the poem "Written on Leaving Paris" (Scenes 137-141),
in which Malcolm condemns Napoleon, we may assume Malcolm rejoined the Black
Watch for the occupation of Paris and presumably would have continued with them
through Waterloo, the re-occupation of Paris, and their triumphal return to
Edinburgh (see "The Return" in Scenes 127-130).
It was not until eight years later (1824) that Malcolm's first book of poetry,
The Buccaneer and Other Poems, was published. Though The Literary
Chronicle attributed to Malcolm "no ordinary portion of genius,"
most other reviewers were more qualified in their acclaim. European Magazine
said he was well versed in form, but Malcolm did not trust his own creativity
enough, choosing instead to lean on classical forms and allusions. New Monthly
Magazine echoed this sentiment, saying, "The poetry, it is true, is
not of the first order, but there are portions of it which possess very pleasing
character . . . though it has not a single new image, (it) cannot fail to interest
the reader by its tenderness of feeling and ease of versification."
The Buccaneer was followed by Scenes in 1828 and Tales of Field
and Flood: with Sketches of Life at Home in 1829. Selected poems were also
printed in compilations and annuals:
Forget Me Not (1823-47, 56)
"The Waters of Oblivion," (1830) 204
"The March," (1831) 277Friendship's Offering (1824-44)
"The Spirit's Land," (1829) 187
"Evening Hours," (1831) 34
"Remorse," (1831) 181Literary Souvenir (1825-35)
"The North-Wester," (1826) 97
"The Return, written on revisiting Edinburgh," (1827) 93
"Written in a Lady's Album," (1827) 192
"Solitude," (1827) 323
"The Shadow," (1828) 65
"Love," (1828) 96
"The Vesper Bell," (1828) 133
"The First Land," (1828) 215
"Night," (1829) 67
"The Ship at Sea," (1829) 128
"The Mariner's Grave," (1829) 327Amulet (1826-36)
"The Parted Spirit," (1831) 143
"The Palm Tree," (1833) 234Pledge of Friendship (1826-28)
"The Days of Other Years," (1828) 188Gem (1829-32)
"The Halt on the March," (1830) 133
"Stanzas," (1831) 214 (Boyle 185).
Some of these poems, including "The North-Wester" and "The Return," were reprinted in Scenes, as Malcolm's introduction indicates (see Appendix B).
In addition to his poetry, Malcolm also published the aforementioned memoirs
in 1831. Then Malcolm's pen seems to have gone silent; however, one more book
was published posthumously. In 1999, Ken Trotman edited and published Malcolm's
diary from 1814 (see Mackinnon & Malcolm).
Despite this recent resuscitation of Malcolm the soldier, the review of The
Buccaneers in Ladies' Monthly Museum seems prophetic, "These
pieces are not without merit, and they will doubtless be perused with pleasure
by the friends of the author, but it is not probable that they will excite a
permanent interest beyond that limited circle." John Malcolm the poet has
proved, so far, to be of little permanent interest to the world.
Prepared by Scott Cushman, University of Nebraska, December 2004.
© Scott Cushman, 2004.