Logan, JOHN

Logan, JOHN, poet and sermon-writer, was born at Soutra, in Midlothian, in 1748. His father was a small farmer, but was able to send his son to college. In 1773 he was licensed as a preacher, and from his eloquence and fervour in the pulpit soon became so popular that he was chosen minister of the second charge of South Leith parish that same year. In 1786, however, owing to intemperate habits, and for kindred reasons, he was constrained to resign his charge, after which he proceeded to London, and there engaged in literary work. He died there, December 28, 1788. Besides two volumes of sermons and lectures which were published after his death, he was the author of a tragedy called Runnamede, but this, after a single performance at the Edinburgh Theatre, was withdrawn from the stage. In 1781 he published a volume of poems, which, though coldly received in critical circles, speedily reached a second edition. His name is best known now in connection with that of Michael Bruce and the controverted authorship of the 'Ode to the Cuckoo' and certain of the Paraphrases. The most effective statement in behalf of Logan's claims which has yet appeared will be found in two papers by the Rev. Robert Small, Edinburgh, which were published in the British and Foreign Evangelical Review for 1879. That Logan is entitled to a place among the minor poets of Scotland is sufficiently attested, though there were nothing more, by his exquisite lyric, 'The Braes of Yarrow.'