of which he gives this account to Mr. Hill:--

I hinted to you in my last that on Saturday morning I was with Sir
Spencer Compton. A certain gentleman, without my desire, spoke to
him concerning me: his answer was that I had never come near him.
Then the gentleman put the question, if he desired that I should
wait on him? He returned, he did. On this the gentleman gave me an
introductory letter to him. He received me in what they commonly
call a civil manner; asked me some common-place questions, and made
me a present of twenty guineas. I am very ready to own that the
present was larger than my performance deserved; and shall ascribe
it to his generosity, or any other cause, rather than the merit of
the address."

The poem, which, being of a new kind, few would venture at first to
like, by degrees gained upon the public; and one edition was very
speedily succeeded by another.

Thomson's credit was now high, and every day brought him new
friends; among others Dr. Rundle, a man afterwards unfortunately
famous, sought his acquaintance, and found his qualities such that
he recommended him to the Lord Chancellor Talbot.

"Winter" was accompanied, in many editions, not only with a preface
and dedication, but with poetical praises by Mr. Hill, Mr. Mallet
(then Malloch), and Mira, the fictitious name of a lady once too
well known. Why the dedications are, to "Winter" and the other
Seasons, contrarily to custom, left out in the collected works, the
reader may inquire.