‘Sick Nature Blasting’: The Ecological Limits of British Imperialism in Thomson's The Seasons

Abstract

This article argues that James Thomson depicts the 2nd duke of Argyll's methods as a counterpart to Britain's rapacious imperial ventures as epitomized by Edward Vernon. It supplements scholars' efforts to reassess Thomson's treatment of Scotland and its cultural practices. Argyll's many affiliations with the region authorize his rule; his sensitivity to his surroundings influences traditional pursuits – agricultural labour, for example – industry, and wider enterprises that reverberate across Scotland and the globe. This article considers the ways in which Thomson moderates his tribute to Britain as a benevolent colonial power. The article examines: the interplay between robust British commerce and the preservation of healthy ecologies; Thomson's poem The Castle of Indolence to analyze the responsibilities of the georgic poet; and the anxieties and responsibilities that attend supplementing and even replacing the energy of the sun.