 In 1824 he published 'A Defence of the Drama,' which had an extensive circulation, and was read by John Fawcett to the members of the Theatrical Fund at their annual dinner that year.In 1829 he became elocutionary lecturer of King's College, University of Aberdeen and gave lectures on oratory, poetry, and other literary subjects in the large towns of Scotland and England.He later travelled to the United States, where he lectured on the English poets, and on returning from America gave evening discourses at the leading athenaeums on what he had seen during his American visit.