LIFE OF WILSON. xiii 



lent is the habit of jingling rhymes, that a scholar is considered as possessing 

 no taste, if he do not attune the Scottish lyre to those themes which the amor 

 patriae,, the national pride of a Scotsman, has identified with his very exist- 

 ence. 



That poetry would attract the regard of Wilson was to be expected ; it was 

 the vehicle of sentiments which were in unison with his sanguine tempera- 

 mentj he had early imbibed a love of virtue, and it now assumed a romantic 

 cast by assimilation with the high-wrought efforts of fancy, combined with the 

 melody of song. 



After an apprenticeship of about five years, Wilson became his own master; 

 and, relinquishing the occupation of weaving, he resolved to gratify his taste 

 for rural scenery, by journeying into the interior of the country in the capacity 

 of a peddler. He was now about eighteen, full of ardor and vivacity ; had a 

 constitution capable of great exertion; and a mind which promised resources 

 amid every difficulty. Having been initiated in the art of trading, he shoul- 

 dered his pack, and cheerfully set out in quest of riches. In a mind of a 

 romantic turn, Scotland affords situations abundantly calculated to arouse all 

 those associations which the sublime and beautiful in nature inspire. Wilson 

 was an enthusiast ; and the charms of those mountains, valleys, and streams, 

 which had been immortalized in song, filled his soul with rapture, and incited 

 some of the earliest efforts of his youthful muse. 



To him who would accumulate wealth by trade, the Muses must not be pro- 

 pitious. That abstraction of mind from worldly concerns which letters re- 

 quire, but ill qualifies one to descend to those arts, which, in order to be suc- 

 cessfully practised, must be the unceasing objects of solicitude and attention. 

 While the trader was feasting his eyes upon the beauties of a landscape, or 

 inditing an elegy or a song, the auspicious moment to drive a bargain was ne- 

 glected, or some more fortunate rival was allowed to supplant him. From the 

 habit of surveying the works of nature arose an indifference to the employment 

 of trading, which became more disgusting at each interview with the Muses; 

 and nothing but the dread of poverty induced him to conform to the vulgar 

 avocations of common life. 



Burns was now the favorite of the public; and from the unexampled success 

 of this humble son of genius many aspired to the honors of the laurel, who 

 otherwise would have confined theirViews of renown to the limited circle of their 

 family or acquaintance. Among this number may be reckoned our Wilson ; who, 

 believing that he possessed the talent of poetical expression, ventured to exhibit 

 his essays to his friends, whose approbation encouraged him to renewed perse- 

 verance, in the hope of emerging from that condition in society which his as- 

 piring soul could not but disdain. 



In consequence of his literary attainments and correct moral deportment, lie 

 was admitted to the society of several gentlemen of talents and respectability, 

 who descried in our youth the promise of eminence. Flattered by attentions, 

 which are always grateful to the ingenuous mind, he was emboldened to the 

 purpose of collecting and publishing his poetical attempts, hoping thereby to 

 secure funds sufficient to enable him to persevere in the walks of learning, 

 which, to his glowing fancy, appeared to be strewed with flowers. 



