Burns — On Alexander Wilson. 139 



achievements. Alexander Wilson belonged to a class of men 

 of which Scotland seems to have produced a greater number 

 than any other country — mien from the humble and middle 

 classes of life, of poetic minds, lovers of nature, of science, and 

 of art — men of unconquerable perseverance, who succeed at last 

 in acquiring fame, and sometimes fortune, often in despite of 

 the most adverse circumstances in early life." ^ 



In a letter to William Bartram dated November 20th, 1803, 

 Wilson writes : " , . . . I have attempted two of those prints 

 which Miss Nancy so obligingly and with so much honor to her 

 own taste, selected for me. I am quite delighted with the 

 anemone, but fear I have made but bungling work of it." The 

 Miss Nancy referred to is the Quaker maiden, Ann Bartram; 

 and when Dr. Coues secured a copy of the Wilson manuscript 

 poem entitled "The Beechen Bower," then in the possession of 

 Joseph M. Wade, it did not immediately occur that it must have 

 been dedicated to Miss Bartram, although her given name ap- 

 pears in the second stanza, and it is dated January 18, 1801. 



"O dear to my heart is this deepshaded Bower, 

 This snug little seat and this smooth Beechen Tree, 

 These old hoary Cliffs through the bushes that tower 

 And bend o'er the pool their semblance to see. 

 The fountains, the Grotto, the Laurel's sweet blossom, 

 The Streamlet that warbles so soothing and free. 

 Green solitude ! dear to the maid of my bosom 

 And so for her sake ever charming to me. 



"Here seated with Anna, what bliss so transporting 

 I wish every moment an age were to be. 

 Her taste so exalted — her humour so sporting, 

 Her heart full of tenderness, virtue and glee. 

 Each evening sweet Bow'r round the cliffs will I hover, 

 In hopes her fair form thro' the foliage to see. 

 Heav'n only can witness how dearly I love her, 

 How sweet Beechen Bower thy shades are to me. 



[Signed] A. Wilson." 



Apparently a premature, if not a presumptive declaration 

 which the author lacked the courage to deliver. Again, under 

 the date of March 29th, in relating his attempts at drawing, he 

 writes " .... I am very anxious to see the performance of 



^ Leslie's Autobiographical Recollections, pp. 163-165. 



