xvi LIFE OF WILSON. 



of pathos and humor, which are so conspicuous in the writings of Burns. It 

 has obtained more popularity in Scotland than any of the minor essays of our 

 author ; and has been ranked with the best productions of the Scottish muse. 



Croniek, in his sketch of Wilson's life, adverting to the prosecution above 

 mentioned, says, that " the remembrance of this misfortune dwelt upon his 

 mind, and rendered him dissatisfied with his country. Another cause of Wil- 

 son's dejection was the rising fame of Burns, and the indifference of the public 

 to his own productions. He may be said to have envied the Ayrshire bard, 

 and to this envy may be attributed his best production, ' Watty and Meg,' 

 which he wrote at Edinburgh in 1793 (179"2). He sent it to Nielson, printer, 

 at Paisley, who had suffered by the publication of his former poems. As it 

 was, by the advice of his friends, published anonymously, it was generally as- 

 cribed to Burns, and went rapidly through seven or eight editions. Wilson, 

 however, shared no part of the profits, willing to compensate for the former 

 losses his publisher had sustained." * 



The sketch above jnentioned the author of this narrative showed to Wilson, 

 and the latter told him that the relation was wanting in correctness. He 

 pointedly denied the charge of envying the Ayrshire bard, and felt not a little 

 scandalized at the unworthy imputation. He added, that no one entertained a 

 more exalted idea of Burns's genius, or rejoiced more at his merited success, 

 than himself 



Wilson now began to be dissatisfied with his lot. He was poor, and had no 

 prospect of bettering his condition in his native country. Having heard flat- 

 tering accounts of America, he conceived the design of emigrating thither, and 

 settling in the United States. 



It was some time in the latter part of the year 1793 that the resolution was 

 formed of forsaking the land of his forefathers. His eye having been acci- 

 dentally directed to a newspaper advertisement, which stated that the American 

 ship Swift would sail from the port of Belfast, in Ireland, on the first of May 

 following, with passengers for Philadelphia, he communicated his scheme, in 

 confidence, to his nephew, William Duncan, then a lad of sixteen, who con- 

 sented to become his fellow-traveller in the voyage ; and an agreement was en- 

 tered into of depai-ting in the above-mentioned ship. 



The next subject of consideration was the procuring of funds ; and as weav- 

 ing presented the most eligible plan for this purpose, to the loom Wilson ap- 

 plied himself, for four months, with a diligence and economy almost surpassing 

 belief; the whole of his expenses during this period amounting to less than 

 one shilling per week. 



All matters being finally arranged, he set out on foot for Port Patrick, 

 whence he embarked for Ireland. On reaching Belfast it was found that the 

 ship had her complement of passengers ; but, rather than remain after so 

 much exertion, Wilson and his companion consented to sleep upon deck, and, 

 consequently, they were permitted to depart in the ship, which sailed aboiit 

 the middle of May, and arrived at Newcastle, in the state of Delaware, on the 

 fourteenth of July, 1794. 



* Cromek's " Select Scottish Songs," vol. 2, p. 214. London, 1810. 



