LIFE OF WILSON. cxv 



his own wife, who had given evidence of a shrewish disposition. The Ciperi- 

 ment being made by Watty, Meg is brought to terms. She solemnly promises 

 to keep her temper — never again to scold her hu.sband — never to follow him to 

 the beer-house — never to put drunken to his name — never to look sad when 

 he shall come home late — never to kick his shins, or pull his hair ; — and lastly 

 she consents, with tears, that their hard earnings shall be kept solely by him- 

 self. The husband, rejoiced at this evidence of her humility and contrition, 

 kisses her, and so the story ends. 



In the management of this tale there is little art displayed ; there is some 

 natural description, it is true ; but the laws of poetical justice are but ill 

 observed, when misconduct so glaring as that of Watty's is passed over with- 

 out censure ; and he is allowed to triumph over the subjection of a poor 

 woman, whose temper had become soured by his idleness and debauchery. 



Such stories are not calculated to do good; on the contrary, they may pro- 

 mote vice; and surely the vice of intemperance is no trifling evil in society. 

 To blend instruction with amusement, we are told, should be the aim of all 

 writers of fiction, particularly poets, whose influence over the mind has always 

 been predominant. It is ju-tly remarked, by an elegant writer,* that " there 

 seems to be something in poetry that raises the possessors of that very singular 

 talent far higher in the estimation of the world in general, than those who 

 excel in any other of the refined arts." Then let poets take heed lest they 

 misapply those talents, which, if properly directed, may be made subservient 

 to the best interests of society. 



In justice to our author, I would remark, that, though fond of describing 

 scenes of low life, with which his education and habits had rendered him 

 familiar, yet he appeared to have escaped the contaminating influence of vulgar 

 associates, when arrived at manhood. His conduct, in this country, was truly 

 exemplary. This observation, though out of place, I here make, as it seems 

 to belong, incidentally, to the subject upon which I have been commenting. 



The last edition of Watty and Meg, published under the inspection of the 

 author, and by him corrected, was that given in the Port Folio for October, 

 1810. 



The poetic eff'usions of Wilson, after he came to America, afford evidence 

 of an improved taste. He acquired a facility of versification by practice ; as 

 his mind expanded with knowledge, his judgment received an accession of 

 strength; and he displays a fancy which we look for in vain in his juvenile 

 essays. But we must be understood as comparing him only with himself, at 

 different periods of his life. Whether or not he ever attained to positive 

 excellence in poetry, may be a subject of dispute. 



In his " Solitary Tutor," we are presented with a picture of himself, while 

 occupied in teaching a country school. The description of his place of resi- 

 dence, his school-house, the adjoining forest, where many of his leisure hours 

 were passed, and where he first commenced studying the manners of those 

 birds, which he subsequently immortalized in his splendid work, is animated 

 and graphical. The fabric of these verses reminds us of the Minstrel ; and 



* Melmoth's Fitzosbome, letter 53. 



