81 



The tour of 1816 was followed by a visit to Paris, when 

 he was intrusted with an important commission. It was 

 the purchase for the University of Edinburgh of the series 

 of ornithological specimens, now known as the Dufresne 

 Collection. On his return he spent much of his time 

 assisting: Professor Jameson in the work of their arrange- 

 ment, and the acquisition now forms one of the most 

 beautiful and valuable treasures in the College Museum. 



A good deal of his leisure was also occupied in another 

 congeiral employment. In 181G, Blackwood s Magazine 

 had commenced its career, and to the first volumes Mr 

 Wilson contributed many articles. The subjects which he 

 usually selected were akin to his own tastes and pursuits 

 as a lover of nature and of poetry, an angler, and an occa- 

 sional tourist ; but it is believed that he had a hand in not 

 a few papers of pleasantry and humour, of which the indi- 

 vidual or joint-stock authorship can no longer be ascer- 

 tained.* 



* In the list of Mr Wilson's publications given at the end of this 

 Tolume, we have enumerated such contributions to Blackwood as we 

 have been able to identify, with the kind assistance of John Blackwood, 

 Esq., and of Mr Wilson's own family. 



