ALEXANDER WILSON 53 



Even at this time Wilson was writing verses and his mind was 

 ever turning to the outdoor life which was dear to his heart and 

 in comparison with which the loom was a sorry bondage. As 

 the only visible means of earning a living he continued weaving 

 until 1789 when he joined his brother-in-law in a tour of eastern 

 Scotland as a peddler. This undertaking was prompted by his 

 love of tramping and his restlessness under uncongenial confine- 

 ment; not by any love or ability for trading, for that he did not 

 possess. While gratifying his taste for outdoor life he was by no 

 means benefited financially by the change. However, he gave 

 full rein to his poetical ambition, and with his characteristic 

 impetuosity he soon had visions of publishing his volume of verses 

 and sharing in the notoriety that had just greeted the issue of 

 Burns' first poems. Wilson was evidently acquainted with Burns 

 as some of his verses show and entertained a very high opinion of 

 him. To what extent Burns' success may have influenced him 

 or his style is hard to say, but one of the best of Wilson's produc- 

 tions published anonymously was attributed to the "plowman," 

 doubtless to the author's great gratification. 



Wilson reached the height of his practical ambition in 1790 

 when he published a volume of his poetical writings. It was, 

 however, an indifferent production and failed to bring him the 

 renown that he coveted. In 1792 he was back at the loom but 

 as before despondent and unhappy and in sore straits financially. 

 He continued to publish occasional poems in the local papers and 

 now and then indulged in sarcastic verses on certain civil authori- 

 ties and other self-important personages. This practice finally 

 brought him face to face with libel charges, resulting in fines and 

 imprisonment. 



Upon his release, consumed with bitterness and more despond- 

 ent than ever he resolved to leave his native country and try his 

 fortune in America. Accordingly, accompanied by his nephew, 

 William Duncan, he sailed from Belfast on May 23, 1794, and 

 reached the mouth of Delaware bay on the nth of July. 



Impatient to be once more ashore they landed at New Castle, 

 Delaware, " happy as mortals could be" and went on foot to 



