xl LIFE OF WILSON. 



publication of some note, as a suitable vehicle for the diffusion 

 of those productions which he hoped would arrest the attention 

 of the public. In this magazine appeared his " Rural Walk," 

 and his " Solitary Tutor;" but it does not appear that their au- 

 thor received any other reward for his well-meant endeavours 

 than the thanks of the publisher. He was flattered, it is true, 

 by a republication, in the Port Folio, of the " Rural Walk," 

 with some " commendations of its beauties;" but I must con- 

 fess that my perspicacity has not enabled me to detect them. 



The then editor of the Port Folio, Mr. Dennie, enjoyed the 

 reputation of being a man of taste and judgment; and the major 

 part of his selections should seem to prove that his character, 

 in these respects, was well founded. But with regard to the 

 poem in question, I am totally at a loss to discover by what 

 principles of criticism he judged it, seeing that his opinion of 

 it will by no means accord with mine. The initial stanza, which 

 is not an unfair specimen of the whole, runs thus: 



" The summer sun was riding high, 

 The woods in deepest verdure drest; 

 From care and clouds of dust to fly, 

 Across yon bubbling- brook I past." 



The reader of classical poetry may well pardon me if, out of 

 an effusion consisting of forty-four stanzas, I save him the task 

 of perusing any more than one. 



TO MR. LAWSON. 



Gray's Ferry, August 14, 1804. 

 " Dear Sir, 



"Enclosed is a copy of the "Solitary Tutor," which I 

 should like to see in the " Literary Magazine" of this month, 

 along with the other poem which I sent the editor last week. 

 Wishing, for my future benefit, to call the public attention to 

 these pieces, if, in the editor's opinion, they should seem worthy 

 of it, I must request the favour of you to converse with him on 

 this subject. You know the numerous pieces I am in possession 

 of, would put it in my power to support tolerably well any re- 



