LIFE OP WILSON. xiii 



lined their views of renown to the limited circle of their family 

 or acquaintance. Among this number may be reckoned our 

 Wilson; who, believing that he possessed the talent of poetical 

 expression, ventured to exhibit his essays to his friends, whose 

 approbation encouraged him to renewed perseverance, in the 

 hope of emerging from that condition in society which his as- 

 piring soul could not but disdain. 



In consequence of his literary attainments, and correct moral 

 deportment, he was admitted to the society of several gentle- 

 men of talents and respectability, who descried in our youth 

 the promise of eminence. Flattered by attentions, which are 

 always grateful to the ingenuous mind, he was imboldened to 

 the purpose of collecting and publishing his poetical attempts; 

 hoping thereby to secure funds sufficient to enable him to per- 

 severe in the walks of learning, which, to his glowing fancy, 

 appeared to be strewed with flowers. 



In pursuance of this design he printed proposals; arid, being 

 " resolved," to adopt his own language, "to make one bold 

 push for the united interests of Pack and Poems," he once more 

 vSet out to sell his merchandise, and obtain patronage to his work. 



This expedition was unprofitable: he neither advanced his 

 fortune, nor received the encouragement of many subscriptions. 

 Fortunate would it have been for him, if, instead of giving 

 vent to his spleen at the supposed want of discernment of rising 

 merit, or lack of taste for the effusions of genius, he had per- 

 mitted himself to be admonished of his imprudence by the in- 

 difference of the public, and had taken that for an act of friend- 

 ship, which his wounded feelings did not fail to construe into 

 contempt. 



But in defiance of discouragement he published his volume, 

 under the title of " Poems, Humorous, Satirical and Serious. " 

 The writer of this sketch has it now before him; and finds in it 

 the following remarks, in the hand-writing of the author him- 

 self: " I published these poems when only twenty -two an 

 age more abundant in sail than ballast. Reader, let this 

 soften the rigor of criticism a little." Dated, " GrayVFerrv. 



