12 ALEXANDER WII^ON: POEH'-NATTJRAUST 



Tutor" are after the original copies as they appeared 

 in Charles B. Brown's Literary Magazine. In the 

 cases of the other poems the wording of later editions 

 has been used. 



So great is my obligation to the kindness and assist- 

 ance of other people, that it is difficult to do more than 

 express my thanks to all who have helped me, collec- 

 tively. Especial acknowledgment is due, however, to 

 Professor George M. Harper, of Princeton University, 

 ^t whose suggestion this work was begun and whose 

 advice throughout its writing has greatly influenced its 

 present form. 



I am also indebted for help and suggestions to Pro- 

 fessor Paul van Dyke and Dr. Charles W. Kennedy, 

 of Princeton University, to Mr. Worthington C. 

 Ford, of Washington, D. C, and to the librarians of 

 Princeton University, of the Norfolk, Virginia, Pub- 

 lic Library, of the Pennsylvania Historical Society, 

 and the American Philosophical Society of Philadel- 

 phia. 



I have reserved until the last an acknowledgment 

 of courtesies which, perhaps, I appreciate the most. 

 Many of the good people of Paisley, Scotland, have 

 taken a great interest in this new life of their fellow- 

 townsman and have helped me in a very real way to 

 secure information which it would otherwise have been 

 impossible for me to obtain. To all such I extend 

 my thanks, but especially to Messrs. John Kent and 

 Charles M. Stevenson. It is fitting that they who 

 would honor the memory of our Scotch- American poet 

 and ornithologist should in sympathy ''stretch hands 

 across the sea." 



Williamsburg, Virginia, J. S. W. 



October i, igo6. 



