INTRODUCTION 



of a delicate and subtile sort is achieved with 

 the most delicious humor through the ex- 

 quisite burlesque delineations of such promi- 

 nent persons as the Ettrick Shepherd and the 

 English Opium-Eater. 



In 1820 occurred the event in Wilson's 

 life which most served to throw into strong 

 relief his peculiar characteristics. In that year, 

 at the age of thirty-five, he was chosen to 

 fill the vacant chair of Moral Philosophy at 

 Edinburgh University. Anything more un- 

 fitting at the first sight than the election of 

 Christopher North, the sport, the reveller, 

 the barrister, the slashing Blackwood critic, 

 with no especial technical qualification for 

 the position, can hardly be imagined. Indeed 

 his choice was an educational scandal, and 

 could only have been effected by the Tory 

 influence in the Town Council that was 

 exerted on his behalf. It seems as if Wil- 

 son's own sense of humor, which was strong, 

 must have deterred him from acceptance. 



[ xvi J 



