84: MEMOIR OF JOHN WILSON. 



saw nothing at all, ray attention being altogether occupied with Mr. 

 Wilson's conversation and demeanor, which were in the highest de- 

 gree agreeable ; the points which chiefly struck me being the 

 humility and gravity with which he spoke of himself, his large ex- 

 pansion of heart, and a certain air of noble frankness which over- 

 spread every thing he said ; he seemed to have an intense enjoyment 

 of life; indeed, being young, rich, healthy, and full of intellectual 

 activity, it could not be very wonderful that he should feel happy 

 and pleased with himself and others ; but it was somewhat unusual 

 to find that so rare an assemblage of endowments had communicated 

 no tinge of arrogance to his manner, or at all disturbed the general 

 temperance of his mind." 



Many were the pleasant days spent by these friends together; 

 many the joyous excursions among the hills and valleys of the lake 

 country. One memorable gathering is still remembered in the lone 

 places of the mountains, and spoken of to the stranger wandering 

 there. One lovely summer day, in the year 1809, the solitudes of 

 Eskdale w^ere invaded by what seemed a little army of anglers. It 

 consisted of thirty-two persons, ten of whom were servants brought 

 to look after the tents and baggage necessary for a week's sojourn 

 in the mountains. This camp with its furniture was carried by 

 twelve ponies. Among the gentlemen of the party were Wilson, 

 Wordsworth, De Quincey, Alexander Blair, two Messrs. Astley, 

 Humphries, and some others whose names have escaped notice. 

 After passing through Eskdale, and that solemn tract of country 

 which opens upon Wastwater, they there pitched their tent, and 

 roaming far and near from that point, each took his own way till 

 evening hours assembled them together. 



The beauty of the scenes through which they rambled, the fine 

 weather, and, above all, that geniality of taste and disposition which 

 had brought them together, made the occasion one of unforgotten 

 satisfaction. It formed the theme of one of Wilson's most beautiful 

 minor poems, entitled the " Anglers' Tent," which was written soon 

 after at Elleray, where Wordsworth was then living. One morning 

 a great discussion took place between the poets about a verse Wil- 

 son had some difficulty in arranging. At last, after much trying 

 and questioning, it was made out between them : — 



" The placid lake that rested far below, 

 Softly embosoming another sky, 



