132 MEMOIR OF JOHN WILSON. 



" I wish Lieutenant Gray of the Marines* had been devoured by 

 the lion he once carried on board his ship to the Dey of Algiers, or 

 that he was kept a perpetual prisoner by the Moors in Barbary. 

 Did you hear that Tennantf had been taken before the Session for 

 an offence against good morals ? If you did not, neither did I. 

 Indeed it is, on many accounts, exceedingly improbable. 



" Yours, truly, John Wilson." 



Apparently the Isle of Palms had by this time made way with 

 some success, if it did not quite realize the hopes of the author. 

 Previously to the writing of the above letter, he had put himself in 

 communication with Mr. Smith, in reference to the publication of 

 his new volume : — 



" Edinburgh, 53 Queen Street, 

 September 5, 1815. 

 " I have as many poems as would make such another volume as 

 the Isle o/Pahns, which I wish to publish this winter. The long- 

 est is nearly 4,000 lines. I have as yet spoken of it to no one, friend 

 or bookseller. I have made up my mind not to publish it unless I 

 sell the copyright for a specific sum. I shall not correspond with 

 any other person on the subject till I hear from you, and what your 

 intentions may be concerning it. 



"I hope that you are quite well. I have been in the Highlands 

 for two months, with Mrs. Wilson, and am strong as an eagle." 

 Having received no reply, he wrote a few days later : — 

 " I felt myself bound by friendship and other ties to acquaint you 

 with my intention before I communicated it to any other person of 

 the trade. As the winter is fast approaching, I wish to have this 

 business settled, ere long, either in one way or another, and will 

 therefore be glad to hear from you as soon as convenient. It is 

 probable that I may appear in Glasgow during the Circuit, to smell 

 the air of the new court, but my motions are uncertain. If I do 

 make it out, I trust the oysters will be in season." 

 Early in October he writes again, from Glasgow : — 

 " The volume which I have now ready for the press will contain 

 any number of pages the publisher may think fit, from three to four 



* Charles Gray, author of several Scotch ballads, poems, and songs. He died in 1851. 

 + William Tennant, Professor of Oriental Languages in St. Andrews ; Author of " Anster Fair ;" 

 diud in 1S48. 



