XXX LIFE OF 



of those companions, whose temporary applause made him forget 

 the precepts of his father, afterwards so strongly impressed upon 

 his mind."* 



The west country was now in such a state as to require the more 

 immediate attention of government. The general depression of 

 trade, occasioned by the wars incident to the French Revolution, 

 threw into comparative idleness many of the young operatives, who 

 began so openly to promulgate revolutionary principles, and senti- 

 ments of discontent against the steadier manufacturers, who would 

 not yield to all their unreasonable demands, that many of them 

 became " marked men," and were obliged to remain in temporary con- 

 cealment, or entirely to leave their country. It was Wilson's misfortune 

 to have formed an intimacy with some of these, who, knowing his 

 talents, prevailed upon him to revile and satirise the conduct of those 

 who were most offensive to their views of liberty, or of propriety of 

 conduct as masters. "Wilson himself, well acquainted with all the 

 circumstances regarding these matters in Paisley, and ever ready to 

 redress what he imagined wrongs, was too easily wrought upon ; 

 and, entering into the feelings and prejudices of the operatives, at the 

 solicitation of others, produced a number of poetical squibs which 

 held up the subjects of popular dislike to contempt and ridicule. 

 The principal ones went under the designations of " The Pedlar 

 Insulted," " Hab's Door, or the Temple of Terror," " The Hollander, 

 or Light Weights," and " The Shark, or Long Mills Detected j " 

 the titles bearing reference to local circumstances of the times, and 

 persons, which are now of no consequence. For one of these he 

 underwent a trial, but the charge could not be proved, and for 

 the last, written against a respectable and wealthy manufacturer, 

 perhaps containing some truths, he was prosecuted, and sentenced 

 to imprisonment in the jail of Paisley, and to burn the offensive 

 poem with his own hand. It will be sufficient to say, that he 

 deserved the punishment, having behaved with neither propriety 

 nor honour in the transaction. Of this he was himself sensible, 

 and deeply regretted his error • and such was the opinion even 

 of his prosecutors, that the sentence would have been averted, 



* When his satirical productions first gained notice, his father was repeatedly 

 heard to say, — " Sandy, I see you have some talent about you, but my advice 

 is, never to use it to wound the feelings of others." 



