XXvi LIFE OF 



Meg. It was nearly contemporary with the Tarn o Shanter of 

 Burns ; and its great success, with the thought that, for a time, the 

 productions of the Paisley poet could be taken for those of the 

 Ayrshire bard, raised his spirits to their usual pitch. There is a 

 difference of opinion regarding the residence of the heroes of this 

 piece. One of my correspondents is of opinion, that the couple 

 resided at Lochwinnoch, and that the male actor was a drunken 

 coachman, " one of Smithie's drunken core," in the service of Mr 

 M'Dowell of Garthland, and thinks this confirmed by his real 

 name, Peter Thomson,* being mentioned in the poem. By the 

 attention of Mr Lang, I was introduced to the Paisley Watty and 

 Meg, residing near the Seedhills, and one might easily conceive 

 they had performed the parts so graphically described by our author, 

 whose persons and domicile would work well under the pencil of 

 Hervey. It was now, also, that he wrote the review of Tarn o' 

 Shanter for the Bee, but which Dr Anderson refused to publish. 

 On receiving this refusal, he sent the paper, in the height of his 

 indignation, to Burns himself, who answered his communication 

 with it, assuring him, that he had received innumerable criticisms, 

 and had never answered any of them, but as Wilson's was of a 

 superior order, he would reply to it, and proceeded to justify his 

 poem. This was Wilson's first introduction to a short acquaintance 

 with Burns ; previously, he had gone to Ayr on purpose to visit 

 him, but found him from home, and had only the satisfaction to 

 converse for a considerable time with his sister, who must have made 

 a favourable impression upon his mind, as he was heard to remark, 

 on his return, that "Burns must be a very superior man if like his 

 sister." The poets met, some years after, at Burns' farm, spent a 

 pleasant evening, and made an exchange of the poems which occa- 

 sioned their introduction. This was their first and last meeting. 



It was natural to suppose that a disposition, bearing a stamp 

 so superior and different from his fellow-operatives in a similar 

 station, would form associations with somewhat kindred minds. Mr 

 Crichton, Dr Barlas, and Mr Brodie, he looked up to with a certain 



* " Dyster Jock was sitting crackin' 

 Wi' Pate Tamson o' the Hill, 

 ' Come awa,' quo' Johnny, ' Watty ! 

 Haith, we'se hae anither gill.' " 



