ALEXANDER WILSON. xv 



an operative would be more suitable to the character of his son ; 

 and the laudable pride shown by a great part of the Scottish 

 peasantry, that one of their offspring, at least, should embrace 

 a learned profession, medicine or the church, confirmed his parents 

 in deciding upon the latter as his future avocation, and he was placed 

 under the charge of Mr Barlas, then a student of divinity, to whom, 

 I believe, many of the youth of Paisley have been since indebted 

 for scientific acquirements. We are not informed how long Wilson 

 enjoyed the tuition of this divine ; it could not, however, be for any 

 great period, as at the age of ten he suffered the loss of a kind and 

 affectionate mother ; and to this melancholy bereavement may, 

 perhaps, be traced the whole bent and inclinations of his varied life. 

 His father, feeling the care of conducting his household and young 

 family, and, at the same time, of attending to his different occupa- 

 tions, too great a burden without assistance, again married. His 

 family still increasing, the funds sufficient to defray the expenses of 

 an education suited for a learned profession were found too limited, 

 and Wilson, upon the recommendation of his relatives, but much 

 against his own wishes, was, at the age of thirteen, bound an 

 apprentice to Mr William Duncan, a respectable operative weaver 

 in Paisley. 



While he remained with Mr Duncan, every attention was paid to 

 his business and tasks, apparently from an honourable motive, 

 though an opportunity was never let slip in which he could gratify 

 his taste for reading, or indulge his romantic fancy in wandering 

 about the beautiful vicinity of his native town. 



His perhaps otherwise dormant mind had been roused during his 

 short acquaintance with Mr Barlas, and the stealthy snatches which he 

 now obtained of his favourite authors served only to inflame his desire 

 for information. At the conclusion of his apprenticeship he wrote 

 the following quaint lines upon his indenture, showing distaste for 

 his business, and the reluctance with which he filled up his time : — - 



" Be't kent to a' the warld in rhyme, 

 That wi' right mickle wark an' toil, 

 For three lang years I've ser't my time, 

 Whiles feasted wi' the hazel oil." — August 1782.* 



* His indenture for three years, dated 31st July 1779, is now in possession 

 of Mr Clark, Seedhill Mills, Paisley. 



