XIV LIFE OF 



eminently displayed, he was indebted almost to his own exertions, 

 and the generous assistance of some friends, who were capable and 

 willing to direct his mind in the occasional sallies of his younger 

 days, and allowed him access to their larger libraries, for the rudi- 

 ments, at least, of all his after acquirements. 



The father of our author was a respectable gauze weaver in 

 Paisley, where he spent the greater part of his early life ; but 

 having married, he removed to Auchinbathie Tower, near the village 

 of Lochwinnoch, thinking that more extensive and varied employ- 

 ment would improve the condition of an increasing family. He 

 now rented a piece of ground, which he cultivated himself, keeping, 

 at the same time, employment for several looms, and commencing 

 a sort of trade in distilling and smuggling. He would thus seem 

 to have been of a somewhat speculative disposition, but . in other 

 respects was well informed, and bore the character of a shrewd, 

 upright, and independent man. His eldest son, Alexander, now 

 better known as the " American Ornithologist," was born at Paisley 

 on the 6th of July 1766, previous to the removal of his father from 

 that town. His childhood was most likely passed as that of many 

 others ; nor can it be supposed that the boyish pranks of one born 

 in comparative obscurity, should have been treasured up and con- 

 verted into the dawning promises of future greatness, or his young 

 mind charged 



" With meanings that he never had, 



Or, having, kept conceal'd." 



In the earliest notice of his youth, we find him near Lochwinnoch 

 in the capacity of a herd (to Mr Stevenson of the Treepwood), 

 a circumstance accidentally recorded, from his having already 

 attempted to celebrate the beauties of Castle Semple in a song,* 

 extending to six verses, curious as the first specimen, and remark- 

 able for its truisms, the characteristic of his later poems. 



The ready quickness, and mild disposition of the boy now 

 induced his father to hope that some profession higher than that of 



* " Castle Semple stands sae sweet, 



The parks around are bonnie, ; 

 The ewes and lambs ye'll hear them bleat, 

 And the herd's name is Johnnie, 0," &c. 



— Paisley Magazine for November 1828, p. 583. 



