xiv 



LIFE OF WILSON. 



and young Wilson, convinced, by experience, of the necessity of 

 self-exertion, applied himself with diligence to acquire a know- 

 ledge of that trade, at which he continued for several years. 



At an early period of his life he evinced a strong desire for 

 learning; and the perusal of old magazines and pamphlets, to 

 which he had ready access, was an additional stimulus to further 

 exertion. His mind, it is reasonable to conjecture, was not a lit- 

 tle agitated at the solemn alternative of persecution, or of relin- 

 quishing for ever the fostering attentions of a parent, to whom he 

 was most dutifully and affectionately attached; and he experienced 

 consolation by devoting his leisure hours to reading and writing. 

 Poetry attracted his regard; it was the vehicle of sentiments which 

 were in unison with his sanguine feelings : he had early imbibed 

 a love of virtue, and it now assumed a romantic cast, by assimi- 

 lation with the high-wrought efforts of fancy, combined with the 

 melody of song. 



Caledonia is fruitful of versemen: every village has its poets; 

 and so prevalent is the habit of jingling rhymes, that a scholar is 

 considered as possessing no taste, if he do not attune the Scottish 

 lyre to those themes, which the amor patrice^ the national pride of 

 a Scotsman has identified with his very existence. 



Burns was now in the zenith of his glory. His verses were 

 on the lips of every one; his praises were echoed from the cot- 

 tage to the palace; and from the unexampled success of this hum- 

 ble son of genius, many aspired to the honors of the laurel, who 

 otherwise would have confined their views of poetical renown to 

 the limited circle of their family or acquaintance. Among this 

 number may be reckoned our Wilson ; who, finding from some 

 short essays that he possessed the talent of poetical expression, 

 ventured to exhibit his attempts to his friends, whose approbation 

 encouraged him to renewed perseverance, in the hope of emerging 

 from that condition in society, which his aspiring soul could not 

 but disdain. 



