LIFE OF WILSON. 



xvii 



no evidence could be adduced to establish the fact. But unfor" 

 tunately as he was one night, at a late hour, returning from his 

 printer, some spies, who had been watching his movements, seized 

 upon him; and papers being found in his possession which indi- 

 cated the author, he was prosecuted for a libel, sentenced to a 

 short imprisonment, and to burn, with his own hands, the piece 

 at the public cross in the town of Paisley. The printer, it is said, 

 was likewise fined for his share in the publication. 



In the year 1792, Mr. Wilson wrote his characteristic tale, 

 entitled Watty and Meg. This little poem was published anony- 

 mously ; and possessing considerable merit was by many attributed 

 to Burns. It has obtained more popularity in Scotland than any 

 of the minor essays of our author ; and has been ranked with the 

 best productions of the Scottish muse. 



He now began to be dissatisfied with his lot. He was poor, 

 and saw no prospect of bettering his condition in his native coun- 

 try. And having heard flattering accounts of America, he con- 

 ceived the design of forsaking the land of his forefathers, and 

 settling in the United States. With this intention he arranged 

 his affairs ; set out for Belfast, in Ireland ; engaged his passage 

 in the ship Swift of Newyork, captain Steel, bound to Philadel- 

 phia ; and arrived at Newcastle, in the state of Delaware, on the 

 fourteenth of July, 1794. 



We now behold Alexander Wilson in a strange land ; with- 

 out an acquaintance on whose counsels and hospitality he could 

 rely in that state of uncertainty, to which, having no specific 

 object in view, he was of course subjected ; without a single let- 

 ter of introduction ; and with only a few shillings in his pocket. 

 But every care was forgotten in his transport at finding himself 

 in the land of freedom. He had often cast a wishful look towards 

 the western hemisphere, and his warm fancy had suggested the 

 idea, that amongst that people only, who maintained the doctrine 

 of an equality of rights, could political justice and happiness be 



VOL. IX. s E 



