LIFE OF WILSON. 
cxv 
his own -wife, who had given evidence of a shrewish disposition. The experi- 
ment being made by AVatty, Meg is brought to terms. She solemnly promises 
to keep her temper — never again to scold her husband — never to follow him to 
the beer-house — never to put drunken to his name — never to look sad when 
he shall come home late — never to kick his shins, or pull his hair; — and lastly 
she consents, with tears, that their hard earnings shall be kept solely by him- 
self. The husband, rejoiced at this evidence of her humility and contrition, 
kisses her, and so the story ends. 
In the management of this tale there is little art displayed ; there is some 
natural description, it is true; but the laws of poetical justice are but ill 
observed, when misconduct so glaring as that of Watty's is passed over with- 
out censure ; and he is allowed to triumph over the subjection of a poor 
woman, whose temper had become soured by his idleness and debauchery. 
Such stories are not calculated to do good ; on the contrary, they may pro- 
mote vice; and surely the vice of intemperance is no trifling evil in society. 
To blend instruction with amusement, we are told, should be the aim of all 
writers of fiction, particularly poets, whose influence over the mind has always 
been predominant. It is justly remarked, by an elegant writer,* that "there 
seems to be something in poetry that raises the possessors of that very singular 
talent far higher in the estimation of the world in general, than those who 
excel in any other of the refined arts." Then let poets take heed lest they 
misapply those talents, which, if properly directed, may be made subservient 
to the best interests of society. 
In justice to our author, I would remark, that, though fond of describing 
scenes of low life, with which his education and habits had rendered him 
familiar, yet he appeared to have escaped the contaminating iufluenco of vulgar 
associates, when arrived at manhood. His conduct, in this country, was truly 
exemplar}'. This observation, though out of place, I here make, as it seems 
to belong, incidentally, to the subject upon which I have been commenting. 
The last edition of ^yatty and Meg, published under the inspection of the 
author, and by him corrected, was that given in the Port Folio for October, 
1810. 
The poetic efl"usions of Wilson, after he came to America, afi"ord evidence 
of an improved taste. He acquired a facility of versification by practice ; as 
his mind expanded with knowledge, his judgment received an accession of 
strength; and he displays a fancy which we look for in vain in his juvenile 
essays. But we must be understood as comparing him only with himself, at 
difi'erent periods of his life. Whether or not he ever attained to positive 
excellence in poetry, may be a subject of dispute. 
In his '• Solitary Tutor," we are presented with a picture of himself, while 
occupied in teaching a country school. The description of his place of resi- 
dence, his school-house, the adjoining forest, where many of his leisure hours 
were passed, and where he first commenced studying the manners of those 
birds, which he subsequently immortalized in his splendid work, is animated 
and graphical. The fabric of these verses reminds us of the Minstrel; and 
Melmoth's Fitzosborne, letter 53. 
