ALEXANDER WILSON. Xxiii 
I^ournal, from ivticli it appears that his success was far 
lom encouraging. Among amusing incidents, sketches 
o c aracter, occasional sound and intelligent remarks upon 
• f and prospects of the various classes of society 
■u o \\ Yray, there are not a few severe 
expressions indicative of deep disappointment, and some 
hat merely hint the keener pangs of wounded pride — 
Pnde founded on conscious merit. “ You,” says he, on 
one occasion, “ you, whose souls are susceptible of the 
nest feelings, who are elevated to rapture with the least 
oatvnings of hope, and sunk into despondency by the 
slightest thwarting of your expectations— think what I 
e t ! Much, probably, of his disa|)pointment may be 
attributed to the very ijuestionable, the almost vagrant 
character, in which he appeared,— that of a travelling 
pedlar. Of this he seems ultimately to have become 
convinced ; for, in a letter to a friend, dated from 
Edinburgh, in November of the same year, he says, “ My 
occupation is greatly against my success in collecting 
suhseribers. A packman is a character which none esteem, 
Md almost every one despises. The idea which people 
ot all ranks entertain of them is, that they are ineaii- 
spirited, lotiuacioiis liars, cunning and illiterate, watching 
C'crj opportunity, and using every mean art witliin their 
poucr, to cheat.” The same sentiment repeatedly occurs 
"n his poems. 
_ Having in vain used his utmost exertions to dispose of 
^ 's poems, and being completely disgusted with the life of 
a pedlar, he returned to Paisley; and, in a short time 
terwards, M’e find him again plying his original trade in 
^.lochwinnoch. But it is evident, that he was far from 
ciiig satisfied M-ith his employment, or sincere in relin- 
laishing poetry. Indeed, it may be questioned whether 
coul^'*” "’ho has ever experienced the true poetic thrill 
’ would, seal up his bosom against its 
"cons visitations. Be that as it may, Wilson was 
