ALEXANDER WILSON. 
XXV 
a e kcellaraj, as improved versions of our old coarse, 
ut wgoious traditionary songs and ballads. Fergusson, 
on t e other hand, never sinks beneath the regions of 
poetic inspiration, and frequently takes the heart by sur- 
mise with a sudden gush of fervent and tender feebng. 
“ break away from this seductive topic. 
1 son remained long enough in Edinhurgh to compose 
and recite in public two other poetical essays, and to 
pu ish (1791) “ The Laurel Disputed;” tlicn returned 
o ocbwinnoeh, with some increase of' fame, but none 
ot wealth. It appears, however, that he at that time 
torined some literary coimeetions in Edinburgh, which 
might have been of advantage ; for we find him con, 
mbuting to the Bee, a periodical work, conducted by the 
late Dr Anderson, one of the fathers of modem Scottish 
literature. It is probable that his unsettled circumstances 
may have been the chief reason why he failed to profit by 
that favourable opening, as the Doctor’s benevolence was 
unlimited, and his influence at that time considerable. 
An intimacy still more congenial promised about 
“IS period to commence, — one which would probably 
ave been close and permanent, but for the rapidly 
approaching crisis in Wilson’s destiny, — we mean an 
intimacy with Burns. By the kindness of a valued 
nend,* to whom we are indebted for many interesting 
oommunications concerning Wilson, we were put in pos- 
session of the following anecdote j — “ Shortly after the 
publication of Burns’s poems, Wilson wrote to him, 
u jecting to certain of them, on account of their im- 
Pfoper tendency. At this time the two poets were 
^uite unacquainted. Burns returned for answer, that 
® "'as so much accustomed to communications of that 
u *dor Paisley, a gentleman tu whom we beg to 
Uo enter “rhuowlcdgments for the ready real with which 
Buhjeet of luid prosecuted, tliose reseaiThes eoncerning the 
preeluaed, ™ ™™i"iri trom wliich we ourselves were unavoidably 
