LIFE OF WILSON. 
XIX 
While residing at Lochwinnocli he contributed some short 
prose essays to the Bee, a periodical work which was published at 
Edinburgh by Dr. Anderson. Of the merits of these essays I can- 
not speak, as I have never seen them. He also occasionally visit- 
ed the latter place, to frequent the Pantheon, wherein a society for 
debate held their meetings. In this assembly of minor wits he 
delivered several poetical discourses, which obtained him consider- 
able applause. The particulars of these literary peregrinations 
have been minutely related to me ; but, at this time, I will merely 
state, that he always performed his journies on foot ; and that his 
ardour to obtain distinction, drawing him away from his profes- 
sion, the only means of procuring subsistence, he was frequently 
reduced to the want of the necessaries of life. 
Wilson, in common with many, was desirous of becoming 
personally acquainted with the poet Burns, who was now in the 
zenith of his glory ; and an accidental circumstance brought them 
together. The interview appeared to be pleasing to both ; and 
they parted with the intention of continuing their acquaintance by 
a correspondence. But this design, though happily begun, was 
frustrated by an imprudent act of the former, who, in a criticism 
on the tale of Tam O’Shanter, remarked of a certain passage that 
there was “ too much of the briite^^ in it. The paragraph alluded 
to is that which begins thus ; 
“ Now Tam, O Tam ! had thae been queans.” 
Burns, in reply, observed : “ If ever you write again to so iri'itable 
a creature as a poet, I beg you will use a gentler epithet than to 
say there is too much of the brute in any thing he says or does.’’ 
Here the correspondence closed. 
From Lochwinnocli Wilson returned to Paisley; and again 
sought subsistence by mechanical labour. But at this period the 
result of the French revolution had become evident by the wars 
enkindled on the continent; and their influence on the manufac- 
tures of Great Britain, particularly those of Paisley, began to he 
