XXV111 
LIFE OF 
frequent disputant. He took part in the questions, “ Whether is 
diffidence or the allurements of pleasure, the greatest bar to the 
progress of knowledge ?” “ Whether suffering humanity received 
most assistance from the male or female sex ?” and “ Whether is 
disappointment in love, or the loss of fortune, hardest to bear?” 
But, of all his poems written for this society, the best perhaps is the 
« Laurel disputed,” or a comparison of the merits of Allan Ramsay 
and Robert Fergusson. I received the following history of this 
poem: — Wilson one day called upon Mr Brodie, at Quarleton, to ask 
his advice regarding a letter he had received from James Kennedy, 
at Edinburgh, intimating that a prize was to be awarded at the 
Pantheon for the best essay upon “ Whether have the exertions 
of Allan Ramsay or Robert Fergusson done most honour to Scottish 
poetry.” Kennedy intended to compete, and strongly urged Wilson 
to do the same, and offered to present his essay, as those in poetry 
, might be delivered by deputy. Mr Brodie, however, advised Wilson 
to go himself, and deliver his essay in person, if he intended to 
compete ; but the poet declared his total inability to perform the 
journey for want of funds ; and, besides, said, “ It is long since I read 
Ramsay, and, as to Fergusson, I never saw a copy of his poems in 
my life ; I am at a loss, therefore, which side of the argument to 
espouse.” He was answered, that “ Ramsay would most probably be 
the favourite. His Gentle Shepherd had made a deep impression on 
the public, and would always continue popular; he, besides, enjoyed 
superior advantages over Fergusson, — Thomson, the author of the 
Seasons, having seen and criticised the pastoral previous to its 
publication. The poems of Fergusson possess great merit ; but 
the difficulties the young poet had to contend with, and his untimely 
and melancholy death, left it difficult to speculate upon what he 
would have attained had he lived to the years of his predecessor.” 
“ For these reasons,” replied Wilson, “ will I espouse his cause ; 
I shall go to Edinburgh myself;” but, stopping suddenly, he 
exclaimed, “ Where am I to get the siller, or see a copy of his 
poems ? ” Mr Brodie kindly furnished him with his own copy of 
Fergusson, and advised him to finish his web at Lochwinnoch, 
which, if he could get done in time, would yield him the means 
to undertake the journey. With a light and joyous heart, he set 
out ; and, in one week, returned from Lochwinnoch, visiting his 
