XX 
LIFE OF 
bring him both fame and fortune. Desiring that some one, better 
qualified than himself, should correct any inaccuracies in the MSS. 
he fortunately applied to Mr Crighton of the Town’s Hospital, a 
man of great worth, who became a faithful friend in adversity, and 
still is his enthusiastic admirer. Wilson introduced himself, “ and, 
with a great deal of modesty, expressed his wish for a little 
conversation. He told me his name, and informed me that he had 
a volume of poems in manuscript, which he intended for the press, 
and requested that I would look over them at my leisure. He put 
the small volume, which was neatly written, into my hand, and left 
it with me, saying that he would soon call again to hear my 
opinion.”* Mr Crichton having given his sanction to the volume, 
the very sanguine disposition of our now about-to-be young author, 
in addition to his being also a poet, bore him through all preliminary 
difficulties. He contracted with his printer in Paisley, circulated 
his prospectus, and having, he tells us,f “ committed the contents 
of my pack to a handbill,} in a style somewhat remote from any I 
* Biographical Sketches of the late Alexander Wilson, in a Series of Letters 
by Senex, (Mr Crichton, Town’s Hospital, Paisley,) p. 13. 
f Journal, Poems, 2d Edit. 
\ ADVERTISEMENT EXTRAORDINARY. 
Fair ladies, I pray, for one moment to stay, 
Until with submission I tell you, 
What muslins so curious, for uses so various, 
A poet has here brought to sell you. 
Here’s handkerchiefs charming ; book-muslins like ermine, 
Brocaded, striped, corded, and check’d ; 
Sweet Venus, they say, on Cupid’s birth-day, 
In British-made muslins was deck’d. 
If these can’t content ye, here’s muslins in plenty, 
From one shilling up to a dozen, 
That Juno might wear, and more beauteous appear. 
When she means the old Thunderer to cozen. 
Here are fine jaconets, of numberless sets, 
With spotted and sprigged festoons ; 
