the whole of his effe&s. 
12 
adjacent diftriéts have, at leat, for fe- 
veral centuries, been diftinguifhed by a 
ta(te for poetry. Many ballads which ce- 
lebrate their exploits in the free-booting 
times, are fill extant. | 
It was in this diftri€ that Mickle and 
Amftrong were born; and here, likewife, 
did the ingenious Ruffel {pend the evening 
of his life. 
Perhaps the people in general are more 
enlightened than the reft of their country- 
met. They are fond of reading; and 
almott every fhepherd has a colle€tion of 
books. The {mall town of Langholm is 
moreover provided with a circulating li- 
brary, to which they can have acce(s for 
a trifling confideration. They have fre- 
quent recourfe to dramatic reprefenta- 
tions: and although it cannot be fuppofed, 
that they are firf-rate performers, yet they 
have occafionally exhibited the Gentle 
Shepherd with tolerable fuccefs. The pro- 
fits are always applied to the beft of 
purpofes. 
Poets have appeared amonegft them in 
almoft every ftation of life: they can even 
furnifh an inftance of a poetical collier; a 
eircumftance unprecedented in the annals 
of literature. The Mufes. have often 
deigned to vifit the hufbandman at his 
plow, and the fhepherd tending his flocks 
on the lonely mountain: but never before 
have they ventured down the palpable ob- 
fcure, in order to grope for a votary in the 
coal-mine. For many yéars has William 
Wilfon, after his daily refurrection,devoted 
his leifure hours to the: ftudy of poetry ; 
nor has misfortune ever been able to fuf- 
pend his exertions. The rude hand of 
adverflity has often been extended to blaft 
his. happineis; but he ftill defies her 
frowns, and laughs at all her efforts. 
Hits original occtipation was that of a 
petty farmer. He rented a few acres of 
ground, which he cultivated with his own 
hands. His labours were not crowned 
with fuccefs; his affairs foon went into 
confufion, and his creditors feized upon 
. Hethen fought 
employment as a daily labotrer; and 
foon ‘after engaged himfelf as a collier. 
In the meanwhile misfortunes crowded 
faft upon him: he was affailed by every 
evil which poverty could inflict ;. his wife 
Janguifhed in diftrefs for upwards of ten 
years; and, to clofe the mournful cata- 
logue, his numerous family followed each 
other to the grave, till only two were left. 
For. the lofs of thefe, he felt as a man 
fhould feel; but the change of fortune did 
Mot in the leaft damp the ardour of his 
~ aad. As a practical philofopher, lie is 
» Account of a Poetical Collier: 
[March's 
even to be preferred to Epi&tetus ‘himfelf.” 
His happy difpofition foon enables him to 
rife fuperior to every frefh calamity. He’ 
is always cheerful and contented, although 
his poverty is fometimes fo extreme, that’ 
he cannot procure himfelf the neceffaries: 
of life.—The following authentic anecdote 
will at once illuftrate his indigence as a 
man, and his talents as an improvifatore. 
As the-ccal-works with which he is 
concerned, lie at a confiderable diftance 
from his cottage, he is accuftomed to take 
a fupply of victuals along with him in the 
morning. One day, however, it happened 
that both his money and provifions were 
entirely exhaufted; and when his fellow- 
labourers began to regale themfelves, poor 
William laid himfelf down befide them in 
avery contented manner. But one, more 
generous than the reft, commiferated his 
fituation, and offered him a fhare of his 
dinner, provided he would fay a good 
grace. Having accepted the propofal, he 
pulled off his hat; and after.a momentary 
rumination, very devoutly pronounced the 
following ftanzas : . 
God blefs the meat and blefs the man, 
And let him ne’er be {cant ; 
Wha.-thus wi’ liberal heart and han’, 
Gi’es bread to them that want. 
Wi’ plenty may his pantry flow ; 
et plenty never ceafe, , 
Till Carfon claw an auld man’s pow, 
And end his days in peace. 
His poetical talents do not conftitute his 
fole claim to merit: in focial life he is 
pofiefled of many endearing qualities. 
Prompted by curiofity, 1 once paid a 
vifit to this untutored bard. When I en- 
tered his dwelling, he and his family were 
fitting at a f{canty meal. Though we were 
entire ftrangers to each other, he invited 
me to partake of their repaft with all the 
franknefs of eftablifhed friendthip. I 
willingly accepted the invitation.—It was 
the banquet of old Arcadia. At my re- 
queft he afterwards, in a very agreeable 
manner, fung a fimple air of his own com- 
pofition. He told me, that he-generally 
finifhed his little pieces at one fitting, and _ 
that he feldom or never fubmitted to the 
labour of fubfequent correétion. ; 
Such are the fhort and fimple annals of 
William Wilfon, a man whofe dignity of 
mind exalts him far above his flation. It 
is melancholy thus to behold fuch a man 
languithing in the extremity of indigence, 
Shall no generous hand afford him relief? 
Shall the rays of benevolence never illu- 
minate his obfcure dwelling ? Meek-eyed 
Benevolence! unlefs thou haft sae 
the 
