already tried his skill in the composition of verses; and that, however closely his mechanical occupation employed him, he had a strong inclination to more imaginative feelings and pursuits, not at all likely to reconcile him to his humble avocation. Yet he continued working as a journeyman-weaver for about four years; during which time he resided partly in Paisley, partly with his father, who had gone to the village of Lochwinnoch, and finally with his brother-in-law, Duncan, then removed to Queensferry. During these four years, however, being comparatively left to his own direction, his poetical talents were more freely indulged; his dislike to the loom increased, and his mind became more fully possessed with that spirit of restlessness, which, not finding sufficient scope in Britain, in the end impelled him to explore the boundless forests of the New World.

But

Nearly two years of that period were spent at Lochwinnoch, and many of his earlier poems were then composed, particularly those of a descriptive character. the rambles which gave rise to these efforts of his muse, while they increased his relish for the beauties of natural scenery, rendered his sedentary employment more and more irksome, and prepared him to abandon it, upon the first prospect of more congenial pursuits. In a poem, written about this time, entitled, "Groans from the Loom," after painting, in a strain of ludicrous complaint, half in jest, half in earnest, the miseries of his condition, the following exclamation occurs, wrung from him probably by an instinctive aversion to confinement, and almost prophetic of his future wanderings:

Good gods! shall a mortal with legs,

So low uncomplaining be brought!

These sentiments, together with the expanded views, culti vated taste, and refined ideas, resulting from the perusal of what books he could procure, all tended to the same conclusion,-a growing disgust with the trade of a weaver,

and a desire to exchange it for any other which promised greater freedom from personal restraint, and more intercourse with the charms of nature.

He thus speaks of his

feelings and habits about this time : —

Here oft beneath the shade I lonely stray,
When morning opes, or evening shuts the day;
Or when more black than night stern fate appears,
With all her train of pale, despairing fears,
The winding walk, the solitary wood,

The uncouth grotto, melancholy, rude;
My refuge there, the attending muse to call,
Or in Pope's lofty page to lose them all.

Such feelings and habits must give the mind an increase of both refinement and elevation; but it may be questioned, if they are equally adapted to promote happiness, because the culture necessary to qualify for enjoyments of a high and refined order, must always be attended with pain and privation, as it unfits for all the more ordinary gratifications, before those of a congenial nature can be attained. With the young rustic poet, this is peculiarly the case: he is like a butterfly, which some untimely smiles of spring have induced to cast aside the protection of its chrysalis envelopment, and left exposed to every chilling storm; clad more elegantly, indeed, but much less securely defended.

During this transition-state of the rustic poet, it is not surprising that he should frequently sink into fits of deep melancholy, perchance of darkest despondency; or that the sick heart should sometimes try to escape from the pangs of its own morbid sensibility, by plunging into mirth, revelry, and dissipation. Into this too common error Wilson never fell. Though his letters to his friends, written about this period, are filled with the most desponding language, there is abundant evidence that he was not, even in the slightest degree, given to dissipation.

The utmost that could be charged against him

was, a growing dislike to the confinement of his occupation; or, in the harsh language of some, an increasing tendency to idleness. It was about this time that his first public attempts as a poet, were made; several of his short pieces occasionally appearing in the Glasgow Advertiser. These speedily attracted the notice of his townsmen, and became "the nightly subjects of discussion, in the clubs and bookshops of Paisley." This, probably, contributed not a little towards encouraging him to the next step which he took, and which forms an era in his life.

His brother-in-law, William Duncan, had gone to reside at Queensferry, whither Wilson followed him, and continued for some time to work at his trade with his former master. With a view to better his circumstances, Duncan resolved to make an excursion throughout the eastern districts of Scotland as a pedlar; and in this he was accompanied by Wilson, now in his twentieth year.

The loom was now completely abandoned; and, for a period of nearly three years, he seems to have led the life of a wandering pedlar. But the feeling of release from the toilsome loom, at first so delightful to one rapturously fond of the beauties of nature, soon began to subside, permitting him to estimate more truly the difficulties, fatigues, and, above all, the degradation of his new employment. He had now, however, a great deal more leisure for reading, writing, and indulging in a species of dreamy meditation, not less pleasant, and occasionally scarcely less beneficial, than either. It besides furnished him with opportunities of studying men and manners, to an extent scarcely otherwise attainable: and, if it was often attended by disagreeable circumstances, it had its advantages, it enabled him to visit all the classic ground of Scottish song and story, and to trace the scenes hallowed by the birth or residence of glorious chief, or still more glorious poet. "I can yet remember," says one of his biographers, who was also his personal friend," with

what warmth of enthusiasm he informed me that, in one of his journeys, he went considerably out of his way to visit the village of Athelstaneford, at one time the residence of Blair, author of The Grave, and afterwards of Home, author of Douglas." This proves his veneration for the sons of song and their consecrated haunts. And his admiration of natural scenery cannot be better shewn than by quoting the strongly contemptuous expressions he applied to those who are not susceptible of the pleasures arising from contemplating the beauties of nature :-" Pleasures," says he, “which the grovelling sons of interest, and the grubs of this world, know as little of, and are as incapable of enjoying, as those miserable spirits, who are doomed to perpetual darkness, can the glorious regions and eternal delights of paradise!"

During these years of comparative idleness, his poetical talent, as might have been expected, was not permitted to remain uncultivated. Many of his published poems, by their dates and incidents, furnish evidence that they were the composition of that period: and at length, in 1789, he began to prepare materials for a volume of poems. After submitting his manuscript to the private criticism of some friends, (to whose suggestions, however, like most young poets, he was far from being inclined to yield implicit deference-whose approbation, in short, not their opinion, it was that he wanted,) he contracted with Mr John Neilson, printer in Paisley, for the expenses of the press; and set out afresh with his pack and a prospectus, in order to procure subscribers. On the 17th September, 1789, he proceeded from Edinburgh, along the east coast of Scotland, to sell his muslins and solicit subscriptions, making the one the means and the other the end. His hopes and purposes cannot be better shewn than by transcribing a portion from a journal which he kept during this excursion; and which commences as follows, in a mingled strain between jest and earnest:—

"As youth is the most favourable time to establish a man's good fortune in the world, and as his success in life depends, in a great measure, on his prudent endeavours, and unwearied perseverance, I have resolved to make one bold push for the united interests of pack and poems. Nor can any one justly blame me for it, since experience has now convinced me, that the merit I am possessed of (which is certainly considerable) might lie for ever buried in obscurity, without such an attempt. I have, therefore, fitted up a proper budget, consisting of silks, muslins, prints, &c. for the accommodation of those good people who may prove my customers, —a sufficient quantity of proposals for my poetical friends; and, to prevent those tedious harangues, which otherwise I would be obliged to deliver at every threshold, I have, according to the custom of the most polite pedlars, committed the contents of my pack to a handbill, though in a style somewhat remote from any I have yet seen.

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;
And lovely tambours, with elegant flowers,
For bonnets, cloaks, aprons, or gowns,