*

Now, 'midst the pillar'd spray sublimely lost,
And now emerging down the rapids tost,
Glides the Bald Eagle, gazing calm and slow,
O'er all the horrors of the scene below,
Intent alone to sate himself with blood,

From the torn victims of the raging flood."

My Dear Sir,

We

I have extended this correspondence to a greater length than at the outset I intended, and trust that in the ample details I have given, from my own personal knowledge, and from what I have collected, from the information of others, you will allow, that a pretty full view has been laid before you, of the character of Alexander Wilson. have seen hin in early life, displaying the dawnings of poetical genius, and led by the rovings of a fertile imagination, and by a kind of eccentric literary enthusiasm, to leave the employment of a mechanic, and by his too ardent desire, of prematurely commencing an author, involving himself in almost inextricable difficulties, by which his youth was clouded by adversity, and his mind sunk in the lowest depths of depression. It was his earnest wish, at this period, to be distinguished among the bards of his country, although, as it has been formerly observed, his having risen up as the contemporary of the Ayrshire bard, was to him, as to some others of his poetical friends, rather a little unfortunate. He was born a poet, but a concurrence of unpropitious circumstances obscured his fame, and allowed him to remain in the shade. Since his time, Scotland has produced a bright constellation of poetical luminaries. Among many others of distinguished celebrity, might be mentioned a Grahame, the amiable author of the "Sabbath,' the "Birds of Scotland," &c. a Campbell, a Scott, a Hogg, well known by the appellation of the Ettrick Shepherd, and a Wilson, the author of the "Isle of Palms," the "City of the Plague," to whom Paisley has had also the honour of giving birth. Of these bards, our country is proud, and some of them, by the extensive circulation of their works, have received a more substantial reward for their labours than the empty plaudits of fame.

As the prudence of Alexander Wilson, in his having so early commenced author, and in circumstances so discouraging, has been considered questionable, so has also his becoming a politician at so dangerous and critical a period of our national history; but when we review the incidents of the future period of his life, we will readily acknowledge that it was well for him upon the whole, that in the unsettled state of his mind, and at a period of so much political animosity, he came to the resolution at last of leaving his native country, where he was in danger from lowness of spirits of sinking into a state of listless inactivity, as it appears, that when he reached the western shores of the Atlantic, his habits became almost entirely changed, and the en

ergies of his powerful mind were there brought into beneficial operation. In America he became a man of science, and in the face of a thousand difficulties and obstructions, which would have appalled a more timorous and irresolute mind, he embarked in a most important and daring literary enterprise; but, aias! just at the time when his own hopes, and the hopes of his friends, fondly anticipated the ample reward of his arduous labours, and when his mental powers were in their fullest vigour, he was assailed by the hand of incurable disease, and, to the universal regret of the lovers of science, was brought to the grave.

Though Wilson was distinguished in early life by his poetical genius, yet it must be acknowledged, that it is on his great national work, as the Ornithologist of America; that his literary fame will principally rest; and indeed, it must be allowed, that as a man of genius, he was one of the most distinguished characters that our native town has ever produced; and I must confess that it gives me much pleasure to reflect, that owing to the liberality of some gentlemen of taste and literature in the town. the American Ornithology" has obtained a place in the Paisley Library.

With respect to the person of Wilson, I believe that I have formerly mentioned to you, that his bodily frame was handsome and vigorous, and that he was particularly fitted for those exercises that required agility. His countenance was expressive of deep reflection, his eye keen and penetrating, especially, when engaged in conversation. In his social intercourse, he was distinguished for good sense; and there was a quickness, a strength, and an originality in his remarks, that could not fail to attract the notice, and to interest all possessed of discernment who were acquainted with him. In the company of strangers, he was rather reserve, but to a friend in whom he could put confidence, he would unbosom himself with unsuspecting freedom, and with considerable expression of feeling.

I

My dear young friend, it is now time that I should conclude these sketches. You are only as it were entering on the stage of life, and have the world before you in full perspective, and your youthful mind will no doubt be delighted with many a pleasing anticipation. trust that it will ever be your aim to act in such a manner through life, as to render you a useful and respectable member of society. From the errors of others, you may learn useful lessons of instruction, and may be taught to shun the rocks against which they struck. You are fond of reading, and from that part of history, distinguished by the name of biography, you will derive both amusement and instruction. You have been following along with me, the fortunes of Alexander Wilson, and I am happy to say, that of late years the public have been favoured with several biographical works of great interest, which I would beg leave to recommend to your attention, and now remain, With regard,

Paisley, 11th Sept. 1819.

Yours sincerely,

SENEX.

Character of the late Prince Charles, commonly called the Pretender.

[From Dr. King's Anecdotes of his own times, &c.]

As to his person, he is tall and well-made, but stoops a little, owing perhaps to the great fatigue which he underwent in his northern expedition. He has an handsome face and good eyes; (I think his busts, which about this time were commonly sold in London, are more like him than any of his pictures which I have yet seen); but in a polite company he would not pass for a genteel man. He hath a quick apprehension and speaks French, Italian, and English, the last with a little of a foreign accent. As to the rest, very little care seems to have been taken of his education. He had not made the belles lettres or any of the finer arts his study, which surprised me much, considering his preceptors, and the noble opportunities he must have always had in that nursery* of all the elegant and liberal arts and sciences. But I was still more astonished, when I found him unacquainted with the history and constitution of England, in which he ought to have been very early instructed. I never heard him express any noble or benevolent sentiments, the certain indications of a great soul and a good heart: or discover any sorrow or compassion for the misfortunes of so many worthy men who had suffered in his cause +. But the worst part of his cha* ROME. His governor was a protestant, and I am apt to believe purposely neglected his education, of which it is surmised he made a merit to the English ministry; for he was always supposed to be their pensioner. The Chevalier Ramsay, the author of Cyrus, was Prince Charles's preceptor for about a year; but a court faction remov

ed him.'

As to his religion, he is certainly free from all bigotry and su perstition, and would readily conform to the religion of the country,

racter is his love of money, a vice which I do not remember to have been imputed by our historians to any of his ancestors, and is the certain index of a base and little mind. I know it may be urged in his vindication, that a prince in exile ought to be an economist. And so he ought; but nevertheless his purse should be always open, as long as there is any thing in it, to relieve the necessities of his friends and adherents. King Charles the Second, during his banishment, would have shared the last pistole in his pocket with his little family. But I have known this gentleman with two thousand louis-d'ors in his strong box pretend he was in great distress, and borrow money from a lady in Paris, who was not in affluent circumstances. His most faithful servants, who had closely attended him in all his difficulties, were ill rewarded. Two Frenchmen, who had left every thing to follow his fortune, who had been sent as couriers through half Europe, and exe-. cuted their commissions with great punctually and exactness, were suddenly discharged, without any faults imputed to them, or any recompense for their past service. To this spirit of avarice may be added, his insolent manner of treating his immediate dependents, very unbecoming a great prince, and a sure prognostic of what might be expected from him, if ever he acquired sovereign power. Sir J. Harrington, * and Col. Goring, who suffered themselves to be impriWith the catholics he is catholic; with the protestants he is protestant; and, to convince the latter of his sincerity, he often carried an English Common Prayer-book in his pocket: and sent to Gordon, (whom I have mentioned before,) a nonjuring clergyman, to christen the first child he had by Mrs. W."

'Sir J. Harrington remained in banishment till the accession of the present King George III. No man is better acquainted with the private history aud character of Prince Charles; and, if ever be reads what I have here written, I am confident that he will readily vouch the truth of my narrative.'

↑ Goring, upon quitting his service, was recommended by my

CHARACTER OF THE LAte prince CHARLES. 275

soned with him, rather than desert him, when the rest of his family and attendants fled, were afterwards obliged to quit his service, on account of his illiberal behaviour. But there is one part of his character, which I must particularly insist on, since it occasioned the defection of the most powerful of his friends and adherents in England, and by some concurring accidents totally blasted all his hopes and pretensions. When he was in Scotland, he had a mistress, whose. name is Walkinshaw, and whose sister was at that time, and is still, housekeeper at Leicester House. Some years after he was released from his prison, and conducted out of France, he sent for this girl, who soon acquired such a dominion over him, that she was acquainted with all his schemes, and trusted with his most secret correspondence. As soon as this was known in England, all those persons of distinction, who were attached to him, were greatly alarmed; they imagined that this wench had been placed in his family by the English ministers; and, considéring her sister's situation, they seemed to have some ground for their suspicion; wherefore they dispatched a gentleman to Paris, where the Prite then was, who had instructions to insist that Mrs. Walkinshaw should be removed to a convent for a certain term; but her gallant absolutely refused to comply with this demand: and although Mr. M'Namara, the gentleman who was sent to him, who has a natural eloquence, and an excellent understanding, urged the most cogent reasons, and used all the arts of persuasion to induce him to part with his mistress, and even proceeded so far as to assure him, according to his inLord Marshal to the King of Prussia, who immediately gave him a command in his army, equal to hls pretensions. Goring died soon after, and his loss was greatly lamented by his Prussian Majesty, who honoured him with a character in a letter to my Lord Marshal.”