ESSAYS OF PROFESSOR WILSON OF EDINBURGH. In Three Volumes, 12mo. BEAUTIFULLY PRINTED ON FINE PAPER. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE OF PROFESSOR WILSON. [FROM THE BOOK OF GEMS.] JOHN WILSON was born at Paisley, in 1789. After going through a preparatory course of study at the University of Glasgow, he was entered a fellow-commoner at Magdalen College, Oxford; and very soon obtained some portion of that fame of which he was destined to participate so largely. Much of his paternal property was lost by the failure of a mercantile concern in which it had been embarked; but enough remained to purchase the elegancies of life: he bought the beautiful estate of Elleray, on the lake of Winandermere-fit dwelling for a poet-and continues to inhabit it, when his professional duties permit his absence from Edinburgh. In 1812 he published the Isle of Palms; and the City of the Plague, in 1816. In 1820, he became, under circumstances highly honourable to him, a successful candidate for the Chair of Moral Philosophy, in the University of the Scottish metropolis. He has since published but little poetry: his prose tales-"The Trials of Margaret Lindsay," "The Foresters," and " Lights and Shadows of Scottish Life"-have, however, amply compensated the world for his desertion of the Muses; and his contributions to "Blackwood's Magazine," which are too strongly marked to leave any doubt of their authorship, have established for him a high and enduring reputation. The conduct of this periodical is so universally understood to be in the hands of the Professor, that we may consider ourselves justified in describing him as its editor. He has long upheld its supremacy: the best supported magazines of England have failed in competing with it; because there is no living writer whose talents are so versatile, and consequently so fitted to deal with the varied topics upon which his judgment or his fancy must be employed. His learning is both profound and excursive; his criticism searching and sound; his descriptions of scenery exquisitely true; his paintings of human character and passion admirable; his wit and humour delightful, when it does not degenerate into "fun;" and no writer of modern times has written so many deliciously eloquent passages which produce, if we may so express ourselves, gushes of admiration. The mind of Wilson is a remarkable blending of the kindly and the bitter :-his praise is always full and hearty; his censure almost unendurable: he appears to have no control over his likings or dislikings: -at times, pursues with almost superhuman wrath, and then, again, becomes so generous and eloquent, that he absolutely makes an author's character, and establishes his position by a few sentences of approval. From all his criticisms there may be gathered some evidence of a sound heart; of a nature like the Highland breezes-keen, but healthy; often most invigorating when most severe-but which may be safely encountered only by those whose stamina is unquestionable. The personal appearance of Professor Wilson is very remarkable: his frame is, like his mind, powerful and robust. His complexion is florid, and his features are finely marked; the mouth is exquisitely chiselled, the expression of his countenance is gentle to a degree; but there is "a lurking devil" in his keen gray eye, that gives a very intelligible hint to the observer. His forehead is broad and high. To us, among all the great men we have ever beheld-and they have not been few-there is not one who so thoroughly extorts a mingled sensation of love and fear. |