The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-04-20

y
North" of Black wood, On the ID inst. A biz
ographical sketch. now before us,.ststes that
John Wilson was born in Paisley, Scotland,
l7se, and was the son Of wealthy manufac-
lurer. At Oxford, in 1906, he competed for
and obtained the prize. founded by Sir Rich
ard Newdigate. for the best sixty lines on a
given subject On completing his education,
he removed to Edinburg, where his mother,
a widow, then resided. His first poem, on
the death of JAS. GRAHAME, attracted much
attention. His isle of Palms, published
in lsl2, placed him among the best living
authors. 1t was Wilson who, in beautiful
poem, called The Magic Mirror, originated
for Scott, the designation of "The Great Ma
gician.' In 1914, he was admitted to the
Scottish bar, but made no progress as law
yer. Blackwood's Magazine was commence
ed in 1877. and Wilson soon became prin-
cipal contributor. In 1918, he published an
other noble poem, called 'The City of the
Plague" In 1920, he was elected to the
Professorship of Moral Philosophy in the
University of Edinburg. The "Noctes Am
brosianae,' of which Wilson's was the per-
vading spirit, were commenced in Blackwood
in March, 1882. Lights and Shadows of
Scottish Life "The Trials of Margaret
Lindsay 1.-THE Forresters." and "The Re
creations of Christopher North" appeared
in Blackwood, from the same wonderful and
varied PEN "Dies Borealis, or Christopher
under Canvass was the last of his labors.
In 1850 he was smitten with paralysis, from
which he never recovered sufficiently to re-
sumo his labors John Wilson was undoubt-
eddy one of the most splendid prose writers
of modern times. Nature had cast him, both
in mind and body, in a giant mould. Says
the biographical sketch, from which we have
CLEANED the above facts 1.-THE person of this
man was like his mind. He lowered above
He was a man like Webster, who could not
appear upon the causeway, in any city in the
world, without exciting wonder and admira-
ton. Nature had plainly marked him out
as one ON whom she had showered an abun.
dance of her richest gifts. His stature was far
over the common height. His figure, at the
age of 60, when we last saw him, was as
erect as it had been in early manhood. Time
had changed his yellow hair to gray; but, to
the last, it floated wildly over brow of re-
markable expression, beneath which beamed
blue eyes, which seemed to measure your
mind and body at a glance. For nearly half
a century, for he commenced this course
when boy, at college, Wilson spent half his
days in the open AIR. There was not valley
or mountain, lake or town, river or streamlet,
in all Scotland, which he had not visited
He also had traversed, on foot, nearly every
part of England. He excelled in field sports,
and his intimacy with nature, in all her as
poets, may account for the beautiful fidelity
and freshness of his description. The force
of his poetry was probably influenced by, if
not mainly derived from, the same source
No one, except him who had often slept in his
plaid in mountain hut could have written
that glorious address to a Wild Deer, which
is one of the most magnificent poems in the
language
sing the question whether we ought to sym
pathize with the allies or with Russia in the
contest which has just begun in Europe
For our own part, we agree with those who
maintain that there is no particular call for
sympathy On either side. We feel somewhat
like the woman whose husband had the fight
with the bear-it is a matter of indifference
which whips. Under other circumstances, it
might not be SO; but there are serious con-
siderations which are calculated to make
Americans occupy neutral ground in their
sympathies as well as national position.
On one side is our identity of race, lam
guage and religion with England, the most
powerful country on which the sun has ever
shone. We feel as natural pride in her
pluck and proves, as we do in her literature!i
eloquence and learning. The Duke of Wei
lngton and Sir Charles Napier belong as
much to us as Shakespeare or Thackeray. in
all of whom we claim family interest
Moreover, England is the freest country of
Europe and in thepresent contest, is making
war upon despotism. Of course we desire
our own blood to triumph, and our own prin
ciples, so far the present contest may have
any influence upon them, to prevail
But the position which the allies have as
sumed towards this country, neutralizes our
natural and political sympathies We can
not forget that they are the allies of Spain
against the United States, as well as of Tur
key against Russia, and that should circum
stances render it expedient for Cuba to be
united to this country, the same cannon which
are now laundering on the Black Sea and the
Baltic will forbid the banns The probabili-
ty, too, that notwithstanding the declarations
of Victoria and Napoleon, the powerful ma
val forces of England and France will in.
terrupt our peaceful merchantmen, and exer.
else the right of search in its most offensive
form, is we'll calculated to make us economize
our sympathies.
CHARLESTON CoNvENTIoN.-We are COM
PEELED to defer the publication of the resolu.
tons adopted at Charleston. The letter of
our correspondent graphically describes the