Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-04-21
DEATH OF PROFESSOR WILSON.

The last steamer brings TO US news of The death, on the 3rc
of April, of Professor John wilson celebrated as The Chris
poetical and prose, have secured him a warm welcome
amoug all classes Of readers in England and America.
Professor Wilson was born at Paisley, in Scotland, where
his father had acquired a fortune in a manufacturing bust
ness. At the age Of thirteen, he entered Glasgow Universe.
ty, and proceeded thence In his eighteenth year 10 Oxford,
entering Magdalen College as a gentleman commoner. Here
he gained the Newdigale prize for an English poem Of sixty
lines On leaving OXFORD, he bought an estate at EileEoy,
on the banks of Lake Winderme'e, and went to reside there,
In the society OF Wordsworth. In consequence Of revetses
OF fortune be lef, W~iudermere, and adopted The law as his
profession, aud was called TO the Scottish bar. We quote
from the Men of the Times:
"n 1918, he sought and obtained the proiessorship OF
moral Philosophy in the University of Edinburgh. About
this lime he became connected with Blackwoods Magazine.
and by the number and ability of his contributions. as well
as by his Influence on other writers, may be said to have
created The literary character Of that journal. The choicest
OF his contributions have been collected and published, under
the title of 'Recreations of Christopher North Mr.. Hal.
lam has characterized Wilson as a writer of the most arrent
mighty waters. HIS poetical works are THE Isle Of Palms.
and City Of the Plague poems deeply couversant with the
novels, called Lights end Shadows OF Scottish Life The
Trials Of Margaret Lindsay aud The Foresters.''
prof. Wilson was one of that brilliant gathering Of Brit.
ish literary men, whose writings have illustrated The early
part of the present century. Byron, Wordsworth, Moore.
jeffrey, Campbell, Shelley. Coletidge. Lamb and Others, who
started on their course, most Of them about the same time
with him, have disappeared before him. Rogers, De Quin-
cey, Leigh Hunt, still remain.
Wilson was by no means confined 10 the vocation OF a
literary man. or professor-b but has earned no little dlstinc'
ton by his superiority In hunting, h:h,ng, and In all manner
of athletic sports, to which he was fitted by his active TEN
permanent and vigorous constitution. His personal appear
snce was also remarkable. Larger and taller men" says a
writer, I'VE have seen, figures more aristicelly framed we
have seen; but the popularity of Wilson lay in the combina-
ton of ali those qualities which go TO constitute a perfect
man. There was his stature, about Elk feet two inches;
there was his erect port and stately tread there was his
broad aud brawny chest; there was a brow round and broad
There were eyes, literally flames Of fire when reused, and
which Ike Chatterton's, rolled at times as II they would
burn their sockets. There were a nose, chin and mouth, ex'
pressing by turns frmest determination, exquisite feeling
laughing humor and fiery rage. And flowing round his
temples, but not beneath his broad shoulders, were lacks Of
the true Celtic yellow. reminding you of the name worn by
the ancient bison in the Deu. CALIFORNIAN forests"-IN. Y
Erentng Post.