66 ful knowledge. So tenacious was his memory, that, during the French revolution, being somewhat interested in politics, he served as an army and navy list to the illiterate who had relations in either of these departments. To illustrate how fully, we give the following anecdote as related by himself: 'Being invited by a friend to spend an evening at his house, I had scarcely sat down when three gentlemen entered, and the conversation turning on the news of the day, I was requested by my friend to repeat the names of as many of the ships of the British navy as I could recollect, telling me, at the same time, that he had a particular reason for making the request. 1 commenced, and my friend marked them down as I went along, until I had repeated six hundred and twenty, when he stopped me, saying I had gone far enough. The cause of the request was then explained. One of the gentlemen had wagered a supper that I could not mention five hundred; he expressed himself much pleased, however, at the loss, having been, as he acknowledged, highly entertained by the experiment." In another place, in adverting to his memory, he says: "In relation to geography, I became acquainted with every place of note on the habitable globe, so that on being examined by some who were either curious or doubtful of my knowledge, my descriptions have been found to coincide with the best constructed maps. Respecting history, the reader will best judge of the power of my memory, by the following relation: To a few select friends who wished to prove my knowledge of English history, I repeated, to their entire satisfaction, an epitome of the history of England, from the Norman conquest till the peace in 1783, invasions, conspiracies, insurrections, and revolutions; the names of all the kings and queens; the years of their accessions; the length of their reigns, and the affinity each had to his predecessors; together with the names and characters of all the great statesmen, heroes, philosophers, and poets, who flourished in the different reigns. In consequence of this and similar rehearsals, I was termed 'the Living Book,' and a 'Walking Encyclopedia.' We hear it sometimes remarked, that those deprived of sight, are naturally endowed with extraordinary retentive powers. But we claim, that memo ry, like all other faculties of the mind, is only strength ened by continued exercise. The surprising and almost unparalleled degree of perfection which Mr. Wilson attained in this respect, he ascribes mainly to this cause. The power of retaining facts and impressions, of recorded events, and linking together by association a chain of occurrences, is strikingly analogous to the magnet, which, if allowed to lie inactive and to corrode, soon loses its mysterious affinity for the objects that have clustered about it, and they drop one by one like lost remembrances. But if strengthened by daily accession, its power may be cultivated to an almost illimitable degree. Wilson was married in the 23d year of his age, to a respectable young lady with whom he had been acquainted for some time. Her unassuming manners, amiable disposition, industrious habits, and assiduous devotion to his interests, made her not only an agreeable companion of his youth, but a solace in declining age. They had eleven children, only four of whom were living when he published his memoirs, in 1838. His merits as an author, and fine literary attainments, recommended him to the notice of many distinguished cotemporary writers, among whom were Dr. Percy, bishop of Dromore, last of that illustrious school of which Johnson, Goldsmith, and Burke were members; and the Rev. H. Boyd, well known in the literary world as translator of Dante. Quite early in life, at the solicitation of his friends, our author published a small work in verse. Though this production would not, perhaps, commend itself to the mercy of literary cudgelers, we think it quite creditable, and shall favor our readers with a few selections. He afterward formed the design of publishing a history of the blind, which he accomplished, though attended with immense labor, in 1820. To this work we are greatly indebted for many valuable statistics. TO MEMORY. Come, Memory, and paint those scenes When meadows bloomed, and vernal greens I mean those hours which I have known, Ere light from me withdrew— When blossoms seemed just newly blown, Yet, ah! forbear, kind Memory, cease Let all my feelings rest in peace, For why should I on other days And when I backward turn my mind, And weep for joys I left behind, Yet now, through intellectual eyes, And circled with eternal- skies, Youth sweetly smiles once more. Futurity displays the scene, Religion lends her aid; And decks with flowers forever green, Oh, happy time! when will it come, And find an everlasting home, With peace and friendship there? Throughout this chequer'd life 'tis mine To feel affliction's rod; But soon I'll overstep the line A DREAM. Night o'e rthe sky her sable mantle spread, I thought on man, and all his childless joys, And yet the sigh of recollection stole, Then heaved my breast with sorrow's poignant throb; For ah! I feel what some have never felt, That is, to be in one continued night, From January's sun till dark December's eve; I with her wandered; nor did night, nor gloom, |