Page:A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen, vol 9.djvu/371

Rh of the deceased, which was afterwards published in one of Gisbome's volumes of Christian Female Biography."

It was not, however, from the mere passive exercise of writing a book that the enthusiastic temperament of Rae Wilson was to derive consolation. The same event that had made him an author, was now to convert him 'into a traveller; and his choice happily fell upon the Holy Land, at this time more than others a subject of paramount literary and scientific inquiry in the Christian world, although the present condition of the country itself was but little understood. On this account he has the distinguished merit of being one of the earliest modern travellers who have done so much for the illustration of the Sacred Writings by their explorations in Palestine. The result of his journey was published in London in 1823, under the title of Travels in Egypt and the Holy Land," a work, of which the following short critique, from the many equally or still more eulogistic, that have been published, gives a fair estimate: We shall never forget the pleasure with which we perused Dr. Wilson's 'Travels in Palestine' when first published. The style, though somewhat rugged and careless, is vigorous and energetic; the scriptural quotations are remarkably apposite and instructive; and what is of far greater importance than mere elegance of language, the sentiments are warm and fresh from a heart that was evidently deeply impressed with the sacred and memorable scenes of the blighted land of promise the land of miracle and revelation, but over which, with its many natural beauties, a withering curse has been shed, in which the intelligent traveller reads the fulfilment of prophecy, and thus exclaims, in the beautiful language of the poet—

His tour in the East, and the public approbation with which it was rewarded, as well as a natural love of change and adventure, seem to have so confirmed Mr. Wilson's tendencies as a traveller, that the greater part of his life was afterwards spent in journeys through the more interesting countries of Europe, and in drawing up accounts of their results, which were published under the following titles:

"A Journey through Turkey, Greece, the Ionian Isles, Sicily, Spain, &c." London. 8vo. 1824.

"Travels in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Hanover, Germany, Netherlands, &c." London. 8vo. 1826.

"Travels in Russia." London. 2 vols. 8vo. 1828.

"Records of a Route through France and Italy; with Sketches of Catholicism." London. 8vo. 1835.

During this active life, Mr. Wilson was a second time married, to Miss Gates, an English lady of good family, who was his devoted companion through all his after career, and in all his sojournings in many lands. Impressed with a sense of his merits as a traveller and author, the university of Glasgow, a few years before his death, honoured him with the diploma of Doctor of Laws, a