\

AMOS WILSON,The PtmmYUxutia Ht11"I1IiJ., who lilled 19 yearl ill a (;mIt.

OF THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF

A NARRATIVE

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THIl:

AMOS WIl.SON,

NE W-YORK:SMITH AND CARPENTER, PUBLlSHEnS.

1833.

PENNS YLV ANIA HER~Irr ...

AXNEXED,

Is the writin¥! of Willlon while a recluse, and his reasons forprefernng a state o~ Solitude to that of the Ilociety

of hl1 fellow.beings.

Who expired in a Cl\ve in the nei~hborhood of Hl\rrisburgh (Penn.),after having therein lived in solitary retirement for the

, space of nineteen yenrs, in consequence of theignominioull denth of his siller.

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Enter.d according to Ar,t of Congre •• in the yellr 1;;:]'<,by Gnlon" ~'\tTII, In

the Clerk'. Office of the Di.trict Court for the Southern Di.trict of Ne .....York.

OF

THE LIFEt

A1\I0S 'VILSON, &c. Itf~f.11.J ~ /.f~~ eLl

/))~ -'" 11. II ''') ,..v"..Anus WILSOl'i", (usually ter~ned "the Pennsylva.ma errm.t, ~I.t I / •

whose eccentricity and seclusIOn fr~m. hu.man soclCty for Illne- 1(, <. t'"teen years, has excited so much curIOsity III the western pa.rt ~f 4.')-"the state, was born in Lebanon, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, III .

177.1. "is parents were honest and respectable, although not verywealthv. Amos was their only son, whom, at the age of sixteen,they apprenticed to the stone-cutting business-he was a youth ofcorrect hahits, and during his apprenticeship very deservedly re.spected by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. His coun.tenance was of meek and modest expression, and perfectly charac.teristic of a mild, afIcctionate temper-indeed, he was a youth whoLid fair to become not only a valuable member of society, but thesupport of his parents in their declining years, had it not been for amost distressing circumstance, which not only forever destroyedtheir peace of mind, but rendered their son apparently the most un.happy of human beings.

Wilson had an only sister, hut two years younger than himself, ofwhomhe was affectionately fond. She was a young lady of amiabledisposition, and not less esteemed by her acquaintance for her vir.tuous and unblemished character, than the youth to. whom she wasso nearly allied; hut alas, esteemed and beloved as she was in herearly youth for her love of virtue, at the age of nineteen cruel fated~o~ed this deluded and unfortunate young woman to suffer an igno.mllllOu~death !-Deceived and shamefully seduced by a wretch, who~Iad,w~t~protestations of love and promise of marriage, succeededIII depClVlngher of all that could render her respectable in the eyes

of tlw w?rld, with the hopes of concealing her shame, she, in 811

unre~echng, moment" committed a crime, which by the law! of 0111'

land IS pUnishable wIth death! and fill' which she was condemnedand publicly executed. The exertions thut were made by n lar"onumber of the most respectable citizens of l'enn!ylvania to obtaina pardon for, and save this young woman froPI an ignominiou, death,were perh,aps beyond all example in this country j yet lI'ero unat.tended With success, until the very day previolls to that appointedfO,r he,r ex~cution. Her brother, who had been constant in his ap-phcatlOns In her behalf to the Executive since the Ilwful momentof her condemnation, early on the morninrr of that day hllstened too -Philadelphia, where he prostrated himself at the feet of the l;overn.or, and with intreaties stronger than we ha\'c po\\'er to expn'~s, l)('~.god that, in regard to his 'aged and afllicted parents, the life of theirwretched daughter might be spared. The plea for mercy of the hllif.distracted brother, bathed in tears, WIIS irresistible-he II'lIS SIlCCI'~!.

ful; and without II moment's delay, with feelings that can be helleI'imagined than described, he hastened to convey the plea~ing tidin~!to his anxious and expectant friends. Bllt, alas, Providence ~,'clll..,1now to interfere to blast hi~ fondest hopes almost at the instant that heconsidered them crowned with the mo~t happy success! nn unpropi.tious rain, which had fallen that day, had swelled the ~treal1lSof a ri \'crwhich he was ooligcd to ford on his return to a degree as to remler itimpassahle! For many hours he was compelled to pace the hank withbursting brain, and gaze upon the rushing waters thnt threatened todefeat his fond expectations I At the earliest moment that a furd waspracticable he dashed through, and arri ved at t.he pl:~ce ot' eXl:c.utionjust in time to-see the last struggles 01 hiS lInlort.llnate sl~te~!He was a witness but lor n mOlllent of the hearl-l'lercmg spectaCle,

h'n a state of insensihilitv he fell from his horse j in which situ.

wen, I -' " .'ation he was conveyed by his frieuds to tho habitation 01 IllS diS-

tressed parents. "This was a shock too severe to he eaSily overcome. 1'01' many

months he remained in a state of perfect delirium; amI from the: mu-ment that his senses were partially restorcd, ho declared thnt thc

d th' t h Ilad received was incurable; that the world had no\'(

,,'oun ,1 e ."" dI lb h'm' and that it was his detenmnatlOn thc remam er

no p ensures I' I ", "of his days to seclude himself from hllll1~n society. In an unfree

t d{'ores t twelve miles from HarTIshllrgh, he fonnd a C3\e

quen e I' , I ~ 1 f h" ~ tsuitable for his purpose, which he selected as t,1lJ I),ace 0 IS II ure

. d I this lonely and so:itary retre~t he dwelt alone for thoaDO e. n -

6 LU'U 01' AllOi \\'lL!O~.

7LIFB OF ..OIOS ~r~L~ON.

8pnce of nineteen years, and was se]odo~ visited by nny one btlt t~ewriter of these few particulars of Ills life, whom he selected as hiSconfidential friend, and who occasionally supplied him with such ne-cessaries as hi~ situation required.

IIAHRlOT WILSON, the !lister of Amos, was born in 1776. Shewas earlv educated with the utmost tenderness; and every possiblecare wa~ taken to impres!S on her mind sentiments of virtue and reoligion. She was of a sprightly and affilble dispositi~n, polite inmanners and encragincr in conversation-in a word, she III early age

o " 10 hexceeded most of her se., in many of those accomplishments W IIC

arc calculated to grace and dignify the female mind.At the age of eighteen Miss Wilson unfortunately became RC.

qllaintcd with a young lIlan by the name of Smith, a native of Phi-ladelphia; who, although there was nothing very attractive in hisperson, succeuded in ingratiating himself into the affuctions of thi!innocent and unsuspecting young lady. Her parents, aware of theimpropriety of their daughter's tarming too hastily an attachmentfor one who was yet to them a stranger, gave her that advice which,had it heen strictly adhered to, woult! have preserved her innocent,nnd prcvcntcd the commission of a crime which brought their grayhairs ill sorrow to the grave nnd their daughter to a shamefuldellth.

Not until the creoulous and unsuspecting Harriot had surrender.cd to her vile seducer (by the repeated ano solemn promises of mar-riage) all that could rendcr her respectable in the eyes of the world,was it discoverct! that the vile author of her ruin was already aml\rried man! ant! that his protestations of love and promises ofmarriage were without a shadow of sincerity-a wicked t!evisc,made use of only to ennble him to effect the ruin of an innocentgirl.

'~'his poor deluded female now too late saw her imprudence in lis.tenlng to the false vows of her vile seducer. To devise means that~\.oulden~ble her to avoid the disgrace that her imprudent connex.101.1 was likely to I~roduce, appears now to have been her principalobJect; and, shocklllg to relate, she finally formed the determinationto put a period to the existence of one whom bv the laws of natureshe was bound to cherish and protect, at the ~ery mOlllent that itWas ushered oint~ being! and unfortunately for her, this diabolicalplan she earned Inlo effect.

o The body ot her new-born infant was found secreted in a neighbour.ing grove. The unfortuuate Harriot IVa! sU3pected, and charg,'d with

b~ing the perpptrator of the unnatural deed. On her examination,cu'cumstances appearing against her, she was commillcd for trinl.Such was th: respectability of the unfortunate prisoner's parentsand connectIon, and such the sensihility cherished hy all with whomshe had been acquainted, that on the day of her trial the court 1'00/11

was early filled with more than it could conveniently contain. Thf~trial lasted eleven hours, wlten the judge summed up thc c\'it!cnccwith the utmost candouI'; but so strong were many circumstanecHagainst her, that the jury, being fully convinced of the commissiunof the fact, founJ her guilty!

During her whole trial the unltappy prisoner exhibited an uncom.mon degree of fortitude, and seemed more to lament the misfortunl'sof her wretched parents and brother, on wltom she had brought (Ii~.grace, than her own fate. During her confinement in prison, I)('furoand after her condemnation, she was \'isitecl by many of the c1crg~'and other respectable persons, who were mneh intcre~ted in her h(~.half in conseqnC!lce of her former uniform nncl admirahle beha\'iour.She exhibited many proofs of penitence. and employed almo,~t Ihl'whole of her time after her cond~llIlHltinn in prayer, a1111 ill lll'rll~.ing the sacred scriptures. She intreated such of her yonng femall'friends who visited her while in prison, to take warning "r her liltr,and to be ever on their guard against the intrigues arlll seducingarts of the other sex.

There were very great exertions mu{le hy severn I of the mM! di~.tinguishcd characters in the county to obtain n rardon for this un.fortunate female; hut, without success. She had an only brother.wlaose grief for the wretched fate of his b~l~ved ,sist~r, horJ~red al.most on distraction. He, too, was nllTemattlll!; III IllS exertIOns h,

I Iiom an )'gnominious death and was too unsllcce!'sflllllntilllaTe leI' I' ' ,the very day appointed for her cxecution-I~ut, alas, ~s l~ duomedby Heaven to sutfer thus ignominiously, he .lId not arm'r III seasonwith the pardon to prevent the execution of the In\\". , .

The day of her execution .arriving, hy her rcquest a sUltahle pra~ f'r.1 b tile Rev D While in her apartment, and the t;acra.

was maue y .' .1 I d Jd ' 't d 'I'he (nrlinfT hetween her anu leI' age antment was a milliS ere . '"

. d • t nd many of those with whom she had been l1Iostamlcte pa.en S, ,a d ffi r fT OO\'ond description. At halfintimately acqllalllle , wus a ec 1I1e. fT' ~he wus con.

t 10 A 1\1 accompanied bv screral of the clere~" IIpas .' : k atrectionate and furewe

Iveyed ~oh:~ef~:~~;';'a~:~ r~;l:';~:~~e:~e~~l;sposed to impart t~ ~lelireave 0 •• f her own unhappy 10 e.

comfort than to repllle 111 consequence 0

LIFE OF A~IOS WILSO~.8

\

LIFE OJ' AMOS WILIOIf.

When ascending the platform, and after the fatal cord had been af.fixed,her countenance displayed a serenity that appeared more thanhuman, and when she gave the signal, there was a collected grac~.fulness and sublimity in her manner that struck every heart, a~d IS

above words or ideas. After she had heen suspended nearly a mmuteher hands were twice evenly and gently raised, a,nd gra~ually let tofall without the least appearance of convulsive or mv~luntarymotion in a manner which could hardly be mistaken, when mterpre.ted as'desianed to signify content and resignation. At all eventsind~pendently of this circumstance, whic~ was noticed ~y many, herwholeconduct evidently showed, from thIS temper of mmd, a com.posed,and even cheerful submission to the view~ and will of heaven;a modest unaffected, submission entirely becommg her age, her sex,and situation.

In less than five minutes after the fall oHhe fatal drop, her brotherarrived with a pardon, with the Governor's signature affixed.

A letter directed to this unfortunate brother was desposited by hiswretched sister in the hands of one of the Rev. Divines who at-tended her, to be delivered to him as soon as he should return, and,of which the following is a copy:

.. ~Iy dear Brother,.. As the awful moment has nearly arrived, in which the dreadful

sentence of the law is to be executed upon me, I am confident thatwe shall meet no more in this world.- Your failure to return yester-day at the hour you appointed satisfies me that you have again beenunsuccessful in your application for a pardon, and that you wish tobe as far distant as possible from the distressing scene, which a nu.merOUlltbrong of unpitying spectators are already collecting to wit.ness. My dear brotber, I am bappy to inform you tbat I am pre.pared to meet my fate, and shall die penitent, and in peace with theworld. I trust that I bave made my peace with my God, in whosepresence I must shortly appear. My dear broth~r, the most that Inow suffer is from tbe consciousness of the disgrace and misery thatI ha\'e brought on you and my dear afflicted parents !-Oh, mayyou endeavor all in your power to comfort them, and to satisfy themthat it is the will of the Almighty, and that their heavy afHictionsin the decline of life may prove for their spiritual good. 1\ly dearbrother, my l~st request is, that you cherish religion, and that youh~reaner try m every way to promote it among your relati\'es andfnonds. It i. this that will enable me to meet my fate with fortitude

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10 LIFE OF A)10S WH.SO:>.

and n;"£ignation. I never tholll1ht in the f,it ~aos possible for me to be so ~\'e:med fro::::~:;~:tn~r ~y '~~~:batlatIons, and that I could have been so conlent to d Yore.charnl. f tl- 0 0 go on n to thl'lcrs 0 1egrave! ConSideratIOns 'of el' 't. ,1will rest" . Ii d 0 ernr ), m) Glonrhrother,

o " r~lO your on ness for the vam amuscments of tbis life' itWill sahsty you of the importance of adornin" relinion I' I')

I - d bl • """ l) Il \I) '\ ,eXilmp a,y an ameless walk and cOll\oerntion It'" , .d .. IS In eternrtvmy car brother, that we mllst expect ll"uin to meet' a 10 't : •

d h0 be ", nl ,I II

an as en illY constant prayer in pri"on tllat \. II, " ~, vc mav a nll.:l-tthere III happmess; until then Imust bid YOllan am r' Iiwell. ec IOnato arc'

"H.-\RRIOT WILSOX."

, T?us fell, an early victim to the seductive arls of nn unprincipledVllialU, the unfortunate, and once beloved lIARRIOT \\'11050 ....

The heart not totally bluntl1d to tbe scnsibililie;; nf hum lnrlv,must be so lacerated at the recital of this" tale of wue," as to haveall other feelings extinguisherl hilt those of a hhOfJ'1'I1cefnr the 'cduc"rand pity for the unfortunate victim of his art1';.-'I'o belrol.! a fel111I(',who, as it were but yesterday, was ill all tho bloom of lo\( linl. ~charming as a cloudless vernalmorning-Iovol) us YOl1th,!}('Iluty, andinnocence could make her-doated on by her parents nnd hrotht'r.and idolized by all her acquaintance, 1I0W. as an ofieudet of tIleblackest cast, expiring on the gibbet, to apJWu,e violated jll-tic('. HIHI

n public warning against future crimes, mllst call forth tho t":Il'1I ofsensibility, and awaken the pity of benevolence.

In this sublunary world, properly uallcd "the vnle of tonr~." ('u.lamities assail us 011 alt sides; wherevcl' \Ve tllrn 0111' eycs. hUlllnnmisery is presented to the view in alt 111'1' dark and impoolllg ath.tudes, and the hideous form of vice stalks uncontrollC(I, in \\ hat.ever clime we range. i\lan, who WIlS originally created in the funnof his Maker, and once lived in innocence. pence, secllrity und Imp,pinelSs, is now, for having disoheyed the mnndatC6 of the \Imighry,fallen from that hlessed state, and is now surrounded wilh all the mil.und dangers attendant on sin and misery. Satan, like a rOlll'inglion ranrres about seeking whom he may dt:l'our, and man prt.y' upouhis fello;.man; often do \\'e see the wicked rolling in riche~ llndbonours, while poor depressed merit is too ofwn ab.lIldoned to

!l0vedy and scorn. , " .. 'The tenderness and senSibility that prevails In the minUs of fe.

males, subjects them to many temptatiollll aad dangera from \\ bleb

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LIFE OF A310S WILSON. . "! ......11," ,~~~

• II. manner exempt Their weakness and dep'endaIll s1at.Q.... Jmen aro III ,. ""i '11 t -II th' reputation on a foundation so slender, that the sma es

p aces ell' ,. d l'b1. tb th of wind will overturn, and the slightest tOllch III e I.y ar

rea , d h' t']. h WI-de lordlv man can sin with impumty, an IS mos Ill( ems • I .. fl' . d'cent deriations from modesty and virtue, set down as t~1 lUg III IS.

cretions. and ofiontimes. the more he sins the. more ~e IS care~ie~l.He can, without any scandal to himself, seduce t.he. Illnoce~t V1rgl.nfrom the paths of virtue, while the unfortunate vlctlm o~ hiS art~ IS

expelled from society, and doomed eithcr to e~d her days IDIl. brot~lel,among the 1Il0st depraved, or be made a sacnfice on the altar of JUS.tice.

The familv of the unfortunate subject of these pages w.as a happyone until th~ intrusion of the vile seducer, when the unfortunatelIarriol, the victim of his wicked arts, was the hope and joy of heraged parents; but in an unsuspecting moment their hopes were blast.cd forerer-their grey hairs were brought in sorrow to the grave!A doating and,only brother was thereby driven into a state 'of retire.ment, and during the remander of his days lived a recluse from thesociety of man.

1\1y fair readers-You see by the foregoing pages the gradationof c\.ils attendant on a departure from that dignified modesty whichrenders you respected and loved by the good and the worthy err theother sex. A chaste and virtuous \voman sits exalted on the pinna.cle of llxcllence, giving rational happiness and pleasure to all with-in the reach of her acquaintance; as a sister, she possesses thewarmest affections of her brothers, and the value set upon her re-putation very oflen prevents them from the commission of acts offolly which precede the depravity of vice; and as a daught~r, thedelight of her parents, and the sweet smoother of the path down thevale of life from time to eternity.

But mark the contrast. I am now to depict woman in herstate of depravity-which I do with reluctance. View the scenes'of dissipation, and the closing resort upon earth of those misguidedfemales, who, too credulous, lost all that rendered them dear to so.ciety by not hearkening to the suggestions of the inward monitor.Turn your attention to those houses of debauchery where Vicereigns triumphant, and. on whom poor mourning Virtue sheds atear of, pity. See what was once beautiful and enticing, now con.verted lUto a load of corruption; behold the female form, disfiguredby. blows and nightly abuse, carrying nothing human about it-no_.tiling but \Vilat the eye will turn from in disgust-a burden to itself ..

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an.d an incumbrance on earth, and you will know how highly toprIze the value of female chastity.

But should your seducer not immediately. forsake you b t kd hO ° , u eepyo~ un er IS protectIOn you stand on uncertain ground. suhjech.od,as It were to he tyranny and caprice of a villian on whom you de.pend for support, and at whose option, bound by no tics, he can Cllltyou on the oworld at pleasure-then, step by step you fall into thecurrent whICh leads to the verge of female misery.

Wilson, in his dreary abode, was as comfortable os could be ex-pected; a table, a stool, a bed of straw, ond a few cooking utensilawas all tho furniture that his hut contained; although he couldnever be persuaded to shave himself, he was in other respects veryparticular in keeping himself cleanly attired, and his habitation freofrom filth. The greatest portion of his time was employed in makingmill.stones, which were disposed of by the writer, and the proceedsexpended for such necessaries as his situation required; much of hi,time was however devoted to reading and writing, of which he Will

extremely fond from his youth. The bible and other religious workswere the books preferred by him, and he was always punctual in hi.morning and evening devotions, and repeatedly declared his strong

/ faith in the Christian religion; adding, that he felt perfectly happyand. satisfied with his situation, and craved not the wealth of therich in this world, as he sought treasure of more estimable vnlue inHeaven; and that he envied not the appearance of enrthly happincuin any man, as he believed that he had bright prospects of enjoyingthat which was more permanent in the life to como. Although hoemployed much of his time in writing, he ever refused to expose hi.manuscripts to the inspection of even his friend, declaring that heintended them for publication after his decease; for, as it was his de.termination that his fellow-creatures should not receive any benefitfrom his society while living, he hoped he should be enabled, at thotermination of his earthly existence, to lealoe them n legacy, which,if attended to, might prove for their earthly as well RB spiritualgood. On the writer's expressing to him. his surprise (one da~) thathe should be found so willing to exclude himself from the SOCialen .. yments of human society, he thus replied :-" I live the life of my~~oice-I prefer being a recluse from the jars o~ a contending world,

d the mistrusts and jealousies of an ostentahous mce, who haTean R . dOalready inflicted a wound which they can never he~l. ehre Inthis lonely cell, I meet not the neglect of ungrateful fnends, nor bearthe taunts of the childreD of pride. I court only tho compan1 of

12 .UFE OF ...MOI WIL80:f.

..

the Divine Spirit of the 1\Iost Holy, and the c1llmours of the foolishdisturb not my pions meditations, nor the sneers of ignorance ex-cite painful sensations in my peaceful breast. The shafts of envy,tipt with calumny, spend their force ere they reach me; and the vainof mankind may satiate themselves with folly, iniquity and deceit,and I shall not be rendered more miserable thereby."

But a few years since this extraordinary and singular characterexpired in his hut, unllttende~ by a single friend to close his eyes!His exit must have been very sudden, as he was left, the evening be.fore in tolerable health, by the writer; in a corner of his cave wasfound a bunch of manuscripts, among which was that of which thecontents of the following pages is an exact copy, and which he reoquested particularly might be published; and in conformity to which,,,'e here present it to the public.

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un: OI<' AlIOS WILSON.

. ,THE SWEETS OF SOLITUDE ,

OR UiSTRUC'l'IOXS TO UANKIXD

HOW THEY MAY BE HAPPY IN A l\IISERABLI:;. WORLD.

" !,ye often thought and so t!Jink ~till,Mankind may be hftpPY if they will."

h.this" Miserable 'Vorld" (so termed by a grcllt portion ofmankmd,) HAPPINESS appears to be their general pur~lIit; yet howfew arc there who have approached the goal of their con~tant put.suit and wishes! The only mall who can be considered happ)', is hewho can reconcile himself to his circumstances, be they what theymay; who can wean himself from the fashionable follies of the world,and content himself to live within the limits of his income. Buthow few are there who have the fortitude and resolution to (lur"uesuch a plan of conduct! The lust of power, the blandishments ofwealth, the phantom of honour, are so many stumbling.block" to

their feli ci ty.Discontent is the universal bitter of human life: there are hut

very few who do not complain of some want or other, thoul:'h thewant arises only from the caprice of their will; things go not fightif they run not on the wheels of their fancy, and turn about "Iththe windmill of their brain. Kot to amuse ourselves with hopes errfears, but to rest satisfied with "tiT present circumstanc08, i, alonethe way to contentment; for he .rho wants nothing, POSSCSl;ClI everything. It is a contented mind that will giI'C us happiness, a.s it will

give us a constancy in all conditions .. 'It is the part of a prudent man not to be elated With prosperity,

nor irresolute in misfortune. The good man, like the \'alillnt sol.dier, will act up to his character, and behave bravely amid hi.. trioals j knowing them to be the hand of God, therewith he will I» coo-tent, and scorning to repine, will make himiClf hapP1-

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II

15LlFJ: OF A~OS WILSOX.

, , tl t n t,ave no definitiveThe reatcst cause of <hscontent IS, Ja me., ,g th" ,I 're' It is not the supply of all their real wantsmc.1sure to ell ueSI ~. ,

Ih:\t will salify them j their appetites are preCnrlOtlS, they hungerf10thccause they themselves are empty, but because others u:e full.\hab one would think, might well have been contented with ~hQkingd'orn of Israel, without Naboth's ~ineyard; Rn~' .naman, \nththe ohelsance of all the Persian court, Without the addItIOnal ~ow 0:apoor Jew. A low condition in the world s~ems t~ al~ a ternble miS.IOrtune j but holV many are really pOOl' amid thell' nches, and wantin tho midst of plenty! ,

The true felicity of life is to be free from perturbatIOns; to ~nder.nand our duty towards God and man j to enjoy the present, Withoutany anxions dependence upon tbe futnre. Not to amuse ourselveswilh either hopes or fi>llrs, but to rest sati;;fied with what we have,is ahandantly sufficient j for he that is so, wants nothing. Thegreat blessings of mankind are within tiS, and within our reach j but1\'eshut our eyes, and, like people in the dark, we fall foul upon thevery thing that we are in search of without finding it.

One of the grelltest secrets of life is, that of knowing how to sof.ten our uneasiness j and if it be not in our power to disengage our.selves li'orn trouble, to weaken at least the impressions of it; lrithoutthis we must resolve frequently to be miserable, for, being exposedto numberless evilci, hardly a day passes but we feel some new dis.tress. Now I know of no remedy more effectual than pre.consi.deration j and whoever has made an exact reflechon upon the tra.verses of life, will find himself at least consolable in his misfortunes.I would hltve everyone so far consider and expect all kinds of evils,as not to be surprised at any calamitous event. Let the happy cour.tilll' possess the favor of his sovereign, and enjoy to his wish theplea~uJ'es of his good fortune; yet let the example of so many f.1.lIsincline him to mistrust the security of his seat: let him not, althoughon the summit of the wheel, forever cast his eyes upward, but some.times look down: let him view the place Iw be"an to rise from let}' to,1I~ consider the first degree of his advancement, as a precipice from\llueh he may every minute be tumbled. Let not a prince be toofon~1of his empire: let not the obeisance of such a world of peopleeaSily flatter his self.love; in four and twenty hours kings have been&eenon a throne and behind It chariot j in a few days we have seenthe same prince triumph and led in triumph j the revolution of thepcopli or the loss of a battle may ravish hill crOWD from his headud place Lis iceplre in tho hand at" 11 stranger. '

•

Ne.ver pronounce any man happy who depend~ upon fortunefor IllS happiness; for nothing can ue more pn'po"tl'rOllS thlln 10

pla~e the good ~f II ~ellsonaule creature in nllreasonablc thing~ j if I~a\ e lost an~ thlllg, It was adventitious j and the less moncy. the leN!trouble. It IS a common mistake to account tllO~e thinI'll necl'ssaryt.h,at ar: superfluous, and to depend upon r.Htune for ll~c felicity ofIde, whlc~ anscs only f~om religion and virtue. There is no tnhlingto her smdcs; that wlllch she gives us this honr, she lIIay deprave u.of the next; and he who trust to her favours, shall cilll!'r lind himllt Ifdeceived, or, if he be not, he will at least be troubled bcCllUllC he lOllY

b~ so. Whatsoever our lot is in this world, we ought to bt IIr ItWithout a murmur: a good man can ne\'er be miserable who chl''!!r.fully submits to the will of Providence, although he mny POS- II

but a small portion of the riches of thil' life. To be tmly hl\pp~ inthis world, a man must be content with his lot, in a chC{'rfulllndquiet resignation to the appointments of an imflllrtinl God. 'I'll\' 10Yof a sincere Christian stands firm without interruption j in nil placC'~1at all times, and in all conditions, his thoughts arc cheerful ond quiet.

\Vhcthcr necessity or inclination has placcd liS in 11 secluded lifc,let us forbear admiring the labors of mell, to contempl:uc the \\ ork.of the Great Creator-let ns remove our thoughts from the pride andpomp of a court, and innocently enjoy the delights we find in SOL(.

TUDE. The Heavens, the sun, the stars, the c1ement~, ho\o thoynot beauties to satisfy the mind that contemplatcs them 1 The ,,"lUteof plains, the course of rivers, the meaos, the flowers, the rivulet~,have they not charms to enchant the eye? Do \\e ever \Vanllhc musicof birds in our groves ?-We may live conlented ever}"wll<'re if wuchang'3 our pleasures with our abode. We lind our account in Ihl.world in the study of nature; it directs our thoughts to lIim \\hois the Great Author of it-our senses mt'et with their delis;ht4, andwhoever is capable of moderation, will have full enough to cunh:nt

him.The most cruel tyrants can find no dungeon for our soul; they

cannot be the masters of it any larther than we arc willing to servethem :-their chains cannot bind it, and in whatc\'cr pInee tbebody be shut up, the soul never changes its place or d~l.elling•. ThUiwe may find contentment c\'en in the meanest ho\'el, If we 1\"111 only

d avor to make ourselves so. Let the man of a firm health not::c:unt himself happy only in the enjoyment of this g?od, but. maytbe thoucrhts of suffering nothing among so many calaulltou~ obJ ell,which a~e about him, make him yet more contont j I,t hun enJoy

,

16 LU'II OF AlIOil WIL~O:-r.

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him~elr not only from the good circumstances that are his Jot, hutfrom the eviJ~ too, which do not befall him. May the ~lensl:l'e" heta.;!es, and the pain be sutlers not, affonl him equal satIsfact.IOJI.

In reality, however innucent th~y may appear, e.lcess l~ evercriminal, and produce~ not only infamy, but sickness and palll j-.aman who loses his reputation by a debauch, very often loses IllS

health too, and wounds his constitution no Jess than his honour. Itbecomes every man to live with restriction. Pleasure is the. view01 our actions j and although we pursue different plans, we aim atthe same point. Let everyone live as is most agreeable to his in.nocent inclinations, and enjoy all Ihe delights that offer, when theyare consistenl witb the principles of conscience and honour.

Il is preposterous fur anyone to expect to be truly happy in this,,'orld llnles8 he is truly piolls j he who aims to be happy, with nilhis eaNhly possessions, if he possesses not Religion, he is indeeda miserahle inhabitant of what he is pleased to call a ,; miserable"'orld." Trlle happiness is not to be found in the excesses of wineor of women, nor in the Iarg:est pJ'odiga!ities of fortune. He who1V0uld perfectly know himself, let him set aside his money, his for-tune, his dignity, and examine himself nal<cd. It is dangerous forII man too suddenly 01' too easily to believe himself j wherefore let usexamine, watch, obseJ've, amI inspect ollr own hearts. 'Ve shoulde\'cry night call ourselves to an accollnt- What infirmity have Imastered to day? or what passion opposed? what temptation reosisted! what virtue acquired? Our vices will abate of themselvesif they arc brought every day to the shift. 'Vhat can be more rea.IOnable than this daily J'ilview of a life that we cannot warrant for'moment? There is a great variety in our lives, but all tends toth .

e same ISSlle-nature may use her own bodies as she pleases, buta good ma~ bas this consolation, that nothing perishes which hec.n call hl~ oll'n. We arc born to lose and to perish j to hopeand.to (ear j to vex ourselves and others j alJ[) there is no antidotoagamst a common calamity but Religion and Virtue.

Who~ver sllrio\Isly and meekly attends to the operations of hisOWn mllld, may soon find sufficient evidence there, to convince himthat ther' G d h .III ~ IS a 0 W 0 made hIm j to whose goodne~s he OWe~ all. e facultIes of his souJ, to whose providence he owes all the bless-11l~of his life, and by whose permission it is that he exercises nndtlIbu

lO

YSthem-that he is placed,in this" miserable world" so termedIII a I

ah.u creature of a day, hastening to the pJace from which heDot ratu,Xl; that he i$ accountable for bie eondu~ to th.'

4 8

LlF.II or .UfO>! 1I'1L10~. If

II

- J,

greatest and wisest o~ Beings, from the strictness of whose jlJ~ticehe must have every Hang to fear; but that he i~exhorted to [w hum.ble and penitent, and cast himself in hope upon the infinitude ofmercy, and the infinitude of goodness!

The Creator of the universe, in that suhlime and beautiful orderwhi~h he in his wisdom hath established, seems to have appointedcontlllualiessons of instruction to his rationa 1 creature, man. Ifthe luminaries of the sky shine with superor splendor O\'Cf our heads,it seems as though they were principally intended to dilTuse li..htllnd heat, and impart joy and gladness bevond themselves ...

The world which we now inhabit is a \~'orld of trials and tempta.tions ; and if we sutler our passions to take pos,ession of us, it i~ noeasy matter to break their force. If we once gi\'e a luuse to ourapi'etites, we know not when to hold the rein; nor is it in our pOll'.

er always to stop short of vice, so frail is human nature-so strongthe force of hubit, that" it is easier to suppress the first desire thanto satisfy all that follow it," is a maxim, the truth, of which many un.thinking youth has, too latc, been forced to acknowledge. 1I0w lIIanyhave we known, who, from the indulgence of innoccnt amusemenls,have been led into excesses and crimes which have stained a reputa-tion which would otherwise have heen filiI' and irreproachahle, andwhich have sometimes brought tflCmseh'es to a shameful end. In.nocent pleasures are as necessary to the support of the constitutionand health, as salutary mel]icines; hut in keeping witllin hound~,there lies the task; we progress, by slow degrees, till we arrive atthe gulf of sensuality. As well may" the Ethiopean change his bkinor the leopard his spots," as those, long "hacknicll in the wa~' of,-ice," to reform; the drunkard to hccome temperate j the gnmhl('r tolose a relish fur cards and dice; or the sensualist to give up his car.nal desire. How important, then. is it, that those who ha\'e Ihecare of youth should warn thcm, both h)' precept and example, toshun the exccssi\'e indulgence of pleasure (falsely so called, a suroprecurser of loss of health, reputation, f~rtune, and peace ~f con.science,) and to pursue the paths of sobnety, honesty, fru~ahty andindustry; to lead godly lin's, in the fear of the Lord, wlllch IS Ihebeginning of knowledge! Thus will their lives be serene and happy,

and their exit peaceful. _'In my solitary abode, secluded from ~he society of mankind, what

pleasuff' have I enjoyed in contemplatlllg the goodness of the AI._ hty' anrl should mv life be prolonged to double the number of

mlg .'. I dod L/lyears which I have already passed, I would prefer a .ee u e

r

I

I

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to that of mingling with the inhabitants of a world producing .somany temptations calculated to beguile them. from. the paths of vlr-tlle and morality. Heaven is witness, that 1Il tillS rocky. cavern Ienjoy more happy moments than where .r passed my laughing youthin the pursuit and indulgence of what IS termed worldly pleasures.If I am not soothed by flattery, I am not wounded by ingratitude.If I have it not in my power vainly to boast of superior lite, I amnot the ohject of calnmniating envy; and I am now too far removedinto the shade for scorn to point its finger at me: my hopes no Ion.ger rest on vain, idle, fitllacious objects, on private friendship orPllblicjustice; they have now a more durable foundation-they reston ({eaven.

Well did an inO"enious writer say of SOL1TUDI-:, th:lt in it "theo •mind gains strength, and learns to lean upon herself:" in the world,it seeks or accepts a few treacherous snpports; the feigned com-passionof one-the flattery of a second-the civilitips of a thi rd--thefriendship of a fourth! They all deceil'e, and hring the mind backto retirement, reflections and books! But alt!.ough mankind read somany excellent maxims of wisdom, and their judgments are so fullyconvinced of the lasting advantages of true philo~ophy, how frail,how forgetful, how much under the inflilence of the passions, aremenof superior accomplishments fuund I But they are living mo-nitors to teach us \\ isdom by their weakness!

Whilst we remain in the world we are all fettered down, more orless,to one level; and have neiti!ler all the leisnre nor all the meanstosoar ahove it, which we may procure to ourselves by breakingthefetters of retirement. To talk of abstracti nfT ourseh-es from ma t.otel's,laying aside body, and heing resoh'ed, as it were, into pure in-tellect,is proud, metaphysical, unmeaning jargon: but toahstract our-~Ives from the prejudices and habit, and pleasures and husiness of theworldis no-more than manv arc. thouO"h all are not capable of doinO" .

... . 0 e'-they, who can do this, who can become weaned from the world, and~onte~t themselves to spend a portion of their lives in solitude, mayantheir retreat elevate their souls to a higher station, and may takethence such a view of the world as the second Scipio took in hisdre~mfrom the seats of the blessed when the whole earth appeared~ hule t? hi~ that he could scarcely discern that speck of dirt, the

boman hmrllre. Such a view as this will increase our knowled<Tcv h . '"• S oWing us Ollr ignorance, and will teach us to establish our

peace of mind I\'her~ alone it can rest securely, in resignation.

LIFE OF AMOS WILSO:f. 19

LlFIl or .uloa WU,IO:lI.\

Such a view ,'II d l'rVI ren er lIe more ngreeaLJle, Rnd dellth lell tel'.

rible.

,Tile idea ,of God, and the prccept~ of his holy fl'ligion ('ll Y5 a c~.~e,)rated wnter), are never so little rcmctIIlwred as in tlll~ l;rdJfl:l.rvlD~crc,uurse of s~ciety. Engaged i~ a multiplicity of ab~IHlI I'll;.!IUlts, llltranced 10 the delIrlutll uf ~illety, inllamed hv the conlioUldebriety which raises the pn!sions and ~titllulales the r!e:irl's. e\ ftr\' con.nexion between God and lllan is dissolved; the llright and' nolliefaculty of reason ohscured; and cven tlie ~rcat and imporillot dul ....of religion, the only source of true felicitv. tulall\' ublilerah'd fromthe mind or remembered only with levity .. Un tli: "ootrar\", he \\ho,entering into a serious sell:examination, elevates his thou,;hh in ~i.lence toward his God. 0

In the last moments of life, it is certain I!Jltt \\e all "i,h ''''had passed our days in greater privacy and solitude. in ~triclN In.timacy with ourselves, and in closer cotllulllllion wilh Goel. I'reos.cd by the recollections of our errors, we then clearly Ill'rl'ei\'e thatthey were occasioned hy not having shunned Ihe snares oi till' worlr!,!lnd by not having watched with sufiicient care lIVer the inclination"of our hearts. Oppose the sentiments of a sulita ry ma n, \\ lIu hn.passed his life in pious conference' with Gud, 10 those which ocrupya worldly mind, forgetful uf ils Crealor, and sacrificin;r it. dear.est interests to the enjoyment of the JIIoJII,'nt: compare the charllc.ter of a wise man, who renects in siknce on the importance of "ler.nity, with that of a fashionable being. who consuJlles his tiJII!' in tl ...idle amusements of the world; and we shall then perc('I\'(' that ""11.tude and dignified retirement can alone atJord trlle pl,'a"ure. andgive us what all the vain enjoyments Ill' the world will nen:r I.cSIOIl',

consolation in death, and hope of e\'l'r1asling lile. Hut the bed ofdeath discovers most clearly the dilierencc bet ween the jll~t man,who had quietly pasged his days in religious conlPJllplation, and theman of the world, whose thoughts ha\'e only been cJllplllYl'd to Ii.,'.]his passions and gratify his (le~ircs. A lili~ pa~'ed amid ..t the lu.multuous dissipations of the world, l'\'pn whell unslllhl~1 lIy 11... CIIIII.

mission of any crime, conclude". IIlas. \".~ry ditli:rcnlly frllrn th.twhich has been spent in the bo\\,prs Ill' solituue, adurll"d hy IIIno.cencc and rewarded by virtue. ,

'Verc mankind to examino on wllllllheir hope of futur<' hhs •••founded, and anticipate that day of disc,O\'l'fY, IInd deci8wn onwhich is hastening upon them, it would exr:lte drllg".'lce ar~d " ,'llI..,ntheir attadllnent to interior objects. TO,/l mlllu CODeCIOUll 0111"UlifO

" d' ortality this employ'ment cannot be either unpleas.dlgnltv nn IInm, , ,, . fitaille It is the hiO'hest proof of wisdom so to act InIDa or U:Jpro, . 0

o t 't I'ltl'on that when remo\'ed to another, the changeour presen Sl l, , , "

be 'I I'P)'as it will be lastinO' \\'e need not leal' that tillSmay as}a J . I 0 ...

wilidiminish our present happiness. The GracIOus Being who form'

ed re Ilires no service at our hands but what wdl promote ourus, q , "I I" ,

re.ent good. "Godliness is profitable to all tlungs j 'Y IVlng III

:ooformity to its rules, we escape many evils, and ~re preservedin ,irtue and innocence. \Ve enjoy every gratIficatlOll that cangivedeli..ht to a reasonahle mind. Were mankind gcmlrally influencedbl' this n~ole principle how happy tllPn IVould he the state of hu III II us~ciet\'. They would then cease to be miserable in a ,; MiserahleWorld." The voice of discord would then be no longer heard. Thevarious rank and classes of men IVould be connccted in the strr)ng_est and most pleasing hand of union ... Righteousness and peacewould kiss each other," and the pre::;ent ::;tate of existence would beoolya happy prelude to one stiJl more exalted and gloriolls in therealms of eternal day.

By experience I well know that the highest happiness which iscapable of heing enjoyed in thi::; "miserable world," consists in apeaceof mind, and a strict allherence to the principles of the Chris.tian religion j and by experience I can assure my dear reader thatthe rich and the poor, the happy and the miserahle, the healthy andthe sick, in short, all descriptions of persons, whatever may be theirstations or their c:rcumstances in this life, will experience infinite ad.vantage in a religious retirement from the world. Solitude, whenit has ripener! and preserved the tender and humane feelings of theheart, and created in the mind a salutarv distrust of our vain rea.son,and boasted abilities, inay he considered to have brought liS

nearer to God. Humility is the first lesson we learn from reflec.tion and sel(~distrust the first proof we givoJOf having ohtained akoowledge, of ourselves. The wisdom that teaches us to avoid thesnares of the world, is not to be acquired by the incessant pursuitof entertainments; by flying, without re!leetion from one party toanother; by continual coO\'ersation on low and trining subj~cts;by undertaking every thing and doing nothing.

A pursuit after happiness almost entirely enO'rosses the attentionf ' 0o man III his ~ocial state; and though his visionary fancy mayplace her at a distance, yet, like the ignis-fatuus to the benight_ed and, bewildered traveller, she will constantly recede from thegrasp ID proportion to the eagerness of our pursuit, till death puti

L1FK OJ' AMOS W1LSO:'l. 21

•

an e~d to our career. The contenuing passions of mlln render theacquirement of true happiness in a state of Bociet\' ahurtile' blltthe Recluse, retiring frolll the caprice of a vain wo;IJ. bv relle~tln"on the b~a,uties o,f nature anu the bounties of nature's God, enjuv:a tranqutlhty wlllch the social world cannot hestow .•

That lIIan is capahle in private of an intercourse wilh his ~Iaker,there are many living witnesses to prOle, without ha\'jnlF recour~cto the visions of funatics or to the dreams of ellthusiast~ j it maybe proved to spring frolll natural or philosophic causes. God is ~spirit, so is the mind j bodies can have intcrcour~p, so can souls;when minds arc in an assimilating state of puritv, thev hal'e unionwith their !\Iaker. Thus disposed, the Creator ~ol\1l1l;lIIicates him.self to the soul, in a manner which is as insonsible to the naturaleye as are the falling dews. Enthusiasm has swelled with unna.tural conceptions, and obtruded a spurious otrspring on lhe world,instead of the I'ngaging child of reason and trllth j whilst Ihe luke.warm ha ve rested in a few out ward duties. which ha I'e had no I'j.gour, and, as they spring not from the heart, nelPr entered the lempleof the Most High. Real pipt)" is of a I'ery difll'rent and (If a nllichmore animated nature: it looks up to God, sees, hrar~, frels him inevery event, in every vicissitude, in all places, at 1111seasons. andupon all occasions. It is theory verified hy experil'nce j it is f:.ilhsubstantiated hy mental enjoyment j it is heaven transplanted in thehuman bosom j it is the radiance of the divinity warning llnel en.circling man. [( is a spiritual sense gratified hy spiritual sen~ation5 j

without this, all ceremonies arc inefficncious.A fellow. being with a cultimted mind enjoys peculiar satisfaction

in the hours for solitude j and the most pupular suhjl'ct on which hI'can meditate and employ his attention and ohsl'fI'ation whl'n •I P 'IS the tholwht of Deit\'. Aot that he Illay doubt thp (':\i,t.a on _, ' " •

enl'e of a Supreme Being; hut he can naturally. and with more per.spicuity, meditate on his Almighty Pow('~, .Justi~l', ~Il'rcy. andBenevolence towards poor frail creatures of mortaht,\".

The sicl, the sorrow;ul, and the discontl'nted, may find Cfll1a! re.)' f' !'t'ude. I't ~dministers a hnlrn to their tortured soul .., healsIe In so I ." ., " ,the deep and painful wounds they ha\'e received, nnd In ,lillie reo

t tl m tllel'r Pl'istine l1l'alth and vil!0ur. Sorrow. IIlI~f()rllln('.s ores Ie .' , , ' 1d . loon ren-Ier solitude cas\' nnd fallllhar to our mint s.an Slc ,ness s II, .•. '

How willin .. ly do we renounce the world, and become IIldl,lTt'rl'~1 l~'" .. I' I en'l' of till' l,n«lous I~ ".all its pleasures wlwn the InSI( lOllS I' oqu - l; " ' I •

hmced. and our powers are debilitated by vexation or ill health, It I.

•

22LIl"H Olr .£.MO' WIL80:f.

1.11'B OIP AMOS WIL!lOI'.

I f tl 1 which the worldthen Ire perceive the wen mess 0 lose suceOlrsor d" the mind tllen seeks a balm III ReligIOn, and beclHlles morc

3110r " " ' G" J"d' d to s"ck "Its Guardian .-\.nrrcl and Its o.Isrlose v '"

Thlls, my dear readers, have I endeavoured, as far as my feebleO'uld perluit to satisfy you of the blessings of Solitude, andpowersw , ~, "" •

of the rast importance of ehenslllng ReligIOn In tIllS wOlld, thatyou may he titted for another and a b~tter. When you per~seihfse few pages, containing the best adVice that I am able to givevou I shall ha\'e paid that debt which you must sooner or later pay;~y ~nly prayer therefore is, that you may receive the ~d:ice .con.tained in the for('~oing pages with as much pleasure as It IS gIven,and that it Illay u'ltimately operate as powertully on your minds asit has on that of the author.

)[ystcrious are the ways of Providence; the same wheel which~ises you to.day on the smooth, ulll'utlled ocean of prosperity, may,1beforetbe morrc~w,roll yo~ i.n the stormy sea of. ad versi ty ; the scenes

'1) of life are <:ontlllually shlfttng, and" the fashIOn of the world pass.\ ethlIway!" Mankind in this world are ever suhject to ills, infirmi.

~ tiesand disappointments-pains and perplexities are the long.livedplaguesof human existence-but RI-:LIGIOX is the balm that healsthosewounds j-it was this that preserved me, and prevented mycommiltingviolence OIl myself at the melancholy moment when [wasdoomedto experience one of the severest trials of this life-whendoomed to witness the ml'iancholy fate of an affectionate and onlysister,the companion of my youth, torn from the bosom of her fondparents,and for many months confined within the thick walls of a.gloomyprison, and from then~e convf'yed (at the very moment thata pardon was obtained for her) to the gallows, there to slliler likeoneof the greatest monsters of human depravity, fin ignominiousdeath!-to view her lifeless corpse suspended in the air, surroundedby a throng of un pitying spectators! But alas! it was the will ofGod,10 which we must submit. It was at this trying moment that hesent Religion and reason to my aid, and bid me no longer grievefor her whom I could not and ought not wish to recall to thistrouhlesome world-for her whom I had just reason to believe hadgoneto the regions of eternal day, above the reach of sorrow viceorpain. ' ,

T~e consideration of the sorrows of this life and the glories of thene~t18 Our best support. Dark are the ways of providence while weIre wrapped up in mortality; but, convinced there is a God weinUit hopeand believe that all is right. '

-~_iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii~=- =- ~-=--

/I

I

AMOS WILSOX ••

MF'B OlP AllOII 1r1LBO,..

I am fully sensihle, my dear fellow mortals, that our Iires are strmv.ed with ditficultic3, troubles, and disappointmcntE j that we daill' ex.perience the rod, which fU1'l1ishcs to us a Jesson highly worthv ~f in.struction. It is in the very nature of things requisite that ,;'c meetwith trouble while here helow, in order that we better knoll' how toprize the felicity which awaits us ill the heavens above: and he thatbravely encounters the trials und misfortunes of this world, outbravesthem all. counting them but as momentary afflictions comparativelyto the joys whieh are set hefore him in futurity. We arc too apt tofind fault, and conclude we are possessed of a greater share of world.ly affliction than our fellow men, or more than our proportion in thescale of justice; and are ready, as it were, to call heaven to witnessour petition j but I am persuaded mankind are not so unequullyprovided for in this world as many imagine. "God is no respecterof persons," he filVours one man no more than anotlJCr, and hisblessings are equally showered upon all his o{f~pring.

As regards my own situation, few, very fell', of my fellow.creature!.,it is probahle, could be found willing (after experiencing so lIIanysevere trials) to retire from the busy world, and be cOllt\'nled toabide alone [,11' the space of almost nineteen years within the walls ofa soliary cave, as I have myself done. My situation hilS no doubtbeen pr~nounced unhappy and miserable by many of my felloll'.be.ings'; but, secluded as I have hcen from the bociety of man, depriv.ing myself of the superfluities of life, I solemnly declare thut I haveenjoyed more real happiness in retirement, thlln what all thc richesand superfluities of this world could have afforded me.

My dear readers, I lllUSt now bid you all ~n lI{fect~on~te ~lrcII'ell.May the remainder of your days be spent III the faithful dl~chlirgcof the duty you owe to the supreme disposer of all e"cnts !-As ~'ollrdays shorten, may the sun of righteollsness hright~11 ol'er you tillyou arrive at the new Jerusalem, whcre tears are WIped 1.11'1\)" fromevery eye, and sorrolV is no more!

TilE END.