26 



were ordered, however expensive. It was the same with specimens 

 for the Museums. New species for the Entomological Society he im- 

 mediately purchased whenever offered ; and he and the ornithologists 

 of the Academy on his behalf, never neglected the purchase of a new 

 species of bird whenever it could be obtained, apparently regardless 

 of cost. 



His own private library, consisting of a few thousand volumes, is a 

 wonder for the wide range of its contents. It is at his late residence 

 in the house of his brother, about half a mile from Newark, Delaware. 

 And as that was his home for so many years, it will be of interest to 

 his admirers to know that the house is a spacious, handsome, country 

 mansion, and surrounded with agreeable lawns and shrubbery. It is 

 situated on a gentle elevation which rises gradually for some distance, 

 and the prospect is fair and far to the East, the North, and the South. 

 Dr. Wilson's rooms were in the north wing, the lower story being par- 

 lors, the second his library, and the third his sleeping apartments. 

 The walls of no rooms were ever more completely filled from floor to 

 ceiling with books, and they are in new and very agreeable covers. 

 There is no space left for pictures, except for one of his fether in a 

 lower parlor on the first floor. But it is the subjects of the volumes 

 which form the wonder. There are few scientific works, as he depended 

 for these on the Society libraries he himself had formed. Many books 

 which are seen in almost every gentleman's library, are not seen here; 

 but very many works which are rarely heard of, are here seen. It is 

 a refreshment to stroll along the glazed cases and read their titles on 

 their backs. The volumes on the Christian religion are not numerous, 

 but old Quaker works have a good share of room ; among them being 

 the autobiography of George Fox. AVorks on Mahomedanism, Brah- 

 manism, and Budism and other forms of idolatry, met the eye. Voy- 

 ages and travels in unfrequented parts of the world are numerous. The 

 chief classical French authors previous to the old revolution are there; 

 as he had lived long enough in France to know the language well. 

 Dictionaries and grammars are seen in many languages, not only the 

 well-known ancient and modern tongues, but also the Welsh, the Irish, 

 the Russian, and even the Kaffir of South Africa, and the Inca of South 

 America. Dr. Wilson's friends who knew him best, will have their 

 ideas enlarged of that remarkable man by viewing the choice of his 

 library. 



The chief characteristic of Dr. Wilson's intellectual exertions, the 

 wide range of his studies, will be regarded as a defect by many per- 



