LIFE OF WILSON. lix 



remarkably fresh-colored, with a benign and manly countenance. I introduced 

 myself without ceremony — shook his hand with sincere cordiality, and said, 

 with some warmth, that I was proud of the honor of meeting with one of the 

 heroes of Bunker's Hill — the first unconquerable champions of their country. 

 He looked at me, pressed my hand in his, and the tears instantly glistened in 

 his eyes, which as instantly called up corresponding ones in my own. In our 

 way to the place he called on a Mr. Carter, who he said was also in the action, 

 and might recollect some circumstances which he had forgotten. With these 

 two veterans I spent three hours, the most interesting to me of any of my life. 

 As they pointed out to me the route of the British — the American iutrench- 

 ments — the place where the greatest slaughter was made — the spot where 

 Warren fell, and where he was thrown amid heaps of the dead, I felt as though 

 I could have encountered a whole battalion myself in the same glorious cause. 

 The old soldiers were highly delighted with my enthusiasm ; we drank a glass 

 of wine to the memory of the illustrious dead, and parted almost with regret. 



" From Boston to Portland, in the district of Maine, you are almost always 

 in the neighborhood, or within sight, of the Atlantic. The country may be 

 called a mere skeleton of rocks, and fields of sand, in many places entirely 

 destitute of wood, except a few low scrubby junipers, in others covered with 

 pines of a diminutive growth. On entering the tavern in Portland, I took up 

 the newspaper of the day, in which I found my song of Freedom and Peace,* 

 which I afterwards heard read before a numerous company (for the supreme 

 court was sitting), with great emphasis, as a most excellent song; but I said 

 nothing on the subject. 



" From Portland I steered across the country for the northern parts of Ver- 

 mont, among barren, savage, pine-covered mountains, through regions where 

 nature and art have done infinitely less to make it a fit residence for man than 

 any country I ever traversed. Among these dreary tracts I found winter had 

 already commenced, and the snow several inches deep. I called at Dartmouth 

 College, the president of which, as well as of all I visited in New England, 

 subscribed. Though sick with a severe cold, and great fatigue, I continued 

 my route to this place, passing and calling at great numbers of small towns in 

 my way. 



" The legislature is at present in session — the newspapers have to-day taken 

 notice of my book, and inserted my advertisement — I shall call on the princi- 

 pal people — employ an agent among some of the booksellers in Albany, and 

 return home by New York." 



Wilson, after tarrying at home a few days, departed to the southward, visit- 

 ing every city and town of importance as far as Savannah, in the state of 

 Georgia. This journey, being performed in the winter, and alone, was of 

 course not attended with many travelling comforts; and, to avoid the incon- 

 veniences of a return by land, he embarked in a vessel, and arrived at New 



*A certain military association of riiihulolphia, being disposed to dignify the national 

 celebration of this year, offered a gold medal for the best song which should be written 

 for the occasion ; and Wilson bore away the prize from many competitors. 



