336 Biographical Sketch of {May, 
closet philosopher, that the Divine Wisdom could be traced ; but it 
was visible in the glorious volume of creation, on the pages of which 
are inscribed the Author’s lessons of goodness and love, in the con- 
formation, the habitudes, melody, and migrations, of the feathered 
tribes, that beautiful portion of the work of his hands. . 
To invite the attention of his fellow beings to a study attended 
with so much pleasure and improvement, was the natural wish of 
one who had been educated in the school of Wisdom. He humbly 
thought it would not be rendering an unacceptable service to the 
Great Master of Creation himself, to deduce from objects that 
every where present themselves in our rural walks, not only amuse- 
ment and instruction, but the highest incitements to piety and 
virtue. Moreover, self-gratification, that source of so many of our 
most virtuous actions, had its share in urging him to communicate 
his observations to others. He examined the strength of his own 
mind and its resources; the undertaking seemed hazardous; he 
pondered it for a long while before he ventured to mention it to his 
friends. At length the subject was made known to Mr, Bartram, 
who freely expressed his confidence in the abilities and acquirements 
of Mr, Wilson, but from a knowledge of the situation and cir- 
cumstances of the latter, hinted his fears that the difficulties which 
stood in the way of such an enterprise were almost too great to be 
overcome. Wilson was not easily intimidated ; the very mention 
of difficulties suggested to his-ardent mind the means of surmount- 
ing them, and the glory which would accrue from such an achieve- 
ment, He hada ready answer to every objection of his cautious 
friend; and evinced such enthusiasm, that Mr, Bartram trembled 
lest his intemperate zeal should Jead him into a situation, from the 
embarrassments of which he could not well be extricated. 
The scheme was unfolded to Mr. Lawson, and met his unqua- 
lified approbation. But he obseryed that there were several consi- 
derations which should have their weight in determining in an 
affair of so much importance. These were frankly stated; and 
followed by advice, which did not quadrate with Wilson’s tempera~ 
ment; who, vexed that his friend would not enter into his feelings, 
expressed his scorn of the maxims of prudence with which he was 
assailed, by styling them the offspring of a cald, calculating, con- 
temptible, philosophy. ‘Under date of March 12, 1804, he thus 
writes to the last-named Gentleman :— 
«s I dare say you begin to think me very ungenerous and un- 
friendly in not seeing you for so longa time. I will simply state 
the cause, and I know you will excuse me. Six days in one week 
I have no more time than just to swallow my meals, and return to 
my Sanctum Sanctorum. Five days of the following week are oc- 
cupied in the same routine of pedagoguing matters; and the other 
two are sacrificed to that itch for drawing which I caught from your 
honourable self. I never was more wishful to spend an afternoon 
with you. In three weeks I shall have a few days vacancy, and 
