1816.] Alexander Wilson. SA} 
ing alone in the publication, if it even cost him his life. ‘“* I shadd 
at least leave,’ continued he, “ a small beacon to point out where 
I perished.” ; ; ; 
About the commencement of this year information was dissemi= 
nated, through the medium of the public prints, that the President 
of the United States had it in contemplation to despatch parties of 
ingenious men for the purpose of exploring the waters of Louisiana. 
Mr. Wilson, aroused at the intelligence, now conceived that a 
favourable opportunity was afforded him of gratifying a desire, which 
he had long indulged, of visiting those regions, which he was well’ 
convinced were rich in the various objects of science ; and particu-- 
larly where subjects, new and interesting, might be collected for. 
his embrio work on the ornithology of our country. He expressed 
his wishes to Mr. Bartram, who approved of them ; and the latter’ 
cheerfully wrote a letter to his friend and correspondent, Mr. Jef- 
ferson, wherein Mr. Wilson’s character and acquirements were 
distinetly stated, recommending him as one highly qualified to be 
employed in that important national enterprise. ‘This introductory, 
couched in the most gentlemanly terms, covered an application 
from Mr. Wilson himself, which, as faithful biographers of our 
deceased friend, we here think proper to insert entire :— 
“ To his Excellency Thomas Jefferson, President of the United 
States. 
sr Sir, 
“ Having been engaged these several years in collecting mate- 
rials and furnishing drawings from nature, with the design of pub- 
lishing a new orthinology of the United States of America, so defi- 
cient in the works of Catesby, Edwards, and other Europeans, I 
have traversed the greater part of our northern and eastern districts; 
and have collected many birds undescribed by these naturalists, 
Upwards of 100 drawings are completed, and two plates in folio 
already engraved. But as many beautiful tribes frequent the Ohio, 
and the extensive country through which it passes, that probably 
never visit the Atlantic states; and as faithful representations of 
these can only be taken from living nature, or from birds newly 
killed, I had planned an expedition down that river, from Pittsburg 
to the Mississippi, thence to New Orleans, and to continue my re- 
searches by land in return to Philadelphia. I had engaged as a 
companion and assistant Mr. William Bartram, of this place, whose’ 
knowledge of botany, as well as zoology, would have enabled me 
to make the best of the voyage, and to collect many new specimens 
in both those departments. Sketches of these were to have been 
taken on the spot, and the subjects put in a state of preservation to 
finish our drawings from, as time would permit. We intended to 
set out from Pittsburg about the beginning of May, and expected to 
reach New Orleans in September. 
** But my venerable friend Mr, Bartram taking into more serious 
