410 Biographical Sketch of [Junx, 
ardour, devoting every moment which could be spared from his 
editorial duties to his great work. 
At length, in the month of September, 1808, the first volume of 
the American Ornithology made its appearance. From the date of 
the arrangement with the publisher, a prospectus had been issued, 
wherein the nature and intended execution of the work were speci- 
fied. But yet no one appeared to entertain an adequate idea of the 
elegant treat which was about to be afforded to the lovers of the arts 
and of useful literature. And when the superb volume was pre- 
sented to the public, their delight was only equalled by their asto- 
nishment that our country, as yet in its infancy, should produce an 
original work in science that could vie, in its essentials, with the 
proudest productions of a similar nature of the European world. 
In the latter part of September Mr. Wilson set out on a journey 
to the eastward, to exhibit his book and procure subscribers. He 
travelled as far as the district of Maine, and returned through Ver- 
mont, by the way of Albany, to Philadelphia. From a letter to a 
friend, dated Boston, Oct. 10, 1808, we have made the following 
extract :— 
‘« T have purposely avoided saying any thing either good or bad on 
the encouragement | have met with. I shall only say that, among 
the many thousands who have examined my book, and among these 
were men of the first character for taste and literature, I have 
heard nothing but expressions of the highest admiration and esteem. 
If I have been mistaken in publishing a work too good for the 
country, it isa fault not likely to be soon repeated, and will pretty 
severely correct itself. But whatever may be the result of these 
matters, I shall not sit down with folded bands whilst any thing can 
be done to carry my point ; since God helps them who help them- 
selves. Iam fixing correspondents in every corner of these northern 
regions, like so many piquets and outposts, so that scarcely a wren 
or tit shall be able to pass along, from York to Canada, but I shall 
get intelligence of it.” 
From several individuals, in this journey, Mr. Wilson expe- 
rienced the most polite and encouraging attentions; but from 
others, and those too from whom most was expected, he met a 
reception of an opposite nature, the rudeness of which we should 
hesitate to record if the facts were not supported by his own de- 
claration. From his private journal we have taken the following 
extracts :— 
“© Arrived at — 3 waited on Dr. — , principal of the 
seminary. It was near dusk before I could see him ; and our con- 
versation, which-was held on the steps leading to his house, occupied 
about five minutes. He considered the volume too expensive for 
any class of readers about this town. He behaved with cold in- 
difference—turned over a few leaves without any seeming interest ; 
and said, that as far as he could see (it was nearly dark) it looked 
well—returned the volume, and we parted. If, as principal of this 
eollege, this literary luminary shed no more cheering influence over 
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