ALEXANDER WILSON. 41 



Wilson also determined to avail himself; of course 

 his friend Lawson was applied to, and furnished 

 the copper and other accessories ; but after various 

 unsuccessful essays, he abandoned the idea 'of con- 

 tributing the plates, and again applied to Lawson 

 to take a share in the contemplated work, which, 

 from prudential motives, was declined. But this 

 only caused Wilson to devote his energies with 

 the greater enthusiasm to the arduous task. " 1 

 shall at least leave a small beacon to point out where 

 I perished." 



At this time Mr. Jefferson, President of the 

 United States, had in contemplation an expedition 

 to explore the country of the Mississippi ; and 

 Wilson, anxious to store himself with every informa- 

 tion for his favourite scheme, applied to be enrolled 

 as Naturalist to the party. To this proposal the 

 President replied in very kind terms; but from 

 some fatality which the biographers of Wilson ap- 

 pear to be at a loss to account for, he heard nothing 

 more on the subject, excepting the letter alluded 

 to. It happened, fortunately, that our author was 

 introduced now to Mr. Samuel F. Bradford, book- 

 seller, Philadelphia, who was about to republisli 

 an improved edition of Rees* Cyclopaedia, to which 

 Wilson was chosen assistant Editor, with a liberal 

 salary. " This," he remarks, " will, I hope, enable 

 me in more ways than one to proceed with my 

 intended Ornithology, to which all my leisure mo- 

 ments will be devoted." 



Being now in a condition to begin the Work, of 



