EXPLORATIONS IN FLORIDA 9 



enjoyment I found; poor coaches, dragged through immense, 

 deserted pine forests, miserable fare, and neither birds nor 

 quadrupeds to be seen. We at length approached Charleston, 

 and the view of that city from across the bay was hailed by 

 our party with unfeigned delight. Charmed, as we were, with 

 having terminated our dreary journey, it did not occur to us 

 to anticipate the extraordinary hospitality which awaited us 

 there, and which led to a residence of a few of the happiest 

 weeks I ever passed. 



I had passed but one night in the city, when I was pre- 

 sented to the Rev. Mr. . This benevolent man, whom I am 



proud to call my friend would not suffer the "American Woods- 

 man" to repose any where but under his roof; and not him 

 alone all his assistants too. When I tell you that he was 

 an old friend of Alexander Wilson, that he shoots well, is an 

 ornithologist, a philosophical naturalist, and that during the 

 time we enjoyed his hospitality, he took us all over the country 

 with his carriages and servants, in search of specimens, and 

 that he was every thing a kind brother could be to me, you 

 may suppose that it is with great sincerity I say, and ever 

 shall say, God bless him ! When I first saw this excellent man, 

 he was on horseback, but upon my being named to him, he 

 leaped from his saddle, suffered his horse to stand at liberty, 

 and gave me his hand with a pressure of cordiality that elec- 

 trified me. I saw in his eyes that all he said was good and 

 true; and although he spoke of my labours in terms far ex- 

 ceeding what is due to them, I listened to him pretty well as- 

 sured that he did not intend me to play the part of Gil Bias 

 over again ; for myself, my assistants, George Lehman and 

 Henry Ward, were removed in a jiffy to his own mansion, in- 

 troduced to the family, and at work the very next morning. 



Although the weather was "shockingly hot," they 

 prepared three hundred specimens, embracing about 



These letters, which were hurriedly written in the field, appeared in 

 a short-lived and forgotten publication; they are here given in part on 

 account of the general interest of the narrative. 



