LIFE OF WILSON. xli 



commendation he might bestow on these ; and while they would 

 not, I trust, disgrace the pages of his valuable publication, they 

 might serve as my introduction to the literary world, and as a 

 sort of inspiration to some future and more finished attempts. 

 Knowing that you will freely pardon the quantum of vanity 

 that suggested these hints, 



(< I remain, with real regard, &c." 



TO MR. WM. BARTRAM. 



Union School, September 17, 1804. 



" The second volume of Pinkerton's Geography has at length 

 made its appearance; and I take the freedom of transmitting it, 

 and the atlas, for your amusement. To condemn so extensive 

 a work before a re-perusal, or without taking into consideration 

 all the difficulties that were to be surmounted, is, perhaps, not 

 altogether fair. Yet we almost always form our judgment from 

 the first impressions, and this judgment is very seldom relin- 

 quished. You will, therefore, excuse me if I give you some 

 of the impressions made on myself by a cursory perusal. 



" Taking it all in all, it is certainly the best treatise on the 

 subject hitherto published; though had the author extended his 

 plan, and, instead of two, given us four volumes, it would not 

 frequently have laid him under the necessity of disappointing 

 his reader by the bare mention of things that required greater 

 illustration; and of compressing the natural history of whole 

 regions into half a page. Only thirty-four pages allotted to 

 the whole United States ! This is brevity with a vengeance. I 

 had indeed expected from the exertions of Dr. Barton, as com- 

 plete an account of the natural history of this part of the world 

 as his means of information, and the limits of the work, would 

 admit. I have been miserably disappointed; and you will par- 

 don me when I say that his omitting entirely the least reference 

 to your researches in Botany and Zoology, and seeming so so- 

 licitous to let us know of his own productions, bespeak a nar- 

 rowness of mind, and self consequence, which are truly despi- 

 cable. Every one acquainted with you both,, would have con- 



VOL. i. F 



