LIFE OF WILSON. xliii 



frequently heard such objections made to the eating of eels here, 

 where snakes are so common, yet I do not remember to have 

 heard the comparison made in Scotland. I have taken notice 

 of these two observations of his, because they are applied gen- 

 erally to the Scots, making them appear a weak squeamish- 

 stomached set of beings, infected with all the prejudices and 

 antipathies of children. 



il These are some of my objections to this work, which, how- 

 ever, in other respects, does honour to the talents, learning, 

 and industry of the compiler." 



In the month of October, 1804, Wilson, accompanied with 

 two of his friends, set out on a pedestrian journey to visit the 

 far-famed cataract of Niagara, whereof he had heard much, but 

 which he had never had an opportunity of beholding. The pic- 

 turesque scenery of that beautiful river, the vastness and sub- 

 limity of the cataract, as might be expected, filled the bosom 

 of our traveller with the most rapturous emotions. And he ever 

 after declared, that no language was sufficiently comprehensive 

 to convey an adequate idea of that wonderful curiosity. 



On the return of Wilson, he employed his leisure moments 

 in writing a poetical narrative of the journey. This poem, 

 which contains some interesting description, and pleasing im- 

 agery, is entitled " THE FORESTERS;" and was gratuitously 

 tendered to the proprietors of the Port Folio, and published in 

 that excellent miscellany, in the years 1809 10. 



This expedition was undertaken rather too late in the season, 

 and, consequently, our travellers were subjected to hardships 

 of which they were not aware. Winter overtook them whilst 

 in the Genessee country, in their return by the way of Albany; 

 and they were compelled to trudge, the greater part of the route, 

 through snow midleg deep. 



TO MR. WM. BARTRAM. 



Gray's Ferry, December 1 5th, 1804. 



"Though now snug at home, looking back in recollection 

 on the long, circuitous, journey which I have at length finished, 



