LIFE OF WILSON. xlix 



Testers" It begins with a description of the Fall or Indian 

 Summer, and relates, minutely, our peregrinations and adven- 

 tures until our arrival at Catharine Landing, occupying ten 

 hundred and thirty lines. The remainder will occupy nearly 

 as much; and as I shall, if ever I publish it, insert numerous 

 notes, I should be glad, if, while you are on the spot, you would 

 collect every interesting anecdote you can of the country, and 

 of the places which we passed through. Hunting stories, &c., 

 peculiar to the would be acceptable. I should be 



extremely glad to spend one afternoon with you for the benefit 

 of your criticisms. I lent the poem to Mr. 

 our senator, who seems to think it worth reading; and * * 

 * * has expressed many flattering compliments on my la- 

 bours; but I dont value either of their opinions so much as I 

 would yours. I have bestowed more pains upon this than I 

 ever did upon any former poem; and if it contain nothing really 

 good, I shall for ever despair of producing any other that will. " 



TO MR. WM. BARTRAM. 



March 4, 1805. 

 " My dear friend, 



" This day the heart of every republican, of every good man, 

 within the immense limits of our happy country, will leap with 



jy- 



" The re-appointment and continuance of our beloved Jeffer- 

 son to superintend our national concerns, is one of those dis- 

 tinguished blessings whose beneficent effects extend to posterity; 

 and whose value our hearts may feel, but can never express. 



" I congratulate with you, my dear friend, on this happy 

 event. The enlightened philosopher, the distinguished na- 

 turalist, the jirst statesman on earth, the friend, the or- 

 nament of science, is the father of our country, the faithful guar- 

 dian of our liberties. May the precious fruits of such pre-eminent 

 talents long, long be ours: and the grateful effusions of millions 

 of freemen, at a far distant period, follow their aged and ho- 

 noured patriot to the peaceful tomb. 



VOL. i. o 



