liV LIFE OF WILSON. 



our worthy president a faithful sketch of a bird, which he has 

 been so long curious to possess. " 



TO MR. WM. DUNCAN. 



Gray's Ferry, May 8th, 1805. 



^ I am glad to understand that the plantation is increasing 

 so fast in value, but more so that it is not either sold or other- 

 wise disposed of at the low rate at which we would have once 

 thrown it away; yet it is the perpetual cause of separating us, 

 which I am very sorry for. I am living a mere hermit, not 

 spending one farthing, to see if I possibly can reimburse ****, 

 who I can see is not so courteous and affable as formerly. I 

 hope to be able to pay him one hundred dollars, with interest, 

 next October, and the remainder in the spring; we shall then 

 be clear of the world; and I don't care how many privations I 

 suffer to effect that. I associate with nobody; spend my leisure 

 hours in drawing, wandering through the woods, or playing 

 upon the violin. 



" I informed you in my last of sending Mr. Jefferson draw- 

 ings of the Falls, and some birds, which I found on the Mo- 

 hawk, and which it seems have never been taken notice of by 

 any naturalist He returned me a very kind and agreeable let- 

 ter, from Monticello, expressing many obligations for the draw- 

 ings, which he was highly pleased with; and describing to me 

 a bird, which he is very desirous of possessing, having inter- 

 ested the young sportsmen of his neighbourhood, he says, these 

 twenty years, to shoot him one, without success. It is of the 

 size and make of the Mocking-bird, lightly thrush-coloured on 

 the back, and grayish- white on the breast; is never heard but 

 from the tops of the tallest trees, whence it continually serer 

 nades us with some of the sweetest notes, and as clear as those 

 of the nightingale. Mr. Bartram can give no account of this 

 bird, except it be the Wood Robin, which I don't think it is; 

 for Mr. Jefferson says, it is scarcely ever to be seen;" and 

 " I have followed it for miles without ever, but once, getting a 



