LIFE OF WILSON. 



an application from Wilson himself, which, as a faithful bio- 

 grapher of my friend, I here think proper to insert entire: 



" TO HIS EXCELLENCY THOMAS JEFFERSON, 



" President of the United States. 

 " Sir, 



" Having been engaged, these several years, in collecting 

 materials, and furnishing drawings from nature, with the de- 

 sign of publishing a new Ornithology of the United States of 

 America, so deficient in the works of Catesby, Edwards, and 

 other Europeans, I have traversed the greater part of our 

 northern and eastern districts; and have collected many birds 

 undescribed by these naturalists. Upwards of one hundred 

 drawings are completed; and two plates in folio already en- 

 graved. But as many beautiful tribes frequent the Ohio, and 

 the extensive country through which it passes, that probably 

 never visit the Atlantic states; and as faithful representations 

 of these can be taken only from living nature, or from birds 

 newly killed; I had planned an expedition down that river, 

 from Pittsburg to the Mississippi, thence to New Orleans, and 

 to continue my researches by land in return to Philadelphia, 

 I had engaged as a companion and assistant Mr. William Bar- 

 tram of this place, whose knowledge of Botany, as well as 

 Zoology, would have enabled me to make the best of the voy- 

 age, and to collect many new specimens in both those depart- 

 ments. Sketches of these were to have been taken on the spot; 

 and the subjects put in a state of preservation to finish our 

 drawings from, as time would permit. We intended to set 

 out from Pittsburg about the beginning of May; and expected 

 to reach New Orleans in September. 



" But my venerable friend, Mr. Bartram, taking into more 

 serious consideration his advanced age, being near seventy, and 

 the weakness of his eye-sight; and apprehensive of his inability 

 to encounter the fatigues and deprivations unavoidable in so 

 extensive a tour; having, to my extreme regret, and the real 

 loss of science, been induced to decline the journey; I had re- 

 luctantly abandoned the enterprise, and all hopes of accom- 



