l x iv LIFE OF WILSON. 



-plishing my purpose; till hearing that your excellency had it 

 in contemplation to send travellers this ensuing summer up the 

 Red River, the Arkansaw, and other tributary streams of the 

 Mississippi; and believing that my services might be of advan- 

 tage to some of these parties, in promoting your excellency's 

 design; while the best opportunities would be afforded me of 

 procuring subjects for the work which I have so much at heart; 

 under these impressions I beg leave to offer myself for any of 

 these expeditions; and can be ready at a short notice to attend 

 your excellency's orders. 



u Accustomed to the hardships of travelling, without a fami- 

 ly, and an enthusiast in the pursuit of Natural History, I will 

 devote my whole powers to merit your excellency's approba- 

 tion; and ardently wish for an opportunity of testifying the sin- 

 cerity of my professions, and the deep veneration with which 

 I have the honour to be, 



" Sir, 



" Your obedient servant, 



ALEX. WILSON."* 

 Kingsess, Feb. 6, 1806. 



Mr. Jefferson had in his port-folio decisive proofs of Wilson's 

 talents as an ornithologist, the latter having some time before, 

 as the reader will have observed, transmitted to his excellency 

 some elegant drawings of birds, accompanied with descriptions. 

 Yet with these evidences before him, backed with the recom- 

 mendation of a discerning and experienced naturalist, Mr. Jef- 

 ferson was either so scandalized at the informal application of 

 our ornithologist, or so occupied in the great concerns of his ex- 

 alted station, that no answer was returned to the overture; and 

 the cause of the supposed, contemptuous neglect, neither Wil- 

 son nor Bartram could ever ascertain. 



Whatever might have been the views of the president, who 

 unquestionably bore an effective part in scheming and encourag- 



* Wilson was particularly anxious to accompany Pike, who commenced 

 his journey from the cantonment on the Missouri, for the sources of the Ar- 

 kansaw, &c. on the 15th July, 1806. 



