88 Ai^KXANDER wii^on: poet-naturawst 



myself; and if a decaying memory does not de- 

 ceive me I think it was ordered by yourself from 

 St. Louis, while Governor and military com- 

 mander there; that it was an expedition for 

 reconnoitering the Indian and Spanish positions 

 which might be within striking distance; that 

 so far from being an expedition admitting 

 a leisurely and scientific examination of the nat- 

 ural history of the country, it's movements were 

 to be on the alert, and too rapid to be accommo- 

 dated to the pursuits of scientific men ; that if pre- 

 viously communicated to the Executive, it was 

 not in time for them, from so great a distance, to 

 have joined scientific men to it; nor is it probable 

 it could be known at all to mr. Wilson and to have 

 excited his wishes and expectations to join it. if 

 you will have the goodness to consult your mem- 

 ory and papers on this subject, and to write me 

 the result you will greatly oblige me. 



"My retirement placed me at once in such a 

 state of pleasing freedom and tranquility, that I 

 determined never more to take any concern in 

 public affairs ; but to consider myself merely as a 

 passenger in the public vessel, placed under the 

 pilotage of others, in whom too my confidence 

 was entire. I therefore discontinued all corre- 

 spondence on public subjects, and was satisfied 

 to hear only so much as true or false, as a news- 

 paper or two could give me. in these I some- 

 times saw matters of much concern, and particu- 

 larly that of your retirement, a witness myself 

 of the merit of your services while I was in a sit- 

 uation to know and to feel their benefit, I made 



