112 AI^^XAND^ WII^ON : POEJT-NATURAWST 



horse, he was to die "in harness." While talking 

 with a friend he saw a bird of a species which he 

 especially desired to secure. He followed it 

 across a river and finally obtained it, but only after 

 he had become drenched with water. The cold 

 which resulted from this chase brought on dysen- 

 tery, a disease from which he had before suffered a 

 great deal, and which in his weakened condition 

 he was unable to withstand. He died after only 

 a few days' sickness at nine in the morning on the 

 23rd of August, 181 3, in his 48th year. All the 

 scientific men and clergy of Philadelphia united in 

 paying their last respects to his memory, when he 

 was buried in the yard of the Swedish Church on 

 Water street, Philadelphia. A marble table-tomb 

 above his grave bears for inscription: 



THIS MONUMENT 



covers the remains of 



ALEXANDER WILSON, 



Author of the 



American Ornithology. 



He was born in Renfrewshire, Scotland, 



on the 6th. July, 1766: 



Emigrated to the United States 



in the year 1794; 



Aged 47. 



On the 23rd. August, 1813, 



of the dysentery, 



And died in Philadelphia, 



Ingeno stat sine morte decus. 



At the time of his death Wilson is said to have 

 been engaged to Miss Sarah Miller, "daughter of 

 a proprietor in the vicinity of Winterton." He 

 appointed her an executrix of his estate. 



The eighth volume of the. ^'OrnithQlogy," which 



I 



