LOUISVILLE. 4d» 



appointed him, I cannot tell ; but I clearly perceived that he was not 

 pleased. Vanity and the encomiums of my friend prevented me from 

 subscribing. IVfr Wilson asked me if I had many drawings of birds. 

 I rose, took down a large portfolio, laid it on the table, and shewed him, 

 as I would shew you, kind reader, or any other person fond of such sub- 

 jects, the whole of the contents, with the same patience with which he had 

 shewn me his own engravings. 



His surprise appeared great, as he told me he never had the most dis- 

 tant idea that any other individual than himself had been engaged in 

 forming such a collection. He asked me if it was my intention to pub- 

 lish, and when I answered in the negative, his surprise seemed to increase. 

 And, truly, such was not my intention ; for, until long after, when I met 

 the Prince of Musignano in Philadelphia, I had not the least idea of pre- 

 senting the fruits of my labours to the world. Mr Wilson now examin- 

 ed my drawings with care, asked if I should have any objections to lend- 

 ing him a few during his stay, to which I replied that I had none : he 

 then bade me good morning, not, however, until I had made an arrange- 

 ment to explore the woods in the vicinity along vdth him, and had pro- 

 mised to procure for him some birds, of which I had drawings in my col- 

 lection, but which he had never seen. 



It happened that he lodged in the same house with us, but his re- 

 tired habits, I thought, exhibited either a strong feeling of discontent, or 

 a decided melancholy. The Scotch airs which he played sweetly on his 

 flute made me melancholy too, and I felt for him. I presented him to 

 my wife and friends, and seeing that he was all enthusiasm, exerted my- 

 self as much as was in my power, to procure for him the specimens which 

 he wanted. We hunted together, and obtained birds which he had ne- 

 ver before seen ; but, reader, I did not subscribe to his work, for, even 

 at that time, my collection was greater than his. Thinking that perhaps 

 he might be pleased to publish the results of my researches, I offered 

 them to him, merely on condition that what I had drawn, or might after- 

 wards draw and send to him, should be mentioned in his work, as coming 

 from my pencil. I at the same time offered to open a correspondence 

 with him, which I thought might prove beneficial to us both. He made 

 no reply to either proposal, and before many days had elapsed, left 

 Louisville, on his way to New Orleans, little knowing how much his ta- 

 lents were appreciated in our little town, at least by myself and my 

 friends. 



