286 -WANDERINGS IN SOtlTH AMERICA. 



Leeds. A little after this, Wilson's Ornithology of the 

 United States fell into my hands. 



The desiie I had of seeing that country, together with 

 the animated description which Wilson had given of the 

 birds, fanned up the almost expiring flame. I forgot the 

 vexations already alluded to, and set off for New York, in 

 the beautiful packet John Wells, commanded by Captain 

 Harris. The passage was long and cold ; but the elegant 

 accommodations on board, and the polite attention of the 

 commander, rendered it very agreeable ; and I landed, in 

 health and merriment, in the stately capital of the new 

 world. 



We will soon pen down a few remarks on this magnifi- 

 cent city, but not just now. I want to venture into the 

 north-west country, and get to their great <;anal, which the 

 world talks so much about, though I fear it will be hard 

 work to make one's way through bugs, bears, brutes, and 

 buffaloes, which we Europeans imagine are so frequent 

 and ferocious in these never-ending western wilds. 



I left New York on a fine morning in July, without 

 one letter of introduction, for the city of Albany, some 

 hundred and eighty miles up the celebrated Hudson. I 

 seldom care about letters of introduction, for I am one of 

 those who depend much upon an accidental acquaintance. 

 Full many a face do I see, as I go wandering up and down 

 the world, whose mild eye, and sweet and placid features, 

 seem to beckon to me, and say, as it were, "Speak but 

 civilly to me, and I will do what I can for you." Such a 

 face as this is worth more than a dozen letters of intro- 

 duction ; and such a face, gentle reader, I found on board 

 the steam-boat from New York to the city of Albany. 



There was a great number of well-dressed ladies and 

 gentlemen in the vessel, all entire strangers to me. I 

 fancied I could see several whose countenances invited an 



