xxvi LIFE OF WILSON. 



" I have attempted two of those prints which Miss Nancy* so obligingly, 

 and with so much honor to her own taste, selected for me. I was quite dd^ 

 lighted with the anemone, but fear I have made but bungling work of it. 

 Such as they are I send them for your inspection and opinion j neither of them 

 is quite finished. For your kind advice towards my improvement I return my 

 most grateful acknowledgments. 



" The duties of my profession will not admit me to apply to this study with 

 the assiduity and perseverance I could wish. Chief part of what I do is 

 sketched by candle-light ; and for this I am obliged to sacrifice the pleasures 

 of social life, and the agreeable moments which I might enjoy in company 

 with you and your amiable friend. I shall finish the other some time this 

 week; and shall be happy if what I have done merit your approbation." 



As Wilson advanced in drawing, he made corresponding progress in the 

 knowledge of Ornithology. He had perused the works of some of the natu- 

 ralists of Europe, who had written on the subject of the birds of America, 

 and became so disgusted with their caricatured figures, fanciful theories, 

 fables and misrepresentations, that on turning, as he himself observes, from 

 these barren and musty records to the magnificent repository of the woods and 

 fields — the Grand Aviary of Nature, his delight bordered on adoration. It 

 was not in the inventions of man that the Divine Wisdom could be traced ; 

 but it was visible in the volume of Creation, wherein are inscribed the Author's 

 lessons of goodness and love, in the conformation, the habitudes, melody and 

 migrations, of the feathered tribes, that beautiful portion of the work of his 

 hands. 



To invite the attention of his fellow-citizens to a study, attended with so 

 much pleasure and improvement, was the natural wish of one who had been 

 educated in the School of Wisdom. He humbly thought it would not be render- 

 ing an unacceptable service to the Great Master op Creation himself, to 

 derive from objects that everywhere present themselves in our rural walks, not 

 only amusement and instruction, but the highest incitements to piety and virtue. 

 Moreover, self-gratification, that source of so many of our virtuous actions, had 

 its share in urging him to communicate his observations to others.f He 

 examined the strength of his mind, and its resources ; the undertaking seemed 

 hazardous; he pondered it for a long while before he ventured to mention it to 

 his friends. At length the subject was made known to Mr. Bartram, who freely 

 expressed his confidence in the, abilities and acquirements of Wilson ; but, from 

 a knowledge of the situation and circumstances of the latter, hinted his fears 

 that the difiiculties which stood in the way of such an enterprise were almost 

 too great to be overcome. Wilson was not easily intimidated ; the very mention 

 of difiiculties suggested to his mind the means of surmounting them, and the 

 glory which would accrue from such an achievement. He had a ready answer 

 to every objection of his cautious friend; and evinced such enthusiasm,'that 

 Mr. Bartram trembled lest his intemperate zeal should lead him into a situation, 

 from the embarrassments of which he could not well be extricated. 



* Mr. Bartrara's niece, now the consort of Colonel Carr. 

 t Introduction to Vol. I. 



