LIFE OF WILSON. xxvii 



The scheme was unfolded to Mr. Lawson, and met with his cordial approba- 

 tion. But he observed that there were several considerations which should have 

 their weight, in determining in an affair of so much importance. These were 

 frankly stated; and followed by advice, which did not quadrate with the tempera- 

 ment of Wilson ; who, vexed that his friend would not enter into his feelings, 

 expressed his scorn of the maxims of prudence with which he was assailed, by 

 styling them the offspring of a cold, calculating, selfish philosophy. Under date 

 of March 12th, 1804, he thus writes to the last-named gentleman : " I dare 

 say you begin to think me very ungenerous and unfriendly in not seeing you 

 for so long a time. I will simply state the cause, and I know you will excuse 

 me. Six days in one week I have no more time than just to swallow my meals, 

 and return to my sanctum sanctorum. Five days of the following week are 

 occupied in the same routine of pedagoguing matters ; jind the other two are 

 sacrificed to that itch for drawing, which I caught from your honorable self. 

 I never was more wishful to spend an afternoon with you. In three weeks I 

 shall have a few days' vacancy, and mean to be in town chief part of the time. 

 I am most earnestly bent on pursuing my plan of making a collection of all the 

 birds in this part of North America. Now I don't want you to throw cold 

 water, as Shakspeare says, on this notion. Quixotic as it may appear. I have 

 been so long accustomed to the building of airy castles and brain windmills, 

 that it has become one of my earthly comforts, a sort of a rough bone, that 

 amuses me when sated with the dull drudgery of life." 



To Mr. "Wm. Baeteam. 



" March 29th, 1804. 



"Three months have passed away since I had the pleasure of seeing you; 

 and three dark and heavy months they have been to your family. My heart 

 has shared in your distress, and sincerely sympathizes with you for the loss you 

 have sustained. But Time, the great curer of every grief, will gradually heal 

 those wounds which Misfortune has inflicted ; and many years of tranquillity 

 and happiness are, I sincerely hope, reserved for you. 



" r have been prevented from seeing you so long by the hurry of a crowded 

 school, which occupied all my hours of daylight, and frequently half the others. 

 The next quarter will leave me time enough ; and, as there is no man living in 

 whose company I have more real satisfaction, I hope you will pardon me if I 

 now and then .steal a little of your leisure. 



" I send for your amusement a few attempts at some of our indigenous birds, 

 hoping that your good nature will excuse their deficiencies, while you point 

 them out to me. I intended to be the bearer of them myself, but having so 

 many little accounts to draw up before to-morrow, I am compelled to plead this 

 as my excuse. I am almost ashamed to send you these drawings ; but I know 

 your generous disposition will induce you to encourage 6ne in whom you perceive 

 a sincere and^ager wish to do well. They were chiefly colored by candle-light. 



" I have now got my collection of native birds considerably enlarged; and 

 shall endeavor, if possible, to obtain all the smaller ones this summer. Be 

 pleased to mark on the drawings, with a pencil, the names of each bird, as 



