LIFE OF WILSON. xxix 



and find my ideas of the incomprehensible First Cause still more exalted the 

 more minutely I examine bis works. 



" I sometimes smile to think that while others are immersed in deep sebemea 

 of speculation and aggrandizement — in building towns and purchasing planta- 

 tions, I am entranced in contemplation over the plumage of a lark, or gazing 

 like a despairing lover, on the lineaments of an owl. While others are hoard- 

 ing up their bags of money, without the power of enjoying it, I am collecting, 

 without injuring my conscience, or wounding my peace of' mind, those beauti- 

 ful specimens of Nature's works that are for ever pleasing. I have had live 

 crows, hawks and owls — opossums, squirrels, snakes, lizards, &c , so that my 

 room has sometimes reminded me of Noah's ark ; but Noah had a wife in 

 one corner of it, and in this particular our parallel does not altogether tally. 

 I receive every subject of natural history that is brought to me, and though 

 they do not march into my ark, from all quarters, as they did into that of our 

 great ancestor, yet I find means, by the distribution of a few fivepenny hits, 

 to make them find the way fast enough. A boy, not long ago, brought me a 

 large basket full of crows. I expect his next load will be bull-frogs, if I 

 don't soon issue orders to the contrary. One of my boys caught a mouse in 

 school, a few days ago, and directly marched up to me with his prisoner. I 

 set about drawing it that same evening, and all the while the pantings of its 

 little heart showed it to be in the most extreme agonies of fear. I had in- 

 tended to kill it, in order to fix it in the claws of a stufi"ed owl, but happening 

 to spill a few. drops of water near where it was tied, it lapped it up with such 

 eagerness, and looked in my face with such an eye of supplicating terror, as 

 perfectly overcame me. I immediately untied it, and restored it to life and 

 liberty. The agonies of a prisoner at the stake, while the fire and instruments 

 of torment are preparing, could not be more severe than the sufierings of that 

 poor mouse; and, insignificant as the object was, I felt at that moment the 

 sweet sensations that mercy leaves on the mind when she triumphs over cruelty. 

 " My dear friend, you see I take the liberty of an old acquaintance with 

 you, in thus trifling with your time. You have already raised me out of the 

 slough of despond, by the hopes of your agreeable conversation, and that of 

 your amiable pupil. Nobody, I am sure, rejoices more in her acquisition of 

 the beautiful accomplishment of drawing than myself. I hope she will per- 

 severe. I am persuaded that any pains you bestow on her will be rewarded 

 beyond your expectations. Besides, it will be a new link in that chain of 

 friendship and consanguinity by which you are already united ; though I fear 

 it will be a powerful addition to that attraction which was fully sufiicient 

 before, to make even a virtuoso quit his owls and opossums, and think of 

 something else." 



To Mr. Wm. BlRTRAM. 



" May 2l8t, 1804. 

 "I send you a few more imitations of birds for your opinion, which I value 

 beyond that of anybody else, though I am seriously apprehensive that I am 

 troublesome. These are the last I shall draw for 'some time, as the employ- 

 ment consumes every leisure moment, leaving nothing for friendship, or those 



