LIFE OF AVILSON. xxxvii 



value either of their opinions so much as I would yours. I have bestowed 

 more pains upon this than I ever did upon any former poem ; and if it contain 

 nothing really good, I shall for ever despair of producing any other that will." 



To Me. Wm. Bartram. 



" March 4th, 1805. 

 " My Dear Friend, 



" This day the heart of every republican, of every good man, within the 

 immense limits of our happy country, will leap with joy ! 



" The re-appointment and continuance of our beloved Jefferson to superin- 

 tend our national concerns, is one of those distinguished blessings whose bene- 

 ficent effects extend to posterity ; and whose value our hearts may feel, but 

 can never express. 



" I congratulate with you, my dear friend, on this happy event. The 

 enlightened philosopher, — the distinguished naturalist, — the first statesman on 

 earth, — the friend, the ornament of science, is the father of our country, 

 the faithful guardian of our liberties. May the precious fruits of such pre- 

 eminent talents long, long be ours : and the grateful effusions of millions of 

 freemen, at a far distant period, follow their aged and honored patriot to the 

 peaceful tomb. ' 



" I am at present engaged in drawing the two birds which I brought from 

 the Mohawk ; and, if I can finish them to your approbation, I intend to trans- 

 mit them to our excellent president, as the child of an amiable parent presents 

 to its affectionate father some little token of its esteem. 



To Mr. Wm. Duncan. 



Gray's Ferky, March 26th, 1805. 



" I received your letter of January 1st, some time about the beginning of 

 February ; and wrote the same evening very fully ; but have heard nothing in 

 return. Col. S. desires me to tell you to be in no uneasiness, nor part with 

 the place to a disadvantage on his account. His son has been with me since 

 January. I told you in my last of the thinness of my school : it produced me 

 the last quarter only twenty-six scholars ; and the sum of fifteen dollars was 

 all the money I could raise from them at the end of the term. I immediately 

 called the trustees together, and, stating the affair to them, proposed giving 

 up the school. Two of them on the spot offered to subscribe between them 

 one hundred dollars a-year, rather than permit me to go; and it was agreed to 

 call a meeting of the people : the result was honorable to me, for forty-eight 

 scholars were instantly subscribed for; so that the ensuing six months my 

 school will be worth pretty near two hundred dollars. So much for my 

 affairs. ******** 



" I have never had a scrap from Scotland since last summer ; but I am 

 much more anxious to hear from you. I hope you have weathered this terri- 

 ble winter, and that your heart and your limbs are as sound as ever. I also 

 most devoutly wish that matters could be managed so that we could be 

 together. This farm must either be sold, or let ; it must not for ever be a 

 great gulf between us. I have spent most of my leisure hours this winter in 



