c ■ LIFE OF WILSON. 



ignorance, rudeness, and boorishness, were never so contrasted by female 

 sweetness, affability, and intelligence. 



"April 12. — Went this evening to drink tea with Mr. * * *j was intro- 

 duced to Mrs. * * *j a most lovely, accomplished and interesting woman. 

 Her good sense and lively intelligence of a cast far superior to that of almost 

 any woman I have ever seen. She is most unfortunately unwell with a ner- 

 vous complaint, which affects her head. She told me, most feelingly, that the 

 spring, which brings joy to every other being, brings sorrow to her, for in 

 wiuter she is always well. 



" April 25. — Breakfasted at Walton's, thirteen miles from Nashville. This 

 place is a fine, rich hollow, watered by a charming, clear creek, that never 

 fails. Went up to Madison's Lick, where I shot three paroquets and some 

 small birds. 



" April 26. — Set out early, the hospitable landlord, Isaac Walton, refus- 

 ing to take anything for my fare, or that of my horse, saying : ' You seem to 

 he travelling for the good of the loorld; and I canvot, I will not charge you 

 anything. Whenever you come this way, call and stay with me, you shall be 

 welcome!' This is the first instance of such* hospitality which I have met 

 with in the United States. 



"Wednesday, May 23. — Left Natchez, after procuring twelve subscribers; 

 and having received a kind letter of invitation from William Dunbar, Esq., I 

 availed myself of his goodness, and rode nine miles along the usual road to 

 his house; where, though confined to his bed by a severe indisposition, I was 

 received with great hospitality and kindness; had a neat bedroom assigned 

 ■me ; and was requested to consider myself as at home during the time I should 

 find it convenient to stay in exploring this part of the country." 



The letter above mentioned, which is now before me, is worthy of tran- 

 scription : 



"Forest, 20th May, 1810. 

 " Sir. 



" It is very unfortunate that I should be so much indisposed as to be con- 

 fined to my bedroom ; nevertheless, I cannot give up the idea of having the 

 pleasure of seeing you as soon as you find it convenient ; the perusal of your 

 first volume of Ornithology, lent me by General Wilkinson, has produced in 

 me a very great desire of making your acquaintance. 



" I understand, from my boy, that you propose going in a few days to New 

 Orleans, where you will see some small cabinets of natural history that may 

 interest you. But, as I presume it is your intention to prosecute your inquiries 

 into the interior of our country, this cannot be done better than from my house, 

 as your head-quarters; where everything will be made convenient to your 

 wishes. My house stands literally in the forest, and your beautiful orioles, 

 with other elegant birds, are our courtyard companions. 



* The editor of Wilson's Poems, in quoting this paragraph, omitted the word such, 

 thereby intending to convey a charge of the want of hospitality in the American charac- 

 ter, which our author rarely experienced. Wilson's meaning is suflficientiy obvious 

 without comment. 



