xlii LIFE OF 



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 sufferings 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." 



He now found that he could not conscientiously discharge his 

 duty to his pupils, and at the same time follow, as he wished, his 

 pursuit after natural history; and being anxious to make excur- 

 sions to a greater length than he had hitherto done, he sought 

 after some literary employment. He applied to Mr Brown, the 

 conductor of the Literary Magazine, and wrote for his work the 

 "Rural Walk," and "Solitary Tutor." The former poem I have 

 been unable to procure ; the latter is a sort of epitome of his own 

 history, where he describes the early intentions of his parents of 

 bringing him up for the Church — his emigration — his school-house 

 on the Schuylkill — and his favourite haunts in Bartram's woods. 



In October 1804, Wilson, accompanied with two friends, set out 

 on foot to visit the Falls of Niagara. The party were too late in 

 starting, and, on this account, suffered many hardships on their 

 return. These did not, however, discourage him ; he soon after 

 writes to Mr Bartram — 



"Gray's Ferry, 15t7i December 1804. 

 " Dear Sie, — Though now snugly at home, looking back in 

 recollection on the long circuitous journey, which I have at length 

 finished, through deep snows, and uninhabited forests — over stu- 

 pendous mountains, and down dangerous rivers — passing over, in 

 a course of 1300 miles, as great a variety of men and modes of 

 living, as the same extent of country can exhibit in any part of the 

 United States ; though in this tour I have had every disadvantage 

 of deep roads and rough weather — hurried marches, and many 

 other inconveniences to encounter, — yet so far am I from being 

 satisfied with what I have seen, or discouraged by the fatigues 

 which every traveller must submit to, that I feel more eager than 

 ever to commence some more extensive expedition, where scenes 

 and subjects, entirely new and generally unknown, might reward 



