ALEXANDER WILSON. x l v 



affectionate compliments to Mr Bartram, and sends for his amuse- 

 ment and correction another proof of his Birds of the United States. 

 The colouring being chiefly done last night, must soften criticism a 

 little : will be thankful for my friend's advice and correction. 



" Mr Wilson wishes his beloved friend a happy New Year, and 

 every blessing." 



This is written at the commencement of 1806, nearly two years 

 after he first conceived the idea of such a work. These attempts 

 seem to have convinced him that he could not himself attain suffi- 

 cient proficiency to produce the effects he wished, and he proposed 

 to Mr Lawson to embark in the work as a joint concern. These 

 proposals Mr Lawson, from prudential motives, declined, and Wilson, 

 with an enthusiasm similar to what had ever actuated him in like 

 circumstances, declared that he would proceed alone in the publica- 

 tion, should it cost him his life. " / shall at least leave a small 

 beacon to point out ivhere I perished." 



A circumstance at this time occurred which prevented him from 

 starting immediately with his design, and the delay was perhaps 

 the indirect means of more completely forwarding his views ; for it 

 is more than probable, that a commencement of an undertaking of 

 such extent, on his own narrow means alone, would have been 

 crushed ere its merits could have spread. Mr Jefferson, the Presi- 

 dent of the United States, had it in contemplation to despatch an 

 expedition to explore the country of the Mississippi, and Wilson, 

 anxious to see these new regions, and to procure additional materials 

 for his work, wished to be chosen as a naturalist to the party. He 

 applied to Mr Bartram, who cheerfully wrote to the President, 

 recommending his friend, and Wilson forwarded the communication 

 with the following letter from himself : — 



" To His Excellency Thomas Jefferson, President of the 

 United States. 

 " Sie, — Having been engaged, these several years, in collecting 

 materials and furnishing drawings from nature, with the design of 

 publishing a new Ornithology of the United States of America, so 

 deficient in the works of Catesby, Edwards, and other EuropeanSj 

 I have traversed the greater part of our northern and eastern dis- 

 tricts, and have collected many birds undescribed by these naturalists. 



