ALEXANDER WILSON. x Ji x 



April 1806, and, two days after, he writes to Mr Bartram, detailing 

 his plans, and expressing diffidence in his ability for the superin- 

 tendence of such varied subjects. " This engagement will, I hope, 

 enable me, in more ways than one, to proceed with my intended 

 Ornithology, to which all my leisure moments will be devoted. In 

 the meantime, I anticipate with diffidence the laborious and very 

 responsible situation I am soon to be placed in, requiring a much 

 more general fund of scientific knowledge, and stronger powers of 

 mind, than I am possessed of ; but all these objections have been 

 overruled, and I am engaged." He soon unfolded his darling 

 project to Mr Bradford, who thought so favourably of the under- 

 taking, and of Wilson's abilities, that he agreed to become the 

 publisher, and to furnish the requisite funds. Now that all 

 obstruction was removed, "Wilson launched into the enterprise with 

 his whole energies, devoting to it every moment that he could 

 spare from his duties as editor. Mr Lawson was set to work ; his 

 prospectus was composed, and twenty-five hundred copies were to 

 be thrown off ; it was to be printed in all the newspapers ; he 

 already meditated the appointment of an agent " in every town of 

 the Union." This hard study, however, again impaired his health, 

 and he was forced sometimes to relax by an excursion to the 

 country, which gave him a double portion of enjoyment, from 

 being mostly in constant confinement, " immersed among musty 

 books, and compelled to forego the harmony of the woods for the 

 everlasting din of the city, the very face of the blessed heavens 

 involved in soot, and interrupted by walls and chimney 

 tops." * 



" At length," writes Mr Ord, " in the month of September 1808, 

 the first volume of the 'American Ornithology' made its appearance. 

 From the date of the arrangement with the publisher, a prospectus 

 had been issued, wherein the nature and intended execution of the 

 work were specified. But yet no one appeared to entertain an 

 adequate idea of the treat which was about to be afforded to the 

 lovers of the fine arts and of elegant literature ; and when the 

 superb volume was presented to the public, their delight was 

 equalled only by their astonishment that America, as yet in its 

 infancy, should produce an original work in science, which could 

 * Letter to Mr Bartram. 



