1 LIFE OF 



vie in its essentials with the proudest productions of a similar 

 nature of the European world." 



The first hurry and excitement being over, and the work meeting 

 with an approbation far beyond his hopes, he thought he might be 

 able to increase the subscriptions at a distance, by his presence and 

 personal exertions ; he decided upon an expedition for this purpose, 

 and set out in search of "birds and subscribers," through the 

 eastern states, by Boston to Maine, and back through the state of 

 Vermont. He set out on the 21st September 1808, and the 

 incidents of this journey are detailed in letters addressed to Mr 

 Miller and Mr Lawson. They bear the same evidence of his talent 

 for observation, which marked his early journal in the east of 

 Scotland : almost every incident worthy of notice is recorded ; and 

 whatever would promote the main object of his tour is followed 

 with the warmest enthusiasm. They can be detailed in no language 

 except his own ; and though of considerable length, they are the 

 best and only means by which a proper estimate of his character 

 and disposition, at this time of his life, can be obtained ; and 

 besides, they form the commencement of letters descriptive of the 

 various excursions he undertook during the remaining progress of 

 his work : — 



" Boston, October 12, 1808. 

 "Dear Sir, — I arrived here on Sunday last, after various ad- 

 ventures, the particulars of which, and the observations I have 

 had leisure to make upon the passing scenery around me, I shall 

 endeavour, as far as possible, to compress into this letter, for your 

 own satisfaction, and that of my friends, who may be interested 

 for my welfare. At Princeton I bade my fellow-travellers good-by, 

 as I had to wait upon the reverend doctors of the college. I took 

 my book under my arm, put several copies of the prospectus into 

 my pocket, and walked up to this spacious sanctuary of literature. 

 Dr Smith, the president, and Dr M'Lean, professor of natural 

 history, were the only two I found at home. The latter invited 

 me to tea, and both were much pleased and surprised with the 

 appearance of the work. I expected to receive some valuable in- 

 formation from Mr M'Lean, on the ornithology of the country; but 

 I soon found, to my astonishment, that he scarcely knew a sparrow 



