ALEXANDER WILSON. \{ 



from a woodpecker. I visited several other literary characters; and, 

 at about half-past eight, the Pilot coming up, I took my passage 

 in it to New Brunswick, which we reached about midnight. 



" The next morning was spent in visiting the few gentlemen who 

 were likely to patronise my undertaking. I had another task of 

 the same kind at Elizabeth Town ; and, without tiring you with 

 details that would fill a volume, I shall only say that I reached 

 Newark that day, having gratified the curiosity and feasted the 

 eyes of a great number of people, who repaid me with the most 

 extravagant compliments, which I would have very willingly ex- 

 changed for a few simple subscriptions. I spent nearly the whole 

 of Saturday in Newark, where my book attracted as many starers 

 as a bear or a mammoth would have done, and I arrived in New 

 York the same evening. The next day I wrote a number of letters, 

 enclosing copies of the prospectus, to different gentlemen in town, 

 and, in the afternoon of Tuesday, I took my book and waited on 

 each of those gentlemen to whom I had written the preceding day. 

 Among these I found some friends, but more admirers. The pro- 

 fessors of Columbia College expressed much esteem for my perform- 

 ance. The professor of languages being a Scotchman, and also a 

 Wilson, seemed to feel all the pride of national partiality so com- 

 mon to his countrymen, and would have done me every favour in 

 his power. I spent the whole of this week traversing the streets? 

 from one particular house to another, till, I believe, I became 

 almost as well known as the public crier or the clerk of the market ; 

 for I frequently could perceive gentlemen point me out to others as 

 I passed with my book under my arm. 



" On Sunday morning, October 2d, I went on board a packet for 

 Newhaven, distant about ninety miles. The wind was favourable. 

 The Sound here, between Longisland and the Maine, is narrowed 

 to less than half a mile, and filled with small islands, and enormous 

 rocks under water, among which the tide roars and boils violently, 

 and has proved fatal to many a seaman. At high water it is 

 nearly as smooth as any other flow, and can then be safely passed. 

 The country, on the New York side, is ornamented with handsome 

 villas, painted white, and surrounded by great numbers of Lombardy 

 poplars. The breeze increasing to a gale, in eight hours from the 

 time we set sail, the high red-fronted mountain of Newhaven rose 



