XX 



LIFE OF WILSON 



templation of her simple beauties^ than from any other source of 

 gratification. But he had hitherto been a mere novice ; he was 

 now about to receive instructions from one, whom the experience 

 of a long life, spent in travel and rural retirement, had rendered 

 qualified to teach. Mr. Bartram soon perceived the bent of his 

 friend^s mind, and its congeniality to his own ; and took every 

 pains to encourage him in a study, which, while it expands the 

 faculties, and purifies the heart, insensibly leads to the contem- 

 plation of the glorious Author of nature himself. From his youth 

 Mr. Wilson had been observant of the manners of birds ; and since 

 his arrival in America had found them objects of uncommon inte- 

 rest ; but he had not yet viewed them with the eye of a naturalist. 



Mr. Bartram possessed some works on natural history, par- 

 ticularly those of Catesby and Edwards. Mr. Wilson perused 

 them attentively ; and found himself enabled, even with his slen- 

 der stock of information, to detect errors and absurdities into 

 which these authors had fallen, from a defective mode of study- 

 ing nature : a mode, which, while it led them to the repositories 

 of dried skins and preparations, and to a reliance on hearsay 

 evidence, subjected them to the imputation of ignorance, which 

 their lives, devoted to the cultivation and promotion of science, 

 certainly would not justify. Mr. Wilson's improvement was now 

 rapid; and the judicious criticisms which he made on the above- 

 mentioned authors, gratified his friend and instructor, who re- 

 doubled his encouraging assistance, in order to further one in a 

 pursuit for which his genius, now beginning to develope itself, was 

 evidently fitted. 



In his new situation Mr. Wilson had many enjoyments ; but 

 he had likewise moments of despondency which solitude tended 

 to confirm. He had addicted himself to the writing of versea 

 and to music ; and being of a musing turn of mind had givea 

 way to those seductive feelings which the charming scenery of 

 the country, in a susceptible heart, never fails to awaken. This 



