LIFE OF WILSON 



xxiii 



dered on adoration. It was not in the inventions of man, the 

 reveries of the closet philosopher, that the Divine Wisdom could 

 be traced- but it was visible in the glorious volume of creation, on 

 the pages of which are inscribed the Author's lessons of good- 

 ness and love, in the conformation, the habitudes, melody and 

 migrations of the feathered tribes, that beautiful portion of the 

 work of his hands. 



To invite the attention of his fellow beings to a study attended 

 with so much pleasure and improvement, was the natural wish of 

 one who had been educated in the School of Wisdom. He humbly 

 thought it would not be rendering an unacceptable service to the 

 Great Master of Creation himself, to deduce from objects 

 that every where present themselves in our rural walks, not only 

 amusement and instruction, but the highest incitements to piety 

 and virtue. Moreover, self-gratification, that source of so many 

 of our most virtuous actions, had its share in urging him to com- 

 municate his observations to others.t He examined the strength 

 of his own mind and its resources; the undertaking seemed hazard- 

 ous ; he pondered it for a long while before he ventured to mention 

 it to his friends. At length the subject was made known to Mr. 

 Bartram, who freely expressed his confidence in the abilities and 

 acquirements of Mr. Wilson ; but from a knowledge of the situa- 

 tion and circumstances of the latter, hinted his fears that the dif- 

 ficulties which stood in the way of such an enterprise were almost 

 too great to be overcome. Wilson was not easily intimidated ; 

 the very mention of difficulties suggested to his ardent mind the 

 means of surmounting them, and the glory which would accrue 

 from such an achievement. He had a ready answer to every ob- 

 jection of his cautious friend; and evinced such enthusiasm, that 

 Mr. Bartram trembled lest his intemperate zeal should lead him 

 into a situation, from the embarrassments of which he could not 

 well be extricated. 



* See preface to vol. v. jitissim. f Introduction to vol. i. 



