xxvi 



LIFE OF WILSON 



The following letter to Mr. Bartrani, illustrative of his views 

 and feelings at this juncture, is interesting in a great degree : 



"Gray^s Ferry ^ December 15th, 1804. 

 " Though now snugly at home, looking back in recollection 

 on the long, circuitous journey which I have at length finished, 

 through trackless snows, and uninhabited forests; over stupendous 

 mountains, and down dangerous rivers : passing over, in a course 

 of thirteen hundred miles, as great a variety of men and modes of 

 living, as the same extent of country can exhibit in any part of 

 North America — though in this tour I have had every disadvan- 

 tage of deep roads and rough weather; hurried marches, and many 

 other inconveniences to encounter — yet so far am I from being sa- 

 tisfied with what I have seen, or discouraged by the fatigues which 

 every traveller must submit to, I feel more eager than ever to 

 commence some more extensive expedition ; where scenes and 

 subjects entirely new and generally unknown might reward my 

 curiosity; and where perhaps my humble acquisitions might add 

 something to the stores of knowledge. For all the hazards and 

 privations incident to such an undertaking, I feel confident in my 

 own spirit and resolution. With no family to enchain my affec- 

 tions ; no ties but those of friendship ; and the most ardent love 

 of my adopted country — with a constitution which hardens amidst 

 fatigues; and a disposition sociable and open, which can find itself 

 at home by an Indian fire in the depth of the woods, as well as in 

 the best apartment of the civilized. For these, and some other 

 i*easons that invite me away, I am determined to become a travel- 

 ler. But I am miserably deficient in many acquirements abso- 

 lutely necessary for such a character. Botany, Mineralogy, and 

 Drawing, I most ardently wish to be instructed in, and with these 

 I should fear nothing. Can I yet make any progress in Botany, 

 sufficient to enable me to be useful ? and what would be the most 

 proper way to proceed? I have many leisure moments that should 



