LIFE OF WILSON. 



XXXV 



literature, I have heard nothing but expressions of the highest ad- 

 miration and esteem. If I have been mistaken in publishing a 

 work too good for the country, it is a fault not likely to be soon 

 repeated, and will pretty severely correct itself. But whatever 

 may be the result of these matters, I shall not sit down with fold- 

 ed hands, whilst any thing can be done to carry my point : since 

 God helps them who help themselves. I am fixing correspondents 

 in every corner of these northern regions, like so many pickets 

 and outposts, so that scarcely a tvrerij or tit shall be able to pass 

 along, from York to Canada, but I shall get intelligence of it." 



From several individuals, in this journey, Mr. Wilson expe- 

 rienced the most polite and encouraging attentions ; but from 

 others, and those too from whom most was expected, he met a 

 reception of an opposite nature, the rudeness of which we should 

 hesitate to record, if the facts were not supported by his own de- 

 claration. From his private journal we have taken the following 

 extracts : 



Arrived at ; waited on Doctor , Principal of the 



seminary. It was near dusk before I could see him ; and our 

 conversation, which was held on the steps leading to his house, 

 occupied about five minutes. He considered the volume too ex- 

 pensive for any class of readers about this town. He behaved with 

 cold indifference — turned over a few leaves without any seeming 

 interest ; and said, that as far as he could see (it was nearly dark) 

 it looked well — returned the volume and we parted. If, as Prin- 

 cipal of this College, this literary luminary shed no more cheering 

 influence over the exertions of his pupils, than he did on the au- 

 thor of American Ornithology, I don^t much wonder that storms 

 and tempests should desolate this seminary, and damp the ener- 

 gies of its inhabitants." 



" Arrived at . Called on the Governor at the Health 



Office; there were several gentlemen in company. He turned over 



