xlii LIFE OF WILSON. 



ded the better part of the years 1811-12 at the Botanic Garden of 

 his friend, Mr. Bartram. There removed from the noise, bustle 

 and interruption of the metropolis, he was enabled to dispose of 

 his time to the best advantage ; for when fatigued with close ap- 

 plication within doors, to recruit his mind and body he had only 

 to cross the threshold of his abode, and he at once found himself 

 surrounded by those acquaintance, the observance of whose sim- 

 ple manners not only afforded the most agreeable recreation, but 

 who were perpetually contributing to the great undertaking which 

 he was earnestly laboring to complete. 



Besides the journies which have been already mentioned, he 

 made several short excursions to different parts; and was five 

 times at the coast of Newjersey, in pursuit of the Waders and 

 Web-footed tribes which are there found in immense numbers. 

 The aggregate of his peregrinations amounted to upwards of ten 

 thousand miles. 



In the early part of the year 1813, the seventh volume of the 

 Ornithology was published; and the author immediately made 

 preparations for the succeeding one, the letter-press of which was 

 completed in the month of August. But unfortunately his great 

 anxiety to conclude the work condemned him to an excess of toil, 

 which, inflexible as was his mind, his bodily frame was unable to 

 bear. He was likewise by this flood of business prevented from 

 residing in the country, where hours of lassitude might have been 

 beguiled by a rui'al walk, or the rough but invigorating exercise 

 of the gun. At length he was attacked by a disease, which, per- 

 haps, at another period of his life might not have been attended 

 with fatal effects, but which now, in his debilitated frame and 

 harassed mind, proved a mighty foe, whose deadly assaults all the 

 combined efforts of friendship, science and skill could not repel. 

 The Dysentery, after a few days illness, closed the mortal career 

 of Alexander Wilson, on the twenty-third of August, 1813. 



It may not be going too far to maintain, that in no age or 



