LIFE OF WILSON. xxvii 
The scheme was unfolded to Mr. Lawson, and met with his cordial approljd- 
tion. But he observed that there were several considerations which should have 
their weight, in determining in an affair of so much importance. These were 
frankly stated; and followed by advice, which did not quadrate with the tempera- 
ment of Wilson ; who, vexed that his friend would not enter into his feelings, 
expressed his scorn of the maxims of prudence with which he was assailed, by 
styling them the offspring of a cohl, calculutiiuj, srljish philosophy. Under date 
of March 12th, 1804, he thus writes to the last-named gciitlomau : " I dare 
say you begin to think me very ungenerous and unfriendly in not seeing you 
for so long a time. I will simply state the cause, and I know you will, excuse 
me. Six days in one week I have no uiore time than just to swallow my meals, 
and return to my sanctum sanctorum. Five days of the following week are 
occupied in the same routine of pedagoguiny matters; and the other two are 
sacrificed to that itch for drawing, which I caught from your honorable self. 
I never was more wishful to spend an afternoon with you. In three weeks I 
shall have a few days' vacancy, and mean to be in town chief part of the time. 
I am most earnestly bent on pursuing my plan of making a collection of all the 
birds in this part of North America. Now I don't want you to throw cold 
water, as Shakspeare says, on tliis notion. Quixotic as it may appear. I have 
been so long accustomed to the building of airy castles and brain windmills, 
that it has become one of my earthly comforts, a sort of a rough bone, that 
amuses me when sated with the dull drudgery of life." 
To Mr. Wm. Bartram. 
" March 29th, 1804. 
"Three months have passed away since I had the pleasure of seeing you; 
and three dark and heavy months they have been to your family. My heart 
has shared in your distress, and sincerely sympathizes with you for the loss you 
have sustained. But Time, the great curer of every grief, will gradually heal 
those wounds which Misfortune has inflicted; and many years of tranquillity 
and happiness are, I sincerely hope, reserved for you. 
" I have been prevented from seeing you so long by the hurry of a crowded 
school, which occupied all my hours of daylight, and freciuently half the others. 
The next quarter will leave me time enough ; and, as there is no man living in 
whose company I have more real satisfaction, I hope you will pardon me if I 
now and then steal a little of your leisure. 
" I send for your amusement a few attempts at some of our indigenous birds, 
hoping that your good nature will excuse their deficiencies, while you point 
them out to me. I intended to be the bearer of them myself, but Jiaving so 
many little accounts to draw up before to-morrow, I am con)pelled to plead this 
as my excuse. I am almost ashamed to send you these drawings ; but I know 
your generous disposition will induce you to encourage one in whom you perceive 
a sincere and eager wish to do well. They were chiefly colored by candle-light. 
'•I have now got my collection of native birds considerably enlarged; and 
shall endeavor, if possible, to obtain all the smaller ones this summer. Be 
pleased to mark on the drawings, with a pencil, the names of each bird, as 
