xxxvi LIFE OF WILSON. 
abounding, at the same time, with observations and reflections not unworthy of 
a philosopher. 
" The sketch of your father's life, with the extracts from his letters, I read 
with much pleasure. They will remain lasting monuments of the worth and 
respectability of the father, as well as of the filial affection of the son. 
" The description of the Choctaw Bonepickers is a picture so horrible, that 
I think nothing can exceed it. Many other pieces in this work are new and 
interesting. It cannot fail to promote the knowledge of natural history, and 
deserves, on this account, every support and encouragement." 
To Mr. Wm. Barteam. 
"December 26th, 1804. 
" I send for your amusement the " Literary Magazine" for September, in 
which you will find a well-written, and, except in a few places, a correct de- 
scription of the great Falls of Niagara. I yesterday saw a drawing of them, 
taken in 1768, and observe that many large rocks, that used formerly to appear 
in the rapids above the Horseshoe Falls, are now swept away ; and the form of 
the curve considerably altered, the consequence of its gradual retrogression. 
I hope this account will entertain you, as I think it by far the most complete 
I have yet seen. 
To Mr. Wm. Duncan. 
" KiNGSESSiNG, February 20th, 1805. 
"I received yours of January 1st, and wrote immediately; but partly 
through negligence, and partly through accident, it has not been put into the 
post-office; and I now sit down to give you some additional particulars. 
* " * * * * 
This winter has been entirely lost to me, as well as to yourself. I shall 
on the twelfth of nest month be scarcely able to collect a sufficiency to pay my 
board, having not more than twenty-seven scholars. Five or six families, who 
used to send me their children, have been almost in a state of starvation. 
The rivers Schuylkill and Delaware are still shut, and wagons are passing and 
repassing at this moment upon the ice. 
" The solitary hours of this winter I have employed in completing the poem 
which I originally intended for a description of your first journey to Ovid. It 
is now so altered as to bear little resemblance to the original; and I have 
named it the ' Foreslers.' It begins with a description of the Fall or Indian 
Summer, and relates, minutely, our peregrinations and adventures until our 
arrival at Catharine Landing, occupying ten hundred and thirty lines. The 
remainder will occupy nearly as much ; and as I shall, if ever I publish it, 
insert numerous notes, I should be glad if, while you are on the spot, you 
would collect every interesting anecdote you can of the country, and of the 
places which we passed through. Hunting stories, &c., peculiar to the 
would be acceptable. I should be extremely glad to spend one after- 
noon with you for the benefit of your criticisms. I lent the poem to Mr. * 
* * * our senator, who seems to think it worth reading; and * * 
* * has expressed many flattering compliments on my labors ; but I don't 
