• 
LIFE OF WILSON. lix 
remarkably fresh-colored, with a benign and manly countenance. I introduced 
myself witiiout ceremony— shook his hand with sincere cordiality, and said, 
with some warmth, that I was proud of the honor of meeting with one of the 
heroes of Bunker's Hill — the first unconquerable champions of their country. 
He looked at me, pressed my hand in his, and the tears instantly glistened in 
his eyes, which as instantly called up corresponding ones in my own. In our 
way to the place he called on a Mr. Carter, who he said was also in the action, 
and might recollect some circumstances which he had forgotten. With these 
two veterans I spent three hours, the most interesting to me of any of my life. 
As they pointed out to me the route of the British — the American iutrench- 
ments — the place where the greatest slaughter was made — the spot where 
Warren fell, and where he was thrown amid heaps of the dead, I felt as though 
I could have encountered a whole battalion myself in the same glorious cause. 
The old soldiers were highly delighted with my enthusiasm; we drank a glass 
of wine to the memory of the illustrious dead, and parted almost with regret. 
" From Boston to Portland, in the district of Maine, you are almost always 
in the neighborhood, or within sight, of the Atlantic. The country may be 
called a mere skeleton of rocks, and fields of sand, in many places entirely 
destitute of wood, except a few low scrubby junipers, in others covered with 
pines of a diminutive growth. On entering the tavern in Portland, I took up 
the newspaper of the day, in which I found my song oi Freedom and Peace,* 
which I afterwards heard read before a numerous company (for the supreme 
court was sitting), with great emphasis, as a most excellent song; but I said 
nothing on the subject. 
" From Portland I steered across the country for the northern parts of Ver- 
mont, among barren, savage, pine-covered mountains, through regions where 
nature and art have done infinitely less to make it a fit residence for man than 
any country I ever traversed. Among these dreary tracts I found winter had 
already commenced, and the snow several inches deep. I called at Dartmouth 
College, the president of which, as well as of all I visited in New England, 
subscribed. Though sick with a severe cold, and great fatigue, I continued 
my route to this place, passing and calling at great numbers of small towns in 
my way. 
" The legislature is at present in session — the newspapers have to-day taken 
notice of my book, and inserted my advertisement — I shall call on the princi- 
pal people — employ an agent among some of the booksellers in Albany, and 
return home by New York." 
Wilson, after tarrying at home a few days, departed to the southward, visit- 
ing every city and town of importance as far as Savannah, in the state of 
Georgia. This journey, being performed in the winter, and alone, was of 
course not attended with many travelling comforts; and, to avoid the incon- 
veniences of a return by land, he embarked in a vessel, and arrived at New 
* A certain military association of Pliiladelphia, being disposed to dignify the national 
celebration of this year, offered a gold medal for the best song which should be written 
for the occasion ; and Wilson bore away the prize from many competitors. 
