xcviii 
LIFE OF WILSON. 
subscriptions. Yet he was not only honored with tlie names of some respecta- 
ble individuals ; but also received hospitable treatment from several j)ersons, 
and those, too, to whom he had not been introduced. It is a singular fact, 
that from those to whom he had letters of introduction, and from whom most 
had been expected, he received the fewest acts of civility. 
The principal events of his journey have been given in his letters; but I 
might select from his diary many interesting passages, if the limits allotted to 
this memoir would admit of copiousness of detail. 
It is not unusual for scholars to keep diaries when they travel. These wri- 
tings are commonly the objects of great curiosity, as we are all anxious to know 
what were the impressions which the incidents of a journey made upon the 
mind, when it was in the fittest state to receive them. 
For the gratification of the reader, I will make a few short extracts from 
Wilson's journal, as specimens of his mode of writing these unstudied narra- 
tives. 
jMarch 0. — Visited a number of the literati and wealthy of Cincinnati, 
who all told me that they would think of it, viz. of subscribing : they are a 
very thoughtful people. 
" jMarch 17. — Rained and hailed all last night, set ofiF at eight o'clock, after 
emptying my boat of the deluge of water. Rowed hard all day; at noon re- 
cruited myself with some biscuits, cheese and American wine. Reach the 
falls — night sets in — hear the roaring of the rapids. After excessive hard work 
arrive at Reargrass creek, and fasten my boat to a Kentucky one. Take my 
baggage and grope my way to Louisville — put up at the Indian Queen tavern, 
and gladly sit down to rest myself. 
" 3Iarch 18. — P^ose quite refreshed. Found a number of land speculators 
here. Titles to lands in Kentucky subject to great disputes. 
" March 19. — Rambling round the town with my gun. Examined Mr. 
's drawings iu crayons — very good. Saw two new birds he had, both 
Mvtactlhc. 
" March 20. — Set out this afternoon with the gun — killed nothing new. 
People in taverns here devour their meals. Many shopkeepers board in 
taverns — also boatmen, land speculators, merchants, &c. No naturalist to 
hecp mr (-(jmpniiy. 
" March 21. — Went out this afternoon shooting with Mr. A. Saw a num- 
ber of sandliill cranes. Pigemis numerous. 
" jMarcli 23. — Packed up uiy things which I left in the care of a merchant 
here, to be sent on to Lexington ; and having parted, with great regret, with 
my paroquet, to the gentlemen of the tavern, I bade adieu to Louisville, to 
which place I had four letters of recommendation, and was taught to expect 
much of everything there; but neither received one act of civility from those 
to whom I was recommended, one subscriber, nor one new bird ; though I de- 
livered my letters, ransacked the woods repeatedly, and visited all the charac- 
ters likely to subscribe. Science or literature has not one friend in this place. 
Every one is so intent on making money that they can talk of nothing else; 
