LIFE OF WILSON. 
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"The bearer attends you, with a couple of horses, on the supposition that 
it may be convenient for you to visit us to-day; otherwise he shall wait upon 
you any other day that you shall appoint. 
"I am respectfully, &c., 
" William Dunbar." 
This excellent gentleman, whose hospitality was thus promptly excited, has 
since paid the debt of nature; and his grateful guest fondly cherished, to the 
last hour of his existence, the remembrance of those happy moments which 
had been passed in his society, and that of his amiable and accomplished 
family. 
To Mr. William Bartram. 
'' Phil.\delphia, September 2d, 1810. 
" Incessant labor since my return, to make up my loss of drawings, which 
were sent by post from Nashville, has hitherto prevented me from paying you 
a visit. I am closely engaged on my third volume. Any particulars relative to 
the history of the meadow-lark, crow black-bird, snow-bunting, cuckoo, paroquet, 
nonpareil, pinnated grouse, or blue grosbeak, if interesting, would be received 
by me with much pleasure. I have lately received from Michaux a number 
of rich specimens of birds, printed in colors. I have since made some attempts 
at this kind of printing, and have succeeded tolerably well. 
" Michaux has published several numbers of his American Sylva, in Paris, 
with colored plates. I expect them here soon. 
" I collected a number of entire new species in my south-western tour; and 
in my return I visited several of the islands off the Florida shore, where I met 
with some very curious land birds. 
" Mr. Dunbar, of Natcliez, remembered you very well, and desired me to 
carry his good wishes to you." 
To Mr. Wm. Duncan, Frankford, Penn. 
"Philadelphia, February 12th, 1811. 
" So you have once more ascended the preceptor's rostrum, to wield the 
terrors of the tatcs and hirlcory. Trying as this situation is, and various and 
distracting as its avocations sometimes undoubtedly are, it is elysium to the 
scenes which you have lately emerged from ; and as far transcends these lat- 
ter, as honorable independence towers above despised and insulted servitude. 
You wish me to suggest any hints I may think proper fur your present situa- 
tion. Your own experience and prudence render anything I could advise 
unnecessary, as it is all included in the two resolutions which you have already 
taken ; first, to distinguish, as clearly as possible, the whole extent of your 
duty; and, secondly, to fulfil every item of that to the best of your abilities. 
Accordingly, the more extensive and powerful these are, the greater good you 
will be capable of doing; the higher and more dignified will your reputation 
be ; and the easier and calmer will your deportment be, under every circum- 
stance of duty. Y^ou have but these two things to surmount, and the whole 
routine of teaching will become an agreeable amusement; and every closing 
day will shed over your mind that blissful trancjuillity, ' which nothing earthly 
gives or can destroy.' 
