LIFE or WILSON. 
cxi 
But the true cause of this extraordintiry tdil was liis poverty. ]]y tlie terms 
of agreement with liis publislier, he was to fiiriiisli at his own oust, all the 
drawings and litei'ary matter for the work; and to have tlie wh ile luider his 
control and superintendence. The publisher stipulated to find funds for the 
conipletion of the volumes. To support the heavy expense of procuring ma- 
terials, and other unavoidable expenditures, Wilson's only resource, as has been 
stated, was in coloring the plates. 
In the preface to the fifth volume he observes : " The pulilication of an 
original W(udi of this kind, in this country, has been attended with difficulties, 
great, and, it must be confessed, sometimes discouraging to the author, whose 
only reward liitlierto has been the favorable opinion of his fellow-citizens, and 
the pleasure of the pursuit. 
" Let but the generous hand of patriotism be stretched forth to assist and 
cherish the rising arts and literature of our country, and both will most assuredly, 
and that at no remote period, shoot forth, increase and flourish, with a vigor, a 
splendor and usefulness, inferior to uo other on earth." 
We have here an affirmation that the author had labored witliout reward, 
except what was conferred by inefficient praise; and an eloquent appeal to the 
Cfencroaity and jjafn'oliftm of his fellow-citizens. Seven illustrious cities disputed 
the honor of having given hirth to the Prince of Epic song. Philadelphia first 
beheld that piienomenon, the " American Ornithology," rising amidst her 
boasted opulence, to vindicate the claims of a calumniated portion of creation ; 
and to furnish her literary pride with a subject of exultation for ages to come. 
Yet duty calls upon us to record a fact, which may cause our native city to 
feel the glow of shame. Of all her literati, her men of benevolence, taste and 
riches, seventy only, to the period of the author's decease, had the liberality 
to countenance him by a subscription, more than half of whom were tradei^men, 
artis/s, and persons of the middle class of society; whilst the little city of New 
Orleans, in the short space of seventeen dat/x^ furnished SIXTY subscribers to 
the " American Ornithology !" 
Wilson was possessed of the nicest sense of honor. In all his dealings he 
was not only scrupulmisly just, but highly generous. His veneration for truth 
was exemplary. His disposition was social and affectionate. His benevolence 
was extensive. He was remarkably temperate in eating and drinking, his love 
of study and retirement preserving him from the coutaminatiiig influence of 
the convivial circle. ]jut as no one is perfect, Wilson in a small degree partook 
of the weakness of liumanity. lie was of the genus irritabde, and was obstinate 
in opinion. It ever gave him pleasure to acknowledge error, when the convic- 
tion resulted from his own judgment alone, but he could not endure to be told 
of his mistakes. Hence his associates had to be sparing of their criticisms, 
through a fear of forfeiting his friendship. With almost all his friends he had 
occasionally, arising from a collision of opinion, some slight misunderstanding, 
which was soon passed over, leaving no dis;igreeable impression. But an act 
of disrespect he could ill brook, and a wilful injury he would seldom forgive. 
In his person he was of a middle stature, of a thin habit of body ; his cheek- 
bones projected, and his eyes, though hollow, displayed considerable vivacity 
