xliv MEMOIR OF 
** But my venerable friend, ]\Ir Bartram, taking 
more serious consideration his advanced age, being u 
seventy, and the weakness of bis eyesight, and apprebc 
sive of his inability to encounter the fatigues and privatJt 
unavoidable in so extensive a tour ; and having, to « 
extreme regret, and the real loss of science, been indue" 
to decline the journey, I bad reluctantly abandoned 
enterprize, and' all hopes of accomplishing my purpo^ 
till, hearing that your Excellency bad it in eontemplati 
to send travellers this ensuing summer up the Bed Bit 
the Arkaiusaw, and other tributary streams of the ilis^ 
sippi, and believing that my services might be of advaiiW 
to some of these parties, in promoting your Excellencr 
design, while the best opportunities would be afforded » 
of procuring subjects for the work which I have so 
at heart, — under these impressions, I beg leave to o ^ 
myself for any of those expeditions ; and can be ready 
a short notice to attend your Excellency’s orders. 
« Accustomed to the hardships of travelling,— wirin' 
a family, — and an enthusiast in the pursuit of natilr 
history," I will devote my whole ])owers to merit yin 
Excellency’s approbation ; and ardently wish for an 
portuuity of testifying the sincerity of my professioll 
and the deep veneration with which I have the honour 
be, sir, your obedient servant, ^ 
Kinysess, dih Feb. 1806. Ales. Wilson’. 
To this manly and respectful application, Mr Jeffers^ 
though pos,sessing proofs of Wilson’s talents and qualj 
cations, in some splendid drawings which had previoU _ 
been sent him, forgetful alike of the duties of his staO' 
and the common courtesies of life, returned not one if 
of reply. So much for the encouragement given by 
highest person in the land of liberty to the cultii;al" 
of science and literature ! It was right that Wih 
and with him the world, should see that a repubU* 
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